Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Don’t feel terrible. The nuthatches will leave as soon as their young have fledged and then you can prepare for your blues again. They will find you.
David
Stafford, VAJust an update – no activity for a couple of days with the rain and cold weather. I did see the female knock a sparrow (that I just said were not in my neighborhood) off the nest box! Sorry no camera – that would have been a great photo. Have to go get a new air rifle. Spring broke in the old one.
David
Stafford, VADana, it is hard to deal with sparrows in a “humane” way when they are such a threat to our bluebirds. Like some others here I have an air rifle. I have not had to use it for a few years though. 4 or 5 years ago it got daily use. Maybe I cleared my population or they went somewhere else ( I hope not up your way!). The other thing I did that may have impacted the presence of sparrows is that I took down all of my bird feeders and only left the humming birds nectar feeder.
David
Stafford, VASecond look. She is building, even using slightly damp grass.
Connie, she might be dropping it and going to gather another batch before shaping it. You can still see the bottom of the box in this photo. She will probably fill that before she starts to lay the eggs. Who Knows? I am not sure how they build.
David
Stafford, VARaining and cold today. I haven’t seen them this morning. They are probably across the street in the woods staying dry.
David
Stafford, VAWet and cold weather does have an impact on “home-building” of all types. They will return in as it dries out. Good luck this season.
David
Stafford, VAI am disappointed at that whole display. I would get a nestbox from Lowe’s before I would use one of those things.
Connie, I put my nestbox back up a few weeks ago after I saw 3 blues sitting on and near my empty pole. It has been cool here but now is beginning to get cold at night. I do see the bluebirds on and off the box but have yet to see them enter at night or leave in the morning. I do see droppings in the box though and have cleaned them out on the weekends. Someone is using it.
Have a good winter everyone.
David
Stafford, VAThanks Judy and Carol. It has been a fun, if not trying year. But we seem to have made it and have some ideas for our next season. I am going to try a new box also using a bigger floor and if the kids got the hint about the mealworm feeder, I will try to start the year with mealworms.
Let’s enjoy our “time off”. See you next year!
David
Stafford, VAIt has been fun this year. Lots of unexpected happenings every where.
But we also had a lot of new young blues take wing.
Until spring….
David
Stafford, VAFinally Gone
Checked at 8:30 this morning and he was still there. Went to get gas in the car and checked again when I returned about an hour later and he was gone. almost 2 1/2 after the first ones. This one was probably that late hatch and was not able to compete with the others for food. Just took longer to develop. (Or he was just enjoying the peace and quiet.)
I am removing this box and may put up a new on next year.
David
Stafford, VAThanks Carol. I just checked again (5:15 PM) and he is still there. I had not seen the parent birds this afternoon and thought it might be gone but when I slightly opened the door – there he was just lounging in the nest. Maybe Tomorrow.
David
Stafford, VAI had 3 nestings this year – 1 nestbox. First nesting – 4 eggs, 4 fledged. Second nesting – 5 eggs 5 hatched but only 4 fledged. (1 hatched late and was under the other 4 birds. Third nesting – 4 eggs, 3 have fledged – 1 still in the box waiting for cooler weather. 13 eggs, 12 fledged total.
Nice idea Judy. Does anyone report their data to Cornell University?
David
Stafford, VA
