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Sorry you missed the big event……I’m sure they planned it that way. The good part is we have 4 more blues in the air. Good luck with the next brood.
Judy-Michigan
Carol and David that’s so exciting congratulations! Hope they both start another nest soon. With better weather ahead I’m sure papa blue will be bringing them back to your yards to show them off.
Judy-Michigan
Tammy, the nest was made by TRES…..now the blues have taken it over. I know what to do with HOSP nests. LOL.
Judy-Michigan
Carol….the wren guard was about 4”(vertical) on the front, 1 inch sides and 3 1/2 to 4 inches out from the entrance. Today is another cold windy and rainy day here. The bluebird pair were there this morning, after they were gone I saw a pair of chickadees enter the box so I went out to check the nest. Still one bluebird egg. I didn’t put the spooker up because of the wind….obviously they get spooked easily. They leave their nest unattended most of the day. My front pair have always stayed around the box guarding it.
It’s so nice of all you folks that have been dong this for years help us newbies. Many thanks.
Judy-Michigan
Wow these pictures are stunning! Good luck tomorrow trying to catch the fledglings. Hope you capture some great shots.
Judy-Michigan
Spring has to show up soon. All this rain is crazy! Glad to hear a pair of TRES have shown up…..maybe the blues are next. Good luck.
Judy-Michigan
Yup, sounds like a different pair. I also worry about meddling, you never know what to expect…. since the blues do not follow the rule book. We can just do our best to help them. Best wishes for a great season.
Judy-Michigan
The guard I made had about an inch on the sides with about a 4” front. They were very happy when I removed it. I’m thinking I will try the sparrow spooker tomorrow…if they lay a second egg. Then maybe try the wren guard again if there is a 3rd egg?
While they were upset…. another pair of blues show up going in and out of the other box. The female was very pale, faint peach coloring on her breast and almost no blue on her tail. If she didn’t have a male bluebird with her I would have wondered what type of bird is that. What would cause her to be so washed out in color? The original blues ran them off.
Good news is the front-yard box has 4 eggs with a wren guard and sparrow spooker. Mama blue is very good about staying in the box with papa blue watching things outside.
Thank you, Judy-Michigan
Oops…..tried to correct my excepted to accepted, sorry could not edit. I was in a big hurry. Delete wouldn’t work either. I still need advice, I’m new at this.
Judy-Michigan
Congratulations Connie! How exciting. I put out mealworms, but all I see eating them are other birds. Mine are the dried type…..I’m sure live worms are tastier. Good luck.
Judy-Michigan
Update on the paired boxes in the backyard…..TRES built a nest for a week plus, the Blues came and claimed it as their own. It’s still undetermined!!! Both TRES and Blues still come everyday. If the blues are there the TRES hang back aways. My guess is the Blues are inching towards the lead. I keep checking daily for an egg….nothing yet. I’m expecting an egg soon. The weather is turning nice now, maybe 80 by Sunday.
Judy-Michigan
Great pictures David. I like how you darkened the background to make the bluebird pop.
Judy-Michigan
Country girl, hope the TRES workout or maybe a pair of blues will show up. I’m sure this crazy weather is not helping. My friend in NY normally has blues by now, but so far nothing. She has not even seen one.
My question was if I should remove a partial nest the blues built …then moved to the other box. I didn’t want to take the box down, but if taking the nest out would help attract a pair of TRES faster that would be great. Then I think maybe a starter nest is good, less work for the new birds. Thoughts?
Judy-Michigan 4 Bluebird eggs as of today.
Thank to everyone for the support and encouragement!!! It’s very helpful knowing others are having some of the same issues. I have to laugh……I thought it was going to be easy…put up a BB box and they will come. NOT. Wowza, it’s a lot of work!
Today the weather has changed for the better. The rain has stopped, it getting warmer and the sun is shining…yay. Update on my boxes. The back yard paired boxes, one has a nest started by TRES, taken over by bluebirds. No eggs yet. The TRES are still coming around and hanging out, but have not started another nest in the empty box. It looks to me the Bluebirds are going to be the winners of box #1.
Front paired boxes, one is taken by a pair of Bluebirds, has 3 eggs as of this afternoon. The other box is unoccupied, but has a nest the Bluebirds started then decided to move to the other box. I see TRES looking at the empty box, but the blues run them off. Wondering should I remove the nest in the empty box or leave it?
Judy-Michigan
Still do not know who will be the winner of this box. Some days the TRES are there all day and the next day the Bluebirds are there all day. They seem to be rotating days. Our weather has been unseasonably cool here with rain most days. Guess time will tell, I’m hoping they both use a box and help each other keep the predators away.
Judy-Michigan
