Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
They may not be serious about the box. After all, why work hard when you don’t have to?
Technically it’s not an old nest since it wasn’t used. You could take the dee nest out and save it in case you ever need one. I have done that.
Gin
Atlanta, GAHow long does making a nest normally take them?
Females can make a nest in a matter of days. A male takes a lifetime if he does it at all. Which he doesn’t.
Gin
Atlanta, GAAnybody will build on anybody’s nest if they want the box. Birds will also throw out someone else’s nest. Remove it if you want but you don’t have to.
Gin
Atlanta, GAI think I would touch the inside of the nest, especially under the chicks, to see how it is. Dampness could kill them and we don’t want that.
No matter what you do they are not going to abandon these babies.
Gin
Atlanta, GAThey are gaping so I bet there is an unhatched egg under them. No harm in leaving it if you want.
Gin
Atlanta, GAMark, good for your bird! He’s an excellent protector. I wish more of them were like him.
Please get that box on a slick metal pole with a raccoon baffle. They will be safer.
Gin
Atlanta, GAThe reason to remove an old nest and eggs is the danger of the new female building a nest that is too close to the entrance.
I am sorry this happened to you. There is either a shortage of males or a shortage of territories.
Gin
Atlanta, GAIf you’re going to remove an egg, the very best thing to use is a plastic spoon. Less chance of injury to egg or chicks. You don’t absolutely have to remove an egg. It could be fine through the whole nesting.
First clutches are often the largest with the number reducing over the season. That doesn’t always happen but often does. Like David said, it also sometimes depends on the age and health of the female.
Gin
Atlanta, GALisa, he may be one of those males who never gets around a wren guard. That’s perfectly fine as long as he still provides food for the female to give the chicks. Seems to me the females are always the ones determined to get around the thing. Leave it in place for around 10 days, ok?
Gin
Atlanta, GANope. The dees are not incubating the blue eggs. If the male EABL has lost interest in the box, you can remove the eggs and the nest. If you’re lucky the dees will build in the box. Of course if you do nothing and the dees want the box they will just build over what is there. Better to take the nest and eggs out so the dees have a clean box.
Gin
Atlanta, GAThat sounds about right. Really warm temps can make them hatch even earlier. If it’s cool the hatch date can be delayed.
Incubation typically begins on the day the last egg is laid so I always count that as day 1.
In any case, the 25th is day 14 and they should hatch right around then.
Gin
Atlanta, GADeb, I would use one box as a trap box and remove the other one. OR you could use both boxes as traps if you want.
Gin
Atlanta, GABrad, I think I would put it slap in the middle of the backyard and move the seed feeder. Eight feet from the fence is not far enough.
No to the location between the goal and yellow shrub but maybe you could put it just inside your property line in the front yard, about 6 feet or so from the road.
In any case, try to face the box away from prevailing winds. Facing northeast is always a good choice.
I don’t know what’s going on here, Lisa, but I’m ok with it. I don’t have to have baby birds. Seen and helped a gazillion.
Gin
Atlanta, GA
