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I used a similar one about 5 or 6 years ago ( believe it had a little larger base) as a second box. Never had blues in it though. Chickadees once and wrens/HOSP the following year. Took it down and went back to the NABS.
David
Stafford, VAI can see 4 of the 5. I am not sure whether there is an egg or little one under the visible birds. I thought I counted 5 when I checked the box last night. i will go out again to put up the heat shield.
David
Stafford, VACongratulations Judy. Watch the box. I keep my box down and open for about a week after
the fledging. One or both of the parent birds usually comes back and sits on the shepherds hook. That is when I put the box back up again. Hopefully you can keep that wren away. You should start seeing the bluebirds back in a week or so if they are going to try for another nesting this year.David
Stafford, VAWe just returned from a trip to Disney World with the grandkids. I looks like the 5 eggs hatched on time and the little ones seem to be doing fine, It was raining when i went out to check on them so I did not have the camera, Will get some photos tomorrow.
David
Stafford, VACarol- I have never had any trouble with mowing at any time during the incubation and hatchings. I always start by using my weed-whacker to trim the grass around the nest box. I trim a circle with about a 4 ft radius around the box. Then I take the tractor mower to the front yard so that mama can sit with the eggs for a while. When I get to the back yard I start mowing in a diagonal on both sides of the nest box and do another circle cut around the box outside the trimmer cut. This lets me stay away from the house while I finish the mowing. Over the years I believe that this couple has become used to the mower noise as they seem to stay in or or on the box longer as I approach them.
David
Stafford, VAI, too, am sorry for your loss. As we have said before. each time we experience something like this it is tough for a few days. It is not too late for another nesting or two to happen. You can leave the feather in place for now. If the new occupant, hopefully a pair of bluebirds, does not want it, they will remove it.
Good luck on the next go around.David
Stafford, VA
Really GREAT news, Rich. Congratulations on the entire endeavor – the HOSP demise and the new BB egg. Persistence actually does pay off.David
Stafford, VAConnie sent me the photos of the little chickadees. I am posting them for her.
Here is the first one.
David
Stafford, VAWow that is fast Lisa. I guess she was anxious to get another group in before it gets too hot.
David
Stafford, VAIf that did happen I would not only post it – but I would enlarge it and frame it for my computer room. We don’t see many “over 5” nests with the EABL. I have seen on Facebook several western and mountain bluebird nest with 6. I think 5 is enough to worry about.
David
Stafford, VAThanks Judy. Here is egg #5. This will be all of the photos until the hatch ~ June 22.
David
Stafford, VAThe recommended way (see the stickies) is to open an account in an online service like Imgur.com. You load your photos to your account. When you want to post them to the forum, you click on the photo to post. On the right side of the page will be a list of different posting codes. Select the one labeled “BBCode (message boards & forums)”. This copies that line of code beginning with “img”. Paste that in your post where you want it to appear. Try it to see how it works. I will be glad to assist if I can. If you would like to send me a photo to post for you attach it to an email. I just replied to your “PM” from April with my address. Sorry for not reading it sooner
David
Stafford, VARenee – I can’t say too much more than what the others have said. I encourage you to keep trying this year. If you see any wren activity at all I would act quickly to keep them at bay or deter them from getting to the box. I have removed my box only once in the 10 or so years that I have been housing the bluebirds due to the persistence of the wrens. They did not come back the next year.
Good luck to you.
David
Stafford, VA
