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Courtney, of course we remember you. So good to hear from you. I believe you said you live on a horse farm in Ontario and since I live in Michigan we are almost neighbors………………….Lol. Glad all is well and you have a pair of blue building. Let the fun begin‼️
Judy – Michigan
I am seeing the same pattern with one of my pairs. The front yard pair fledged 5 and are incubating another 5 eggs. I was putting out 60 mealworms and they would normally only eat 1/2 of them. I only saw 1 of the fledglings on the feeder one time only. Never brought the others around. That’s a first for me not to see the group. I also think the larger the worms the less they need.
Backyard pair that fledged 2 and 3 newly hatched, I give them 60 mealworms also. They eat them all. They let the 2 older fledglings eat last.
Judy – Michigan
TN Carol….the tiger cub picture was taken in Los Cabo, Mexico. It was super cute. I thought it would have soft fur, but it was really wiry.
Good luck on your 2nd nesting.
Judy – Michigan
David, congratulations on your bluebird nest. How many eggs are in there now? I like how you have a method for mowing…..very thoughtful of incubating mama blue.
Judy – Michigan
Chris…. cool picture of the Pileated woodpecker. I’m still waiting for one to show up in my yard. Heard they are quite impressive looking….13 inches high.
Judy – Michigan
I agree with MO Carol…….keep taking those wren sticks out. They are just so sneaky and quick to slip into a nest and ruin all the eggs.
Phillyblues, I have found bird eggs laying on the bare floor of a box before too. Crazy.
TN Carol….it’s still early, I think you will get another nesting of bluebirds.
Good luck,
Judy – MichiganI save my heat shields too. I have white styrofoam with 1/2 inch spacers. Luckily it is not supposed to get that hot here. I wish y’all the best.
Judy – Michigan
That is great news‼️ Love the sparrow spookers, they have been working like a charm around here. Hope you get a nesting in your yard soon. It’s a good sign to hear them singing. Good luck.
Judy – Michigan
Update on the nest with 2 eggs in one day with a total of 6 eggs. As you know 1 egg was buried in the nest from day one, so I was expecting 5 to hatch. As incubation progressed the buried egg was coming more exposed…..I had high hopes, but turns out that only 3 of the 6 eggs hatched. They are all doing well. The two fledglings from the 1st nesting are allowed to hangout, but are usually chased away from the mealworm feeder by both Mama & Papa Blue. They do not help feed the new hatchlings. When Mom and Pop bluebird are done at the mealworm feeder they are allowed to go in for cleanup. They know the rules….NOT to enter the feeder first. I’m having fun watching the show.
I have 3 other boxes full. Front yard has bluebird nest with 5 eggs (incubating)…..paired with another box ( 15’ apart) occupied with Tree Swallows, 5 hatchlings. Backyard also has paired boxes (the box with 2 bluebird eggs in one day) and the other has Tree Swallows with 6 hatchlings. Still have house wrens trying to build in a box I put up for them to stay busy with. I make sure I remove the sticks daily.
It has been a busy season and I’m a happy camper‼️
Judy – Michigan
I have never had a wet nest, but if I did, I have saved a few unused nests for this purpose. If they are cold the wet nest is not helping. Sometimes they barely move when I check the box, so that doesn’t surprise me. Hope it warms up soon! Good luck.
Judy – Michigan
You did exactly what I would have done. If you are seeing blues and no house sparrows….no need for the Van Ert trap at this time. I only use the trap while I’m watching the box. Earlier this season I trapped mr. blue…..he was released immediately. He didn’t hold that against me or the box.
Judy – Michigan
Hmmm……I never thought about the boxes with side doors being a challenge for using the Van Ert trap. I can see where it would be difficult install. I use the clear large garbage size bags over the box also. You can see what you caught easily. Usually as soon a I catch the house sparrows the bluebirds are back within a few hours.
Judy – Michigan
Carol, good news about your second nest underway. My front box second nest is just a few day behind yours. She laid her first egg 5/27….as of today there are 3 eggs. Sparrow spooker up on day one and the wren guard today, day 3. I would have put it up yesterday, but we had terrible winds and rain. I checked to see if the nest was dry after all the blowing rain…..yup all is well.
Chris, I have never seen a pileated woodpecker, but I keep watching for one to show up. We do have them in our area. Maybe this will be the year.
Judy – Michigan
