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Closing the vents might keep it a little warmer but I believe that the female bird will probably generate enough warmth for the nest since it is still above freezing. My concern would be the high winds.
Good luck.David
Stafford, VALisa and Carol, good to hear about the fledge and the new eggs. Like you Carol, I didn’t check the box yesterday and today there are 2 blue eggs in the nest. Have to find the wren guard and sun shade now.
David
Stafford, VAThanks Judy and Carol. We usually have the buntings around for about a week or two and then they move on. The towhees come and go until end of May and seem to disappear. I haven’t seen chickadees in quite a while .. I don’t know where they went. I am planting a flower garden this year after about a 15 year hiatus. I am trying to build the hummers and butterfly presence.
David
Stafford, VAIt has been a strange year weather-wise and bluebirds also. Mine just completed a nest. No eggs as it is still cold. In prior years the first nest is usually done in late March and we have had eggs by this time. I think that the severe weather that we had during the late winter and continuing into spring have messed up the migrations/returning birds. I know I have not seen as many towhees, indigo buntings, or chickadees for that matter.
Hang in there. If you spotted them before, they are probably just waiting for the weather to be a bit more consistent. Or something else! As has been mentioned before, the bluebirds don’t seem to have even read the rule book.
David
Stafford, VAConnie, my bluebirds started that way. It took her 3 days to complete a circle but then it took only two days to complete the whole nest. She did that yesterday. No eggs today but I expect her to begin laying sometime this week. I have been digging close to the box prepping my flower garden (which I haven’t done for ages and am fighting tree roots). I have been throwing beetle larva and grubs that I find while digging but have not seen them come down for a meal.
David
Stafford, VAWhat is interesting about this build is the bird goes to my neighbor’s yard to collect the grass for the nest.I have about a 4′ high pile of clippings not 100 feet away/
David
Stafford, VAI finally have the beginning of a nest. Went out to check the box as I was grilling on the deck and spooked the female from the box. Inside was a circle of grass clippings on the floor where she was sitting.
David
Stafford, VACongratulations on the nest and eggs Lisa. Like Connie, my pair hop on, in and out of the box but have not started a nest. It is still rainy and cold here. Maybe next week (or month)
David
Stafford, VAI don’t know which birds were using the box but when I cleaned it I found tree leaf buds and what appeared to be rape seed like that found in some of the store-bought bags of birdseed. I don’t believe that the blues eat that seed.
The high winds continue here – some predicted to be in the 50-60 mph gusts this afternoon. I am just going to stay inside and stay warm.David
Stafford, VAI don’t believe that we are through with the snow and cold rains either. Some of that new snow that you are getting is headed our way during the week so the birds will probably stay in the pines and hollies for a while.
David
Stafford, VAI believe that it is late enough in the season to take the box down and replace it with the roosting. If they haven started to build a new nest by now, they are probably done for the year. Mine keep coming back to the box but have not entered nor put any nesting materials in the box.I have cleaned the box and am leaving it opwn to air and dry until mid fall when I close it for a winter roost.
David
Stafford, VA
