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Thanks for all the encouragement. I’ll mark them this AM. I discovered 2 eggs in another box yesterday and am putting up the wren guard also this AM. I’m going to watch this one closely to make sure they go in. If so, spooker goes up tomorrow.
BZ
Carol, I’m concerned about the same thing. I Have BB in two boxes, with 5 hatched on June 20, and 4 eggs in the other (last egg Jun 25). This is the first year I’ve had two nests going at the same time, and I am excited about that, of course. I Have heat shields up, but am really worried about this excessive heat in west central Missouri. Looks like next week is going to be the same. Let’s hope those little guys can pull through this. Good luck to you!
BZ
W Ctrl MOI always use a wren guard since my first venture (and my first tragedy) into the BB world 4 years ago. I wasn’t aware of all the pitfalls of being a BB landlord since I had yet to discover this forum and the Sialis website. My first pair laid 5 eggs in 2014, and two days later I found them all on the ground with holes pecked in them. My wren guards are built from matching cedar and hinged to the roof of the box so I can easily open the door. I always leave them on for 10 days, as we do have lots of HOWR.
BZ–W Ctrl MO
I just checked the box and discovered that one egg has hatched! 13 days from the last egg. Maybe because it’s been so warm in this area? I’m anxious to se what tomorrow brings.
BZ
Carol, so sad to hear this news, and also afraid for my five as the nest is also damp (you saw my other post). I have another nest that I saved from about 4 years ago, and I think I’ll swap it out this afternoon. Can’t get to it until about 3 pm. I’m really nervous about handling the little birds, so if anyone has advice on how to do it, I would appreciate it. Thanks.
BZ W Ctrl MO
Congrats, Carol! Sounds like your pair and mine are on the same timetable. (see my other post).
BZ–W. Ctrl MO
Thanks for your replies. I ended up with 5 eggs and they have all hatched! I guess I miscounted the days for the hatch, as I thought they would hatch on Wed the 26th. But yesterday was rainy and cold so I didn’t want to open the box. When I checked this AM, there they were, 5 beautiful BB babies! They appear to be several days old, so I’m guessing they were hatched Sun. or Mon. I counted from the final egg (#5) and not the first. Please tell me which is correct. Anyway, all is well and mom and pop are busy bringing vittles to the box. I mowed grass near the box this afternoon, and they sure get nervous!
Tammy, the nest in the second box is still vacant, so I’m guessing the BB built that nest also and then opted for the other location.BZ–W. Ctrl MO.
I have been using a red reflective (prismatic) mylar with a bright silver foil backing for three years now, with great success (four successful fledges). The BB seem to take to it well. This year I didn’t get it installed until the third egg, and the female went in the box almost immediately. I have 5 eggs as of today.
BZ–W.Ctrl MO
Yes Carol, I have definitely seen HOWR in my area of MO. I have two eggs as of this AM, so I put up the wren guard first.
BZ–W. Ctrl MO
Carol, you and other folks have mentioned having the “same pair” over several seasons. How can you tell? Although I see some different coloring in the females, the males all look alike to me. What do you look for?
BZ
Why is the wire mesh in the box at all? Is it to protect the nest if the bottom of the box gets wet? I’ve never seen this before.
BZ
Thanks Nicole. Yes, I put a heat shield up about a week ago. I also have a wren guard, a sparrow
spooker, and a baffle on the pole for snakes and raccoons. My box has all of the OSHA requirements!BZ
