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David,
You tempted me since I am missing my other birds … who came “nagging” today for seeds. They literally got on top of the feeder pole and complained to me. I moved the feeder to a spot about 20-25 feet away from the bluebird box, on a diagonal and not super visible (kinda in the shrubs and small trees) but my yard is small so it’s hard to find spots where it’s not still near the box.
I’d love to hear from others how close / if they keep seed feeders up near the boxes. Here I was preaching it’s not worth it, and it’s not, but it *was fun having all those birds around! Even cardinals were regular visitors, and they don’t come much to feeders.So you’re saying things basically wrap up by mid-July, in your experience? Tbh that’s my experience too, I don’t recall ever having boxes to watch over in August. I’m just so disappointed! I really shouldn’t be … we had a beautiful nest in the community garden with much less trouble than usual, and then the “surprise nest” I discovered as well, at the historic house site. I’m just (privately) crushed that while my bluebirds came back for two visits to check out the box in my home garden, they didn’t stick around and nest. I frightened them away with that DUMB HOLE EXTENDER I PUT ON AARGH :(( not realizing they don’t like that at all, and I kept hoping they’d come back to see I’d taken it down …
I have a robin’s nest right outside my door and I can peek right in and it’s adorable, but there’s nothing like having bluebirds raising a family in your garden.Personally, I don’t feed any birds when my bluebirds are nesting. I don’t even fill the birdbath (afraid it will attract sparrows.) It’s a blessing to have bluebirds in the garden, and I don’t want to encourage anyone who is going to bring trouble and heartache. Birds don’t really need feeders in summer so …
This happened with my nest last year too. Family drama! Finally dad was like, alright, OUT! And a very reluctant bird left the nest … :))
Do you think it’s too late to be hoping for a nesting? At the community garden, our babies successfully fledged and we’re wondering if they might build again, and in my garden, my box has been empty all summer … we are in MA.
I’m getting attached to this box. I can walk to it, which is nice. I sit on a big rock and watch with my dog. It’s next to the river and surrounded by fruit trees. Honestly, the nest is half hanging out of the box. But they seem content and I think they are close to fledging (I can’t open the box but it’s so open anyway I can literally peer inside and see a big baby’s beak.)
This is fascinating! I was reflecting how when our male bb lost his mate last year, he was in shock and the babies almost died, but this female is right in the saddle of what she needs to do. Isn’t that just like a woman?!! (He did come through in the end.)
Tamsea, I hope you’re wrong that none of your babies made it. Just because you didn’t see them doesn’t mean they didn’t make it. When mine fledged last year I was all high on the experience, got a fancy new mealworm feeder, got the box all ready for another nest, and they never returned! They just flew off and did their thing.Rich, we had this happen last year, the mama bluebird disappeared, along with two of the four hatchlings. We had no idea what happened. For about a day, the papa bluebird kept away, and the babies got seriously dehydrated. They looked about to give up the ghost in the nest. I was calling around frantically to wildlife rehabilitation hospitals (btw learned about the stupiest law ever, where you need a special “federal license” to handle migratory birds, and so no one would or could help–even though they knew how! Case of government regs meaning right but doing wrong.) ANYWAY, just when I arrived to take the nest to a place where they said they could try to keep them alive, I saw papa bluebird nearby. I felt I couldn’t take a nest if he was there. Instead, we loaded on the mealworms, just as you are doing–and darned if papa didn’t swing into action and bring those babies back. It was an amazing sight, watching him do it all on his own. Finally, they fledged. So keep feeding! It really helps! They can do it! (with a little help from their friends.)
Carol, you have much more experience that I have since you can watch them from house. So I trust your instincts of concern. Having said that, it seems to me that if it’s been really hot that would explain it … I think mama bluebird is being smart.
It’s funny to read how hot it’s been where you are … we’ve had a spell of quite cool and dry weather (Parts of Massachusetts are in drought.)
