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My thoughts are, I would never remove bluebird eggs unless they had been abandoned for a long time (like, you haven’t seen either parent around for a week.) You just never know … and what a loss that would be.
Besides, it’s actually illegal and last time, as you said, the mama bluebird knew best.I echo Julie 100%. I didn’t start off trapping—I got there when I saw how the deck is stacked against the bluebirds. When I feel squeamish or remorseful, I picture the dead bluebirds I’ve found and I brace myself and do it.
You can do it without ever touching a bird.I had bad luck using a bird guardian: it was back when my bluebirds were still looking for a box, but it spooked them. I think it makes it hard for them to “reach” (i.e., feed) their young. So I think you were smart to take it off.
I was hoping to find extra protection for the pre-egg period. Like, birds discover box and start a nest=put up fishing line; birds lay egg=put up spook. Has anyone has success with fishing line installed before egg laid?
We did it for tree swallows and it worked. But the bluebirds not quite as “pushy” as the tree swallows.I’ve conducted the following experiment: I had fishing line strung by the hole, and no activity at the box for weeks. No sparrows, no natives. I went away on a trip so I took down the line to see what would happen. In 4 days, I had several sparrows invading the box and starting to build. So, it really does deter. However, it also seems to deter natives. Now that I’ve trapped a sparrow (there were 2-3 males competing), I have to decide whether to put up the line or not. Will it deter everybody?
I saw a video on fishing line that said, it’s probably better to wait till a native pair is interested, before putting it up.
What do you all think? My box is in a tough site for bluebirds: I had a successful nest last year, but I’ve also got a lot of sparrows around.
??Here too (MA), I’ve been monitoring our community garden boxes for over a decade and we’ve never had a year without a bluebird nest. They’ve been around, but not setting up shop. Swallows are well underway. I would not say our weather has been anything unusual: New England always varies a lot with spring.
???Ugh, Meredith, you must be so sad. It is just the worst feeling when you see the bluebirds struggling so hard and you want to help them and worry you failed.
You should have the spook mount installed on your box so that *as soon as one egg is laid*, you pop in the spook apparatus and protect your eggs: http://www.sialis.org/sparrowspooker.htm
A baffle is also important and I use both. But it won’t help with sparrows.
If a sparrow “attaches” to your box (starts singing on top, starts building a nest) it is just about impossible to get rid of them without trapping, as others have suggested. Whoever attacked the eggs may now try and get back in there and start a nest.
With all this said, with the right equipment ready and with vigilance and love and dedication (which you clearly show in your post) you can be successful and it is SO AMAZING when your bluebirds make it out alive.Wow, I just followed this drama and my heart was pounding! So happy for the outcome. One of the most awesome sights I ever saw in my life was last year, when one baby didn’t fledge. The parents fledged the other two and then dad came back and looked after the one left behind. Next morning, soon after dawn, dad got on the shed roof, sang his calling song, baby put head out with a face like, “I really don’t want to do this but I have to!” and left the nest. It ended up on the ground and there was a bit of confusion while it called to be found, but dad was on it in seconds and off they went. It was such family drama and so beautifully resolved by these very best bluebird parents!
Aww, Julie, are you feeling sad? I’m wishing for mine to return to my home garden box too, and at the community garden where we always have a pair, they didn’t nest either. It’s been a barren spring so far!
These are wonderful! Thank you for sending. I tried strings in a cross on top one year but it didn’t help. Do you also hang them swinging in the wind on the sides? That, I haven’t tried. Or, a Gilbertson box. My hesitation was because I couldn’t trap with the curved shape. But, worth trying … your birds are so beautiful :))
I didn’t get your emails, but it looks like we can post photos on the forum though I’m not sure how. Maybe just copy and paste?
Right. Yours was 1/4 inch thick but mine was 1 1/4 inches. We have 1/4 inch thick ones at the community garden boxes, and those are fine. But this was more like a little tunnel.
Thank you! You’ve given me peace of mind!
Would you be able to send me a picture of your set-up? I’m intrigued by the extra lines you mention but can’t quite picture.
My email is barbara.lynndavis21@gmail.com
