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“I doubt I will get a third clutch this late in the season but I am thrilled with this year’s experience”
Never say Never Rich. If it stays warm you still could have another brood. It is up to the birds. And if not you can still provide mealworms through the winter if they stay around.
David
Stafford, VAWelcome Dana. I am relatively new here also but I have been “raising” Bluebirds about 8 years. Are you in the city or out toward the farm communities around Lancaster. Our family history is in the Lancaster, Marietta, Mount Joy area. We visit there quite frequently.
David
David
Stafford, VAYes it is good to see that they are trying the third time.
Dana, I love that photo in your profile. Where did you take it?David
David
Stafford, VACheetie, I am in Stafford, VA. I just had my second flrdge a couple of days ago and I expect another nest in a couple of weeks. In most years I have had 3 nestings.
We mentioned in another thread that the Bbirds may start a new nest from a couple of days to 3-4 weeks following the fledge of a brood. It depends on when the female is ready to start a new brood.
The only thing that you can do is clean out the nestbox and wait until they are ready. It sounds like you have all the basics. Just be patient.
For a lot of good information about monitoring bluebirds you should visit this website. It is probably the premiere for bluebird information source in the web.( http://www.sialis.org )
Happy 4th
David
David
Stafford, VANo pics of the fledging yesterday. The 4 little ones left sometime during the day from about 9 am to 4 pm. I sat on the deck for 20-30 minute at a time about every 2 hours during that time. I only saw the Mom and Dad bird sitting on the hook, bringing food to the nestbox, and chirping a storm during that time. We ate around 5:30 and I went out to check the box about 6:30 and found it empty.
Today I removed the box, cleaned it out, and put it back on the pole to dry. I am hoping for a third nesting in a couple of weeks (knocks on wood). I will watch for the new little ones flying around in the trees and on the power line.
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This reply was modified 10 years ago by
. Reason: identify day of fledging
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David
Stafford, VAHave you tried using live mealworms. It is probably too late to get the large supplies through the mail but local pet stores like PetSmart usually have containers of live mealworms that they sell for reptile terrariums. The live worms are more nutritious for the young ones than the dried.
It sounds like you have a pretty determined female there. Continued success
David
David
Stafford, VACongratulations on the nesting. Hope that it goes well. You might get a Sparrow Spooker up if you have not done so already, as a precaution. I also agree with Tammy that you need to cover that wire base. A couple pinches of grass clippings should do the trick and Mama bird will pack it down to a nice bowl.
David
David
Stafford, VAAccording to my chart, the young should fledge tomorrow, but it sure looks like the parent birds are getting ready for them today. They are both out on the shepherd’s hook chirping up a storm. I haven’t seen either one go to the nestbox with food.
David
Stafford, VAThey are growing and have their feathers now. I looked in the box yesterday but did not have my camera. We are at day 13 following the hatch so I do not want to disturb them any more before they fledge on July 2. I will be ready for them this time.(I now have and excuse not to be working but to continue my “healing process” on the deck. I will try to post some photos of the fledging.
David
Stafford, VAYes, and you might have even directed her to the photos on the Sialis.org site. She really needs to know how bad the HOSP’s are and how to get rid of them She is not doing us any favors by tolerating them!
David
Stafford, VAHi Sky. Good to meet you. I am interested in you HOSP method. I don’t have a problem yet but have seen the HOSP every once in a while.
David
David
Stafford, VASpent some time after lunch on the deck watching for activity at the nestbox. Mom & Pop came by with food. They seem to have found a good supply of grubs in the woods and yards near us.
David
Stafford, VACher, sorry to hear the bad news. Life is tough “raising” these little birds since we cannot intervene much to help them. I have had the same experience, to a lesser extent (2 boxes vs. 4) but the effect was the same. I did remove both boxes after the second nest robbery, cleaned them and put them away. I did but the house that is now up back at the onset of winter. My blues use it over the winter as a roosting spot.
Stick with it and watch out for that wren. They can be mean.David
David
Stafford, VA -
This reply was modified 10 years ago by
