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Hi Nora. I’m happy you found the site, too.
Sad to hear about the first season. I guess you didn’t have a baffle on the pole that year?
This is my first season with nesting bluebirds. I put up the box last summer, late. We are on second nest, now. First was 5 eggs, two hatched, and they fledged a few weeks ago. Then another pair started soon after and I noticed a nest and 1 egg before I even realized that female had been building the nest. Ultimately, we have 3 eggs now being incubated.
Love the bluebirds, too.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Some thoughts:
I don’t think you are too late. The bluebirds peeking inside the box, that is, paying attention to the box, is a good sign. You may also see the birds alternately perching on top of the box. And a female may have gone in the box and you missed it. Anyway, the birds know about your box. It’s probably only a matter of time. EDITED to add, aside from what you see of the birds, look inside the box periodically and see if there is any nesting material. If you don’t know, look up what a bluebird nest looks like. Also, FYI if you don’t already know about NestWatch, see this.
From what I’ve gathered, including my own experience and conversations with a neighbor who has been at this for years, it isn’t unusual to not have a nesting pair the first year of your nest box. But I still don’t think you are too late.
In my case, I didn’t have a nesting pair the first year, but I put up my box in late summer and I knew it was probably too late. And it depends on where you are located. For me (Florida) we are well into the season now. If you are in the North, you are early in the season. All depends.
Just make sure you are giving the birds what they like or need in terms of environment and then give them time.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
It would be better to check the nest in the afternoon to avoid just this sort of situation.
BTW, are you familiar with NestWatch? FYI this is a good resource, if you aren’t already familiar with it.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Interesting. So, according to what I found with a quick search, bluebirds somehow know when an egg is no longer viable. Also, that the female may bury the eggs in the old nest material and lay new eggs. I am curious what you learn over the next week.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Seems something happened to your post, at least on my end. I got the email notificastion, post #27942, about the second egg and sparrow spooker. I have tried Safari and Edge, in both cases last post before mine here is #27935.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Saw the male just now. He came in and landed on an arm of the feeder pole. I was wondering if it was a male or the male. After a bit he flew over to the nest box and peered inside for a moment, then off he went.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
No change here, except I haven’t seen the male yet today. Maybe I just missed him. Still not beyond the feelings of apprehension, yet.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Just deal with each box separately. I doubt you will know if it is the same pair or a different pair using the other box. Could be, but you won’t know. So, for the box you were talking about originally, if you see no interest from the bluebirds for a couple days, do as David says, in his words, clean out that box and let another pair start all over — but with a caveat.
The new issue I wonder about is if the boxes are too close to each other for the environment. My neighbor and I each have nest boxes, but we have a tall privacy fence and dense bamboo between us and it is working, so I know there is more to it than the 100-yard rule. Anyway, just something to keep in mind. Watch the birds and their behavior will tell you what’s going on.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Same report as yesterday. I sat inside at the window and watched the nest box. In the meantime, the male came along and peered inside the box for a few moments. Shortly after that, the female poked her head out and then existed the nest box. I went out and looked in the box, and of course, three eggs. All is good so far.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Yeah, I don’t know . . . I can see in my mind the birds coming back while you had the setup disassembled and not finding the nest. Would that lead them to move on? I don’t know.
My thoughts, FWIW, if you have time to sit and watch the nest box for a while, say an hour, and you don’t see any bluebirds, male or female, paying any attention at all to the nest box, then I would assume that nesting pair abandoned the site. That attention can be something as simple as one of the pair perching on the top of the box. The male may land at the opening and peer in. Or you may see the female entering or you catch her exiting. If you aren’t looking at the time, you’ll miss it. As I say, I wasn’t paying attention and the female here built a nest right under my nose. But I wouldn’t wait another couple weeks. If you can spend some time just watching the nest box, you should know pretty quick and make a decision in the next day or two. I’m interested to see what others say.
I think in the long run, you did the right thing, and not having a baffle would have been the wrong move. Mark it down to experience.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Here in Florida, the guide produced by the Florida Bluebird Society says the female will start laying eggs about a week after the nest is completed. I watched the first nesting pretty close, and this was about right for what I observed. This second nesting, I must not have paid attention because by the time I looked there was already one egg, and I had no idea the female had been building a nest.
If I were in your shoes, I would give it more time. You should see the pair hanging around and paying attention to the nest box, perhaps alternately perching on it, or you’ll see the male landing at the opening and peering in. Activity around the nest box is a good sign.
Just out of curiosity, how much did you disturb the nest box and for how long? I’m thinking of things like did you remove the next box from the poll, what did you do with it while you did this, and how long before you put the next box back in place?
Caveats: This is my first season. I’m on second nest. The previous pair started at end of February and those young fledge a few weeks ago. One thing I’ve observed is when a pair choose a nest site, they become very determined and attached to that site.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
I was inside, at the window. I only went out to look in the box after I observed her leaving. The sun was hitting the porch from which I usually watch and it was too hot to sit there and wait. She wouldn’t have known I was watching this time. The dog may have been outside, but he ignores the birds and they seem to ignore him, but at any rate his presence wouldn’t have been new or unusual. No clue why she withdrew back into the box that time.
The three eggs, I’ll be pleased if all hatch this time, and very pleased if three young fledge. I’m still not over the fact that I put something up that birds choose to use for a nest site, and out in my backyard.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Three eggs again this afternoon.
I waited and watched the nest box for the female to leave. It was more interesting than usual today. I waited for, I don’t know, ten minutes or more, and finally the female appeared in the opening, peering out. Usually she lingers there for a minute, looking around, and then leaves. This time she lingered for what seemed a longer time, and then withdrew back into the box. It was another five to ten minutes before she appeared again, and she left after only a few moments remaining at the opening. I figure she heard or saw something, or maybe it was what she didn’t hear, but no idea.
Anyway, the female is still working. I guess she is incubating now, probably started a day or two back.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
