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Jackie, this is interesting. I have not seen it but I do know that my male bird does spend time in the nest box after delivering material. I do not have a camera in the box so I do not know what he is doing.
David
Stafford, VATammy and all, I agree that trying to stop one after the fact is nearly impossible. They usually stay until the last egg is gone. If you get in that situation you might try relocating the nestbox away from it’s current position. I did that years ago by moving the box from the back yard to the front yard. Then moved it back the next year.
Good luck with your birds.
David
Stafford, VA(@ Tim C) I wouldn’t count on E-bird numbers to be accurate for bluebird nesting.
Tammy, I used to keep statistics on the group nestings and report them as a group to the Cornell University.
Their data sheet reflects “Hatch from last egg” as 14 days; “Days to fledge” as 17 days from Hatch date. That has worked for most of us.David
Stafford, VA5 is generally the limit. I believe that Carol out in Missouri had 6 in one of her nest a year or so ago. More than 5 is rare.
David
Stafford, VAAccording to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act I could take the nest out of the box as long as there are no eggs or nestlings.
My only concern is the close proximity of the two nest and whether they are in sight of each other.
David
Stafford, VAStill building. Saw both birds this morning on top of the nest box with beaks full of nesting material. I didn’t have my camera handy, so I missed that shot.
David
Stafford, VAGood to hear your experiences Nora. That Snake and predator baffle will do a lot to insure the little ones survival.
David
Stafford, VARoger, that is common behavior for the bluebirds. I have seen 2 or 3 different pairs of blues do exactly what yours are doing. When a pair is ready to start a nest, they will claim it and start building their nest. It could take a week or two or it could be just a couple of days. It is a new box in the neighborhood and they are checking it out. That is a good sign.
Good luck and keep us posted.David
Stafford, VAI watched a bit this morning to see what was happening with the nestbox with the eggs. This male and a female bluebird were bringing new nesting materials into the nest and the female appeared to be constructing a new nest. So I went out and removed the bottom half of the old nesting materials in the box along with the 5 unhatched eggs and disposed of them. The two seem to have accepted the change as they are working again this evening. It was hot this afternoon and I didn’t see them around.
David
Stafford, VAOnce she starts laying the eggs, the nest is hers and she will not likely abandon it. I usually put my spooker up after the first egg is laid.
David
Stafford, VAI agree with this. I am in Stafford, VA with similar weather to what you have. My birds started to build around the first week of March but just took their time building. They finished on March 28 but did not lay the first egg until April 2. If the BB pair have not been back to look in and around the nest for a couple of weeks, they have probably abandoned it. There could have been a mishap for one of the pair.
I do agree that taking the box down was probably not a good idea once thay had started to build the nest.
Give it another week. if no activity, then I would remove the nest and let another pair start all over.David
Stafford, VAShe apparently trusts you to not leave the box when you approach. When I check on my birds I usually whistle as I approach the box, then gently tap on the door. There is enough play in the door that it will move slightly when I tap. If she is in there she will normally fly away to a tree behind the nest box and wait for me to leave.
It sounds like you will have only 3 eggs this time around.
David
Stafford, VA
