Home › Forums › Bluebird Chatter › ***URGENT*** Blow Fly larvae
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July 13, 2016 at 10:32 am #2618
My second clutch are now at Day 12 so getting close to fledging. This morning when I lifted the nest I removed 5 blow fly larvae that were full of blood. My concern is there are more in the nesting material. However, they are so close to fledging (and all 4 seem very healthy) – I am concerned if I try to replace the nest that this will disturb them too much. Thoughts???
July 13, 2016 at 1:55 pm #2622This is touchy situation – I’m not familiar with the harm of blowflys. If this is day 12 it is especially hard to decide what to do – if they look healthy I would be inclined to leave them alone. If needed and you had a spare nest, you could do a nest change, but this would be hard at their age and need to be done immediately. Other opinions here?
July 13, 2016 at 5:12 pm #2626I think I would leave them alone because the risk of early fledging is huge at this point. They will probably go in about 4 days or so and that will solve the problem.
Gin
Atlanta, GAJuly 14, 2016 at 3:14 am #2630Rich-
I sure hope they make it! I’ve not experienced blow fly larvae, but the author of the Sialis site did a nest change on day 12.
Nicole
July 14, 2016 at 9:09 am #2632After I posted this I lifted the nest gently yesterday with a small spatula. There were about 10 larvae that were under the nest so I removed them. The babes looked healthy although they were still…this morning I lifted the nest gently – no larvae – babes MUCH more active this morning. They are on Day 13. They look healthy – I’m providing copious amounts of fresh meal worms – so I think I need to just leave them be and hope for the best.
July 14, 2016 at 11:09 am #2633That’s good, Rich – but you will need to leave the box closed from now on or the babies may fledge prematurely and not be able to fly good enough to survive. Whew . . . . .
July 14, 2016 at 11:33 am #2634Carol – yep!! I agree – that’s what I meant by “leave them be” – there was a rogue HOSP creeping around about an hour ago. I noticed mom and dad getting really irate – thought it was my Beagle who lumbers past the box occasionally (he normally has zero interest in the BB’s) but then noticed the male chasing a male HOSP. The HOSP landed in a near by tree. 30 seconds later he was in my sights with the pellet gun and let’s just say I took care of him!!!
July 15, 2016 at 2:56 am #2646Glad to know all seems ok, Rich. Great job on the HOSP! By the time I cock the BB gun, mine have flown off. Ugh!
Nicole
July 15, 2016 at 3:11 pm #2653If there are less than 10 blowfly larva per nestling you don’t need to do anything. Lifting the nest on day 13 should NOT be done, I speak from experience. Typically I lift the nest on day 6 and brush out the bottom of larva. I once forgot and did it on day 13 and one nestling fledged and could not fly at all! It actually spent the night in the garage without my knowledge! The next morning (day 14) I put it back in the box and then it and another fledged and neither could fly. Put them back in the box and put a hole reducer on the box. It really was an awful experience since I caused it by lifting that nest on day 13. I took the reducer off on day 15 and they all fledged, the one could still not fly a lick but I let it be since the others got to the trees. It did survive thankfully. However I would never mess with anything in the box from day 13 and on unless you have dead or dieing nestlings. (I did loose two nestlings once to blowfly larva but it was due to having around 60 larva in a box with three nestlings, one made it since I discovered the two dead and did nest change.) My nest this year I hadn’t done the brushing out of the box and when they fledged on day 17 there were probably 20ish larva in there, they all fledged and flew just fine though.
Donna in WI
July 15, 2016 at 3:17 pm #2654I have not opened the box for 2 days now. Mom and dad still busy feeding. Weather has been perfect for this clutch, very little rain and mid 80’s so not too hot. I just found out my neighbor has a pair in his box! He knows nothing about them so I have been monitoring his box as well. They are on about day 9 and doing well (5 in that box!) so hopefully soon there will be 9 little babies fluttering around the two yards! I expect mine to leave starting Sunday/Monday. I doubt I will get a third clutch this late in the season but I am thrilled with this year’s experience! Thanks all for the advise!!
July 18, 2016 at 5:01 pm #2687“I doubt I will get a third clutch this late in the season but I am thrilled with this year’s experience”
Never say Never Rich. If it stays warm you still could have another brood. It is up to the birds. And if not you can still provide mealworms through the winter if they stay around.
David
Stafford, VAJuly 21, 2016 at 2:41 am #2768Rich, have they fledged?
Nicole
July 21, 2016 at 2:43 am #2769Oh, & Donna, thanks for the comments on blow fly larvae. I haven’t experienced this before, but truly appreciate the education!
Nicole
July 21, 2016 at 12:25 pm #2772Nicole:
Yep!! The little ones flew on Monday afternoon. 2 girls and 2 boys to go with big brother from the first clutch!!July 21, 2016 at 5:36 pm #2775Oh, I remember now! The empty nest syndrome can definitely be bitter sweet. Congratulations & hope you see them back soon!
Nicole
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