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Lisa, if I were in your shoes, I would deploy the wren guard now. An accepted nest box with rampant wren attacks, is no EABL nest box, at all. You need to keep the wrens from identifying the box. If you have the same nesting pair of blues, I believe they have already accepted the box. Run the drill: Put the wren guard on… if the blues accept it, good. If they don’t, take it off, and when they return, or another pair arrive, let the first egg drop before deploying the guard, again.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireMust have been a wonderful sight to see them with dad at the feeder! I won’t put any mealworms out, because of the hawk. He literally circled overhead all day, today, so I don’t want to encourage my blues to congregate in one spot, once they fledge. I am hoping for the best, but I also understand the risks, living where I do. This Cooper’s Hawk is the best hunter I have ever seen. Would not be surprised if papa blue “leaves town” with the kids, to get away from this guy. There are countless nests on the property, so I know the hawk will not chase after the blues, if they leave.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireYou have got me thinking, now, Lisa. I have been planning for a quick turnaround of my nest box, because my pair seems as if they will tend to their fledglings (due on Monday) for about a week, and then begin building a new nest. In fact, I am almost certain that is what they will attempt to do. I wonder if I should slow them down a bit by not replacing the box right away? My main concern is the resident Cooper’s Hawk, who has tried to eat papa blue twice in the past two weeks. I know he is eyeing the box, and the soon-to-be new fledglings that emerge from it…
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireI have gone through the same wet, cold Spring here, Connie. Mama and papa blue took their sweet time building their nest, and although egg laying occurred like clockwork, I grew concerned when it seemed as if mama wasn’t incubating consistently. But all five eggs hatched on day 14, and the rambunctious nestlings are on schedule to fledge on Monday. Like you said, they know what they are doing! I am very proud of my blues; they have been perfect parents to their brood, and we have been very fortunate with regards to predation and competition. All has gone as smoothly as possible (fingers continue to be crossed!). Looking forward to a successful fledge and a rapid turnaround of the nest box. I expect this pair to begin anew in a week, or so. Best of luck to you and your pair!
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireThat’s correct. It will notify you if you have started a thread or commented within a thread.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireI am so sorry to hear of your troubles. I doubt the barn swallows have much to do with it. They are cup nesters, who build nests of mud beneath the overhangs of houses, barns, and bridges. They also tend to nest in colonies. And they also tend to come out on the wrong end of a skirmish with a EABL male. I believe the HOWRs are the felons. Do you have the space to completely relocate the EABL nest box? That may be your best option. The trick, then, will be the earliest deployment of a wren guard as possible, after egg #1. I hope things improve quickly for you and your blues!
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireAwesome! We should all remind our blues to have a posted, and well-rehearsed, “fledge plan”… i.e. “we’ll all meet in the sugar maple by the mailbox, if we get separated…” :)
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi, Caroline! Not certain of your geography, but I am with Renee on this. Mama blues are incubating, despite our concerns, and regardless of whether or not we observe their comings and goings. I was in the same situation a few weeks ago. I was grumpy with mama because the five eggs had been laid, and her attentive periods seemed few and far between. Our weather has been rainy and cold, as well. Well on day #14, as planned, the five eggs hatched, and all is well. I would suggest that you get a sparrow spooker on ASAP, and I also believe in wren guards! These competitors are often present, even when we do not see or hear them. The downside risk of deploying both are minimized to near zero, once you monitor closely to verify that they are accepted by the parents. Keep the faith!!
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireGot it, David; just interested in your average days-to-fledge. Nice to see your consistent pattern.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireI imagine it depends upon the particular bear, but my approach is to discourage them from visiting my entire property, rather than to give them options once they arrive. My other issue with my feeding station is that it creates ridiculous amounts of traffic, noise, and chaos. During the winter, I don’t mind, and my 22 blues are part of the commotion at that time, as well. Come nesting season, however, my nesting pair want peace and quiet, so I stop feeding everyone except the Baltimore Orioles. At present, my blues are feeding 5 3-day old hatchlings, and I don’t even put out mealworms. They have 3 acres of prime EABL hunting grounds, and they do a great job! I love to watch them hunt, then return with their quarry to the box!
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi, Deb. Incredibly sorry for your loss. I grew up in northern CT, and I now live in NH. Your photo depicts a bear attack, to me, as well. I have previously posted, elsewhere, my practice of taking in all of my feeding stations during nesting season. We have a family of black bears that we have peacefully co-existed with for the past 12 years, but if I fed during the Spring/Summer, they would destroy my nest boxes, no doubt.
Randy
Bedford, New Hampshire
