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Three eggs again this afternoon, about same time as yesterday afternoon check. I suppose the female is incubating now.
Edit to add: It is my habit to watch the nest box snd make sure the male and female are outside the box before I lift the roof and look inside. This visit I observed the female peering out for a few moments before exiting the nest box, so I know she is present. I didn’t happen to observe the male around the nest box this time, but I don’t think anything of that for right now.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Yeah. But I’ve read clutch size can be less in second and third nestings. Anyway, we’ll see. I’ve penciled in tentative hatch day in the calendar.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Three eggs this afternoon, same as this time yesterday. Thinking out loud: Is she done?
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
I’m not sure I drove that far out on Garrisonville Road. I drove as far as just past the new Walmart and the new Sheets (new at the time). I would stay down in Fredericksburg and drive up to Stafford for the job. Sometimes I would get off I-95 south of Stafford and come in through the back roads. Really beautiful.
When I first set up the box, late summer last year, a pair of Sparrows immediately started a nest. I kept taking out the nest material but they persisted, so then I blocked the opening to the box. I was also feeding a good but not really great seed mix that included corn, and I had a lot of House Sparrows all through the day every day, so I also took the feeders down. The sparrows moved on and it’s rare now when I see one land on the fence. Knock on wood I won’t have a problem, but this board and my first experience has made me aware of the potential.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Two eggs this afternoon, so I assume yesterday was the first egg day.
I wonder when this becomes routine for the nest watcher and the excitement mixed with apprehension will lighten up. For me I don’t know if it will.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
@David thanks. I hope so. I was surprised at a new nest so soon. I’m wondering if it is a different pair. Seems it must be.
By the way, seeing Stafford VA is bringing back memories. I made many trips there back in the day. There are some very pretty neighborhoods when you get off of I-95 and Garrisonville Rd. I loved the geese. I know most people hated or at least didn’t want them around. Maybe I liked them as a visitor, not having to live with them, but I think I could adapt to them.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Hah hah. Observation served me well when I was working. All things taken into account, sitting on the porch and watching the birds is more rewarding.
I just noticed three birds dancing around at the top of the Crepe Myrtle. By the time I got the binoculars up to look, there was a female Bluebird perched in the spot and the other two had disappeared into the tree. The Mom and two babies? I hope so.
A question. So, the female flew off after a few moments, but she wasn’t followed. Do the babies follow the parents around, or will the mom park them somewhere for a while? When the female flew off, she flew off into the distance over the houses behind us.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
I’ve been watching the nest box for about an hour now from the porch. A male and a female have visited the feeder and also the fence, but separately. The male has only perched on an arm of the pole for a moment and then left. The female grabbed something from the feeder once. They don’t behave as if they are together. Neither have gone to the nest box.
I’m hoping the other of the young fledged yesterday after noon when I wasn’t watching. I will still wait until tomorrow to look inside the nest box.
It does appear the Bliebird parents are done with the nest.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Yeah. The fledgling headed straight for a Crepe Myrtle that is full of Spanish Moss and only about 20 yards or so away from the nest box. I did see it on the feeder pole with the male a little later, but that was only for a moment and then it went back to the Crepe Myrtle. The nest mate still hadn’t left the nest box as of noon here, but the adults are still hanging around and occasionally visiting the nest box.
Some more about environment, and a hypothesis. I mentioned the snake. After I had looked at the snake and then returned to the porch, Mockingbirds discovered the snake, or else they came to see what the Bluebird was upsetting the bluebird. One landed on the compost pile and was raising and holding its wings spread out, and stretching up like standing on tiptoe, and making what appeared to be attacking moves. I couldn’t see the snake from my location, but this went on for a little while. After a time, I watched the snake come out and slither off. I should add that the snake is a long-time resident and makes appearances several times a year, and once or twice in the past I’ve seen the mocking birds chasing it across the yard.
The hypothesis is about the benefit of having feeders that attract birds even as one is trying to host nesting Bluebirds. I think the collective early warning they give each other is a great service. I don’t know if the Bluebirds pay attention to the doves or not, but sometimes you see them all freeze, not moving a muscle for minutes; and sometimes the whole flock will take off in mass with a great noise of flapping wings. I’m sure, as observant the bluebirds seem to be, they must be watching and listening to the other birds for that early warning of a threat that they cannot actually see yet themselves. I’ve heard the birds making a racket when a hawk is close. All the birds must be in tune with each other in this way. So maybe it is a good thing to attract a variety of other birds, except House sparrows, of course.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Thanks.
I’ve found one can tell a lot from the behavior of the parents, which makes sense. The other day I noted to myself that both the male and female were spending a lot of time near the nest box on the arms of the feeder pole, like they were waiting. At the same time, they visited the nest box less frequently. I figured fledge day was about to happen, even if I was or watching the calendar.
By the way, as to the alertness of these birds, I notice the male was very agitated and he was hovering about the compost pile. I got up and walked out to the pile, slowly, and looked around. Then I saw just the nose of a black snake. When the snake saw me it pulled back into the hole in the pile. Impressive little bird with good eyesight.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
The first of the young fledged earlier this morning. I watched as it happened. Incredible.
I have observed the other one appear at the opening to the nest box a few times, but don’t know why it didn’t follow the first one out of the nest box. I’ve observed both parents go to the nest box and peer inside, and female has gone fully into the nest box a few times. The female has carried food into the nest and carried waste out.
It is slightly windy, off and on. I wonder if that is a factor.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Got it. Thanks. I’ll remove everything when the time comes and go from there.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
To add, a question: I know to clean out the nest. box at the end of the season. What I’ve read about cleaning the nest box after the young have fledged is that it is not necessary, but a nest box can be cleaned after the young have fledged. What do you think is best?
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
