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Great news Connie. I put my house back up today. Dad was perched on top of it but Mom must have been feeding the kids. It has just been 3 days so I will watch for activity in the box nest week.
David
Stafford, VAThanks all. This is our first experience with this bird so I am reading everything I can on their habits, food, nesting, etc. So far this one has not approached the mealworm feeder or the hanging feeder, just the dish on the deck. I do have a hopper feeder that I am going to put up either tomorrow or Thursday.
David
Stafford, VAIf it does hatch, the fetus will probably suffocate under the other 5. I have had that happen when one egg hatched late. The other birds had grown to a size that covered the entire nest bottom. Unfortunate, but nature does not do what we would like for it to do.
David
Stafford, VAThanks Judy and Carol. Yes, it is good to have them out of the box and into the trees. This weather streak of warm like summer and then chilly like late fall or late winter has bee a real bother. I had thought about putting up the insulation cover that I made last year to try to mitigate some of the very chilly nights but I didn’t do it. Hopefully these 40 degree nights will warm up.
David
Stafford, VAJudy, the comment about the 6 eggs refers to all of the posts from the group about their current nests. I believe Chris reported the 6 eggs.
Your female might be able to move that egg up into the rest of the nest when she starts to incubate and turn the eggs. It looks like there might be a weak spot under that egg. You might be able to stuff some light grass clippings under that spot to lend support but I am not sure that I would try it. Too much chance of the egg dropping out.
David
Stafford, VAWe have had 6 eggs in a box already this year. Could be another new experience for the group.
David
Stafford, VAI have never been a fan of the recycled material nestbox. They just do not blend in with the “woodsy” outdoor surroundings. While they may be easier to clean than the wooden structures, I think that they just do not look natural. The people at the Wild Birds Unlimited store where I shop has only the painted plastic houses – some in earth tones, but a majority in colorful shades that are just ugly in my opinion. most of them had house-like front appearances with slightly curved roofs and no predator guards. They do not even have them as an option.
Looking at your baffle on the nestbox at the top of the page, I would suggest putting a smaller size hardware cloth on top and underneath the what appears to be 1/2 inch hardware cloth to strengthen your snake guard. Young black snakes, garter snakes and the green tree snake will easily slip through that screen if they get up that high. Just a suggestion. I use 1/4″ hardware cloth for the basic circle. Then I use around 10 – 12 smaller pieces(not round) with the edges cut so I can bend the edge wires down through the 1/4″ holes to stab a predator trying to climb through. I also have a bundle of chicken wire that I have crumpled around the pole inside the baffle. Took a green snake out last year that died and dried there. Theoretically if the pole is greased they should not be able to get a grip but heat and weather, dust, and trapped insects can give some traction to an intruder.
David
Stafford, VAChris, I saw that nestbox in your other post and as Carol said was inviting trouble. Any climbing critter (snake, racoons, squirrels, cats. etc.)can just climb right up those vines and the wooden pole with ease. It would still be a good nestbox if you would mount it on a slick steel or PVC pole and use a baffle to protect it from climbers.
David
Stafford, VAAll of the ladies are right, Chris. I whistle to mine also. What is really fun is to see them bring back their fledglings to the mealworm feeder when they have grown a bit. I had 9 plus mom & dad in the late summer and through the winter.
David
Stafford, VA
