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Lisa, I still have both birds and one of an earlier fledge at the mealworm feeder. The male and female frequent the nestbox but I believe that the female is the only one that enters the nest. Carol, from Missouri, had a late hatch also I believe that her birds were 4 or 5 days late. You might check the earlier posts for her story.
David
Stafford, VABill, Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about the snake. There are several posts on the forum about mounting a nestbox, using a baffle and other deterrents.
You should remove the old nest after each group of fledgling have left the nest. Dispose the nest in the garbage or far away from he nestbox so you don’t attract predators. I usually scrub the inside of my nestbox with a “Liquid Green” spray and a scrub brush to clean out the mess that the young birds make. Let it dry completely before mounting it again.It is probably too late for another nesting this year but you might want to leave the box up for winter protection if the blues do not migrate. Clean it out again in the spring for the new season.
David
Stafford, VALisa – I am in Stafford Virginia , 45 miles south of Washington, DC. I have the same experience on the eggs in my nest. Hatch date was July 25. I think that the extreme heat that we have experienced could be the cause. Like yours, my female still still spends time in the nest box – but not as much lately. I keep wanting to remove the nest and clean the box but keep putting it off – just in case.
David
Stafford, VAGood news Carol. My nest has not hatched (10 days so I will clear out the box tomorrow. I don’t believe they will try for another nest this late in the season.
David
Stafford, VAI find it easier to do from my PC. Just download the app from imjur, set up your account, upload photos from you pc to imjur. select the picture(s) to post click copy (next to the BBcodes in the list to right of the photos) and paste the code in your forum post.
David
Stafford, VAfor Ilovebluebirds’
Here is the text from the April 23 post about posting photos from “imjur” (a free photo service online) for your information. Glad to answer any questions if you are interested in this route.
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This procedure will help you post photos from your phone to this forum if you use it on The Bluebird forum.
I am assuming that you have your photos on your phone. Let me know if you are trying to post from your PC.
Download and install the imjur mobile app to your phone. Upload your photos to imjur.
Prepare your post in the forum. DO NOT CLOSE!
1. Open the imjur app. From the homepage, tap the “contact” icon in the bottom right corner (circle and oval) This should take you to your photos.
2. Tap photo to post.
3. Tap “share” or the share arrow in the lower right corner.
4. Click “Copy Link”.
5. Go back to the forum and paste your link. You will not see the photo here.
6. When you finish your post, tap “submit+.
You will see your post and photo in the thread above.This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by David in Stafford,VA.
David
Stafford, VADavid
Stafford, VARoy, I would put a decoration on your window to keep the Bluebird from attacking the window. I would move any house plants that have green foliage near your window also.
David
Stafford, VATim – as an aside- I raise mealworms also. I had intended to supply my local Wild Birds Unlimited store with mealworms but COVID got me in late 2021, which limited what I could do. My chimney also developed a cracked liner during the winter that turned the basement too cold for my colony to survive. I lost over 3000 beetles and an unknown number of eggs and worms. I am just now getting the colony going again with 250 to 300+ beetles laying. I would be glad to share any information if you want to try again.
David
Stafford, VAThanks Tammy. I am using the shiny Mylar tape – about 3/4″ wide. I cut it in half to use. The strips seem to flutter in the breeze and hang okay. I do find them stuck together in the morning if we have a heavy dew which has been almost every morning since I returned from Texas. I just use a straight twig to move them apart when I go out to do the morning mealworm feeding.
David
Stafford, VACarol – that is 3 day after the normal wait of 14 days. I would say that if they have not hatched by tomorrow, they are not going to hatch at all and removal is okay.
Other thoughts?David
Stafford, VAThanks Carol, I have been away for a week in Texas (hot – 107+ each day and had not checked te box for a while. I have 4 eggs probably started to incubate around July 7 or 8. No sparrows in sight so hopefully the spooker is helping I hav untangled the streamers twice so far and will watch for a while to see how the do.
David
Stafford, VADave I would not keep the wren guard off. That wren will be back and I would protect the next eggs that are laid. Mom bird will not mind.
David
Stafford, VAThat always happens. You leave for a couple od days thinking you have the Hatch date covered and nature finds a way to beat you. Congratulations on the new brood.
David
Stafford, VAThanks Tammy. I am now ready for the next attempt. I have the materials for the Sparrow spooker and might try it with the fish line addition.. I also am going to put up a dummy box near the neighbors yard where I believe the HOSP lives. have a Van Ert for that one.
David
Stafford, VA
