[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Is it possible for you to put up another box for the TRES? They are quite desirable & beautiful bird, but I know they do like the blues’ boxes. If you had another house for them, then they could be good neighbors. Otherwise, they will have to fight it out.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

It is quite common for juveniles from a previous nesting to help feed their siblings in the box. This has been documented – however, I personally have not had this happen. Strange that mama would be upset with this is papa thought it was okay. As far as them going to a window and perching on your chairs, I do believe you are “humanizing” their behavior, as this too is common. They know you are their friend, and this may be their way of communicating – like “I’m here, feed me”. As far as trying to tell you to check on the babies, could be, but probably not. We can always dream, but these really are wild birds for the most part (but I sometimes do wonder).

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Tammy, sure hope you can keep one box for the blues – keep trying, don’t give up on them!
P.S. I believe my mama began incubating yesterday or today, as there are 5 eggs and I did watch her go in this morning. I haven’t had TRES back for a couple of years, ever since they had a failure with 5 babies dying inside the box about 4 days before fledging.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Lisa, rule of thumb is to put one control up at a time – then if they accept it, put the others up. I always put up spooker first because of the HOSP, and then after another egg is laid & mama accepts it okay, I put up the wren guard. Later in the heat of summer I will then put up a heat shield. You did the right thing for sure.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

That is great they are going in, Martha. To keep the ants from getting into the box you need to put about a 2-3″ strip of thick grease (like axle grease or heavy petroleum) around the metal pole, maybe 6″ down from the box. The ants cannot cross this thick layer of grease and will not be able to get into the box, which for newborn babies can be harmful. If you do not use axle grease, which will not wash away, you may have to apply the light grease after it rains. I had ants one year and this worked well.
P.S. reread your reply and the above not absolutely necessary but is sometimes used as a precaution. It is the time of year for ants.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Lisa, I live in mid-Missouri and my blues are here all winter, have been all 9 years of my birding. A little bit farther north in Missouri I don’t believe they overwinter, but am not sure. I feed my blues peanut butter suet in the winter, but just like the mealworms, only as a treat, unless there is a bad ice or snow, then might give them more. All young also stay around with parents all winter and then move on around March.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Mel, the height of that nest almost looks like it was built on top of another nest, making it very accessible to predators putting arm through hole & pulling out babies. Also agree it looks like a pip mark, not predator. Others here – please chime in – would he need to reduce height of nest after all babies are born or what? Even with that wire mesh (questionable) it seems really tall. You might be okay if you have a baffle underneath nest. Still puzzled about the blues “taking care” of the dees. Keep us posted.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Martha, bees or ants is definitely a possibility if you ruled out snake by actually looking inside box. Like Nicole said, wasps will build on the inside of the top of box.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Wow, that nest seems awfully tall – maybe just the way picture was taken. This is quite a puzzle – never heard anyone talk about blues tending to another species of bird.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Thanks BZ – will definitely put up wren guard tomorrow morning, pronto! Mama blue has had two days with the spooker (with that red mylar ribbon I was so worried about) and she laid 4th egg today and I believe is incubating, so she should be truly committed to that nest/eggs. Put up spooker first because I’ve been fighting them at two different boxes.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Mel, have you not looked inside this box earlier to know what’s there? Sounds like quite a mystery story – no ideas really.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Yep, I put tape over the red dot, only left a very little red showing, too. Those evil minds of the HOSP must be on the genius scale!

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

When wrens destroyed my BB eggs two different times, they just tossed eggs on the ground & pierced them (with claws maybe) and did not put any sticks in the nest. One egg I could even see the embryo of the baby bluebird. Will try to post picture here…….

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

I have never had actual experience with BCCH but I agree that 18′ if probably too close and thus, the reason for this aggressive behavior. I know 300′ is recommended if you want to have two BB nests at the same time, or at least one box in the front yard and one in the back, so you cannot see them both at the same time. The only box that can be close (even paired) with bluebirds is for TRES. Again this kind of info is on the sialis.org website. I have 4 boxes up and they are all at least 300′ apart, all at different corners of my property. This way I have plenty to keep HOSP busy for trapping, and have had two BB nests at the same time, but quite unusual, and also TRES at the same time as my bluebirds. My theory is like Randy’s, whatever my blues want to do to protect their family, is okay by me.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Well, I got my question answered just now. Went out I checked BB box and I have another eggs, 3 now. So I guess this bright red flying mylar did not scare off mama blue. Yeah!!

[Author]

Posts