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Well, the “worm train” is in full force now – babies are old enough I guess that parents are bringing them several two times a day. I haven’t looked in at the babies for a few days but will check on them soon. I took out most of this pesky wren’s nest – they just keep filling it with sticks – staying away from my bluebirds.
Gin, yes, in the previous other nests I would see them take worms and bash them before they went to the nest – I called it a “worm train” as mama and papa would take turns bringing them to the babies. I just haven’t seen this much lately. But they are just 4 days old, and one is just 3 days old. I tried to find some smaller worms this morning after I had fed them yesterday and was able to find some smaller to medium size ones and looked like this helped some. This last batch of worms were almost double size I’m used to and they were labeled as medium. It cooled off today, been cloudy and a couple light showers so this was good for them. Thanks, Gin.
Glad she returned, Rich – yes, just like kids – can’t ever figure them out. I’m like you – we know “our” birds by their habits. A lot of times I spot one but too far to see even with binocs or something, but I know where they like to land and hunt, etc.
So sorry, Rich – that is sad, but maybe she is still around – I know what you mean about instincts though.
I’ll tell a story about what happened to one of my mama bluebird several years ago. She had four eggs due to hatch very soon when she disappeared. Still don’t know what happened. Just knew she was not sitting on the eggs, but I left them alone thinking papa might try to keep eggs warm (it was in the middle of summer & very hot). Low and behold 3 days later when I checked the eggs to my surprise they had hatched – without any incubation because papa blue was not even around. Well, I watched these babies closely – not being fed and were starving. I contacted a BB rehaber in Kansas City which is about 60 miles from me and asked their opinion about bringing them up there to see if they could be saved. They told me the chance was very slim they would even survive the trip, so I had to bury them – one had already died & rest were nothing but skin & bones. Natures is just cruel sometimes. P.S. From all I had read and heard from pros on this forum, even if I had tried to feed them they would probably not make it without parents teaching them about how to hunt, avoid predators, etc.Looks very nice & efficient I think. It has a nice overhang on the top and side, guess there are air vents somewhere? Side opener? Cedar is a very durable wood – all my boxes we made out of cedar.
Julie, yes, I put some of the white bread out yesterday with a few worms. I really didn’t have the trap in a good location – just put it underneath my deck where they had been eating the worms from the blues dish on top of the deck railing. The worms died in less than 15 minutes and the bread dried out quickly. Tomorrow I will probably put it in a different area where I believe they hang out and see what happens.
Gin, glad your boxes are in the shade down in that hot area. I have a brother (who is 84 years old) in Savannah GA, who has BB boxes up and he has LOTS of trees so most boxes get shade. My 3rd nesting is due to hatch this Wednesday – our boxes will be close in time frames. Hope yours hatch successfully.
Never heard of this before – only similar thing I’ve seen or done is kerfs cut on inside of box front for some species to cling up on, especially if the wood is very smooth. Interesting.
I put out the repeating trap around 10:30 this a.m. I even put a very small amount of worms in a container to lure them in, but this was a mistake, as it was hot and they were dead in less than an hour. I don’t have anything else to put out except BOSSeed – always heard they prefer the cheaper millet seed. What do you use, Julie?
Donna, don’t know about NY area, but here in the Midwest this is not too uncommon, especially for the later nesting. I was a little surprised when my pair had a new nest built so quickly after “The Lone Ranger” (only 1 egg hatched) fledged from nest #2. It is awfully hot here to think when this last nest hatches they will have 17 days in 100 degree index heat. There is always something to sorry about, seems like, but I have a heat shield on, spooker & wren guard up, so I have done all I can do as a human. Hope all goes well for your nesting.
Julie, I really like your thoughts about getting the juvenile HOSP while they are not street smart yet. This morning I had 3 HOSP eating at my BB worm bowl – only have had one for several days, but this 3 did the trick for me. I have set a repeating trap right underneath my deck, which would be about 10′, where these HOSP bring their worm to my flagstone path to kill their it or whatever they do after they pick it up from the bowl above setting on my deck railing. Today is Sunday and I will have all day to keep a close eye on it. Even have a few worms in a small container to lure them in, along with some bread pieces. We’ll see – I usually don’t have very good luck, but maybe this is a good time of the season to try it.
Judy, glad someone else here uses the foam – very inexpensive and I believe it works. We thought about the “bungee cords” for holding it on and together but was a little worried about birds getting caught in it. Guess we were being too cautious – since DH is handy with tools we decided to go that direction with the screws. Hope fledging today goes well for your birds. My 3rd nest of 4 is due to hatch on Wednesday – then have 17 days to stand up to this heat!
I am posting in another thread about those darn HOSP!.
Julie, yes, I am the practical one here – we make all our boxes, guards, etc. Ok – here is how I attach my Styrofoam heat shield. I use 1″ foam (comes in a large sheet but can have them cut a smaller piece at the store), cut it to size with a sharp knife for one side, the back and a large overhanging top. This is very easy to do. Then you will need to have some spacers about 1/2″ long, like push pins or make the spacers out of the foam. THIS IS CRITICAL TO THE SHIELD TO GIVE IT AIR FLOW AROUND THE BOX. If you use the push pins, put them in the wood on the south side, back and top of the box itself, Then you have to attach the foam to the box over the spacers with long deck screws (be careful the screw does not come through box to the inside!) with washers to keep the screws from pulling through the foam. I have a really good picture of my shield with a baby peeking through hole. I can e-mail you this picture but cannot post it here for various reasons. Just send me a PM message here with your e-mail address and I will send it to you if you like.
P.S. This does help with the heat but nothing is fool-proof.Great job, Julie! I’m having trouble with one pesky female HOSP who comes to my worm bowl when I put out the worms. Don’t have a whole lot of others right now – just this one and also a pesky house wren. I have been watching closely in the morning – when worms are in the bowl mama, papa and Lone Ranger come – here comes the HOSP or wren and the bluebirds actually have been chasing it off – just hilarious to watch. Even Lone Ranger is learning how to chase them away. “Hi, Ho, Silver!”
