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Hi Ellen.
I use a stovepipe baffle as Dana mentioned above. it is a 2 ft section of stovepipe wuth a cap and mounted 4 ft up the pole on 2 screws that are drilled into the pole. The baffle does wobble when touched by anything more than a light breeze. I stuffed hardware cloth and chicken wire up at the top of the baffle where the hole goes through the cap to keep anything from trying to crawl through, and I do lube the pole with grease.Good luck with your new blues
David
David
Stafford, VAComment on the bottom opening box.. I converted mine to a top opening box so that I could look in and see if everything was okay. I just removed the pivot screws from the top and drilled pilot holes for the bottom. Moved the “lock” to the top and now I can vies the nest, eggs, hatchlings and take photos. Less than 30 minutes. The birds don’t seem to mind one bit, and it is easier to clean after the young have fledged.
David
Stafford, VAThis shows the predator guard that Dana has mentioned. I have used both the 3/4″ and a 1″ guard with the i 1/2 inch opening and have not had any trouble with the starlings and grackles. I am also a pretty good marksman with a pellet rifle.
David
Stafford, VAVery late spring-like here today. 69 degrees right now. There has been a lot of flying to the nest box also but it is too soon to be building. I won’t be long though.
David
Stafford, VAThanks Dana. Where in Lancaster are you. Our ancestors settled in the Mount Joy – Marietta area in the mid 1700s. There are still a lot of Engle’s in the area. We had a big 205th reunion with over 600 people attending back in 2004.
David
Stafford, VATry to avoid getting closer to the tree line if possible. That makes the box more attractive to the wrens and house sparrows. Bring it off of the Martin house pole and a few feet away.
David
Stafford, VAVery tolerant once they have settled in and get to know your routine and those of the neighbors. My neighbors on both sides of my house have dogs that bark at squirrels and birds in the trees. The blues have become used to the noise and they sit on top of the box, in the nest, on the shepherds hook, etc. and do not seem to mind the commotion. They will spook if something startles them – such as me opening the slider to walk out onto my deck without checking to see if they are nearby but if I am quiet, walk slowly, and don’t make quick movements they are okay.
David
David
Stafford, VAI have a “woodsy” area around my house also. The bluebirds nest in the box and seem to find an endless supply of grubs and insects in the natural surroundings. I tried to feed the mealworms also but I stopped when (1) the didn’t take any from the feeder and (2) they seemed to do well on their own feeding the 2 or 3 broods of 5 hatchlings and themselves each year.
As the others have said – do clean the box now. It is better to clean in now while we have a bit of mild weather while they are roosting. Even if it takes a day or 2 for the box to dry out they will return. You are not evicting them forever. Nature has way of keeping them healthy.
David
David
Stafford, VAGreat work. Any dent that you make in the “population” is significant and, as you have seen, the other birds appreciate your efforts
Thank You
David
David
Stafford, VACarol
The birds do return at times following the last nesting and do bring some materials to the box. When I put my nestbox back up after cleaning on the 3rd nesting I leave the front panel door open. It stays open until October when the weather cools down here. That way they do not try to rebuild a nest in the box. They still come to it, hop around, fly to and from the trees, just to see if the box is still here.Relax, they will be okay.
David
David
Stafford, VABob – you should have the BB during the winter. They will find shelter as they need it and may not stay in the same location on consecutive nights. I am certain that they have used my nestbox during the winter as there are a couple of down feathers, some fecal matter, and maybe a loose wing feather (blues) but I do not know when they have stayed in the box. They are always gone by the time that I am awake enough to want to go out and check.
Providing the mealworms and heated water dish will keep them in the area, but they will continue to forage the trees, woods, and brush for insects, larva, berries, etc. if it is available.Have a great fall and winter of observing.
David
David
Stafford, VAI am sorry that I missed this post. I think that Gin answered your question very well. I have not experienced the loss of a parent bird. But from what I have read, Gin is correct that a single parent will assume the prime caretaker role. It might take a bit of time (I assume that there is a “grieving” or questioning time following the loss), but survival and protection instincts seem to be pretty strong in our bluebirds.
You did the right thing.David
David
Stafford, VAHi Susan,
You have done a great job of bringing that last brood to fledging. Nichole said it very well that we all enjoy “raising” our bluebirds and helping others that are experiencing difficulties or situations where we can. Each of us has probably asked similar questions at one time or another and received welcome assistance from others. This forum is unique, I believe, because everyone has an interest in preserving this beautiful species and they can empathize with those that are experiencing a HOSP, Wren, loss of parent bird, critter issue etc. We all have dealt with it at one time or another and are willing to share and propose solutions in a friendly way as opposed to a “my way is always right way” that I have seen elsewhere.
Good luck on your next years efforts.
David
David
Stafford, VAGood for you. Congratulations in a pretty trying effort to save a clutch of young blues. It is good to hear that the male bird did weather the “grieving”, fed the young and helped bring them to a successful fledge.
David
David
Stafford, VAI missed another fledging on Friday. There was a lot of activity with the 2 parents bringing food to the young ones. But I did not expect them to go until Saturday. I did see a lot of “peeking” out of the box by several of the young but they did not venture out while I sat there and took these pictures. All in all I must have spent 4 hours watching the box and taking a few snaps but did not see them go.
On Saturday morning I looked out to see if the parents were watching for the first ones to leave the box but they were nowhere in sight. I waited until 11:00 AM before I decided that I needed to see what was happening so I could get on with mowing the lawn. I found the box empty. So they must have fledged after I used the grill on the deck around 5:00 PM on Friday. Cleaning the nestbox today and letting it dry before putting it back up for the winter occupants.
Checking out the neighborhood
Dad must be showing which way to fly out of the box
David
Stafford, VA
