Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Sorry, Renee – I forgot that your yard is like a bird sanctuary! I have never had a chickadee nest but I will remember what you went through with the guards. Sure glad yours finally accepted it.
Other than blues, the only other birds which have nested in my boxes are tree swallows, which I was absolutely thrilled. The first & second years all was well and the 5 fledged okay, but the next year all 5 died in the box – they were just covered with mites when I removed them – what a horrible experience since I wasn’t prepared and had mites all over ME! They have never returned.
You all can keep those bears in PA – all I have to deal with here in Missouri are HOSP & outdoor cats – guess we are lucky, huh!
Renee, sorry you are having trouble with your wren guard. You know, when I first started on this forum and with the bible “Sialis”. the distance from the hole out to the wren guard was 2 1/2″ I believe, but the past few years it was learned that at least 3 or 3 1/2″ is much easier for the parents to get in & out and feed the babies. I have just put a extra flat piece of wood at the top of the guard (on the back side) and adjust the sides. But some still use the 2 1/2″. If one of your birds actually flew under the guard & looked in (probably was the male), she will probably accept it. It does take a little time. You are doing good by watching this closely because you don’t want her to drop an egg because she won’t go inside.
OH, RENEE, I JUST REMEMBERED – if this is a new mama blue, she is not familiar with a guard and you would then wait until she lays the 1st egg, like you did on your earlier box.
Connie, glad you have 5 eggs and mama is during her job. Yes, that cold snap we had last week was hard on everything, but today was very nice, close to 70 degrees. I have not seen my mama blue today, but I have been busy doing some gardening, so probably just missed her. But I am going to check the box tomorrow – these eggs are due to hatch this Friday, April 24. Hope all here have good luck with this first nesting.
Chris, glad you have reminded everyone how important that last statement is. However, I have learned over the years that we have to be gentle with those who do not agree with this important statement. I have given several video presentations on bluebirds over the years (not any the past 2 years), and do stress this idea, but do it gently. I have over those years got several bluebirders to agree about this procedure & agree how it helps our blues. BUT, I do believe that everyone has a right to their own opinion. After having a predator destroy their eggs or babies, they usually get it, a little too late for that nesting but knowledge for the future ones and new bluebirds in the sky!!!
Julie, I agree with David & Rich – we sometimes get too anxious over something that is not exactly what it should be, or so we think. Even after all these years I have a tendency to still do this, but usually back off and think about it some more. Yes, it is truly great to be able to post here and get others opinions and stories they have learned from. Good luck.
Thanks, Judy. I am hoping the bird’s wing can heal on its own, also. But it has been several weeks since I first noticed him and hard tell where he was before that, although I do think he is one of the clam which was here all winter.
Sure hope your blue’s nest turns out well!
David, that is a good idea – I will think about asking my next door neighbor – she is a school teacher and working from home and does like birds & pets. Thanks – I’ll know more when I talk to a rehaber.
I have been watching this bluebird with the bad wing today quite a bit. It looks very strange, either broken or terrible out of place. This just breaks my heart – I am going to call one of the rehabers for which I have phone numbers, although I don’t know if I could ever capture him (I am in my upper 70’s and not as fast as I used to be!)
Wow, David, what a story – I bet for sure she will be back even with your redecorating (which looks great). Good Luck!
Thanks, Dana for the info. I have a actual list of rehabers but they are still quite a distance away, but I might give them a call this coming week. This bluebird was on my patio floor this morning and I put out some peanut butter suet for him. He hopped away from it and I placed it in a different place, He went in that direction, but don’t know if he ate any, although some bird did because late this afternoon it was empty. I feel so bad because I’m almost 100% sure he is from my last nest last year, because I had 6 and 7 birds all winter at my suet feeder. Hubby says that he did see it fly one time to a low limb, but he’s on the ground a lot, looking for food I imagine.
Chris, wow, 6 eggs – I have never had more than 5 and sometimes 5 is too many, especially when it is very hot, which is NOT the case right now. Hope you have good luck – better be ready to help out a little with the feeding by offering them worms or suet if possible.
Connie, that’s great that your blues built and have 3 eggs. Yes, these spring temps are about to drive me bananas, between my 5 blue eggs I have some nice clematis vines and fairly new rose bushes I have been covering during the last two freezes a few days ago. Well, there were no more freeze warnings for later this week, so I took off my coverings! It is just too cold & windy right now to do anything about it – they will just have to take care of themselves.
P.S., my mama blue seems to be incubating okay – good thing or those eggs would probably not survive. The eggs are one week old today.
