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Welcome! Birds, in general, are very sensitive to the smoke and ash of wild fires. It is indeed possible that they are stressed by the fire in your area. Had mom been incubating the eggs, prior to the fire? I believe that as long as conditions in the area improve, mama will return, and the eggs will eventually hatch. Even if these eggs are eventually lost, the blues will certainly try again! Keep the faith!
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireBrad, I’m with Gin on this one. Mine are in incubation mode, and I just leave them alone. I recently posted in another thread that you can just tell that things are okay, when mama flies into and out of the nest box periodically, and papa doesn’t fall down drunk out of a nearby tree.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi, Evie! Any idea what species of snake you’re dealing with? I grew up in Connecticut, so I realize it could be one of several. Size/length are the key considerations. Have you considered approaching the problem from the standpoint of the mounting pole, itself? I am a proponent of 1/2″ electrical conduit coupled to rebar which has been driven into the ground. Attach to it a stovepipe-style raccoon baffle, stuff hardware cloth up near the top, and you can cross snakes off the list of worries (as well as squirrels, raccoons, etc.) That is simply my approach; inexpensive and effective. I am not certain of the best method to secure a 4×4 mounting pole set-up.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi, Susan! I would separate the nest boxes a bit. Move the empty EABL box some distance away from the TRES box that the blues now occupy… pick a number of feet… 5, 10 30, 100… I don’t think it really matters. The TRES should be fine with it, once it is off the same pole as the other occupied nest box. IMO, the pairing of boxes becomes infinitely easier once someone lays an egg, somewhere. Once an egg is laid, the nesting pair is committed to that nest box, and will be less likely to “trade up”, if you will…
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireI am doing a much better job, myself, leaving my pair alone. I checked the nest box today, for the first time in 7 days, just as I was replacing the wren guard with a new one. My pair are extremely “chatty”, and they are always around, so it has been very easy to assess the situation each day without bothering them too much. They are fine with me being nearby, which is a good thing, since I live here, and all, but it was a treat to have both of them within a few feet of me, chattering away as I checked on the nest today. They are good tenants!
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi, Kathy! EABLs that have bonded to a nest box with sufficient vigor to lay three eggs are committed, no doubt. That being said, I do not feed the general population during nesting season, and one of the main reasons is to minimize traffic and competition on my property. IMO, if you were to take in the feeders, mama and papa blue would return.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireYup. Easy. And yes, you need one. Here is the link: http://sialis.org/sparrowspooker.htm
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireNice egg, Brad! Not sure of your predator situation, but yes, a sparrow spooker and wren guard are both warranted. I deploy the sparrow spooker first, as the blues don’t really care about there presence. Once you document their acceptance, then move to the wren guard. Watch closely after you install it, to be certain that they will enter the box with it in place.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireCarol, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Please know that we all feel your pain, and grieve along with you. We are all in this, together. Best wishes for a speedy recovery for you and your nesting blues!
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireEABLs are quite tolerant; more so than most species. Even when they do get spooked, they come right back. Two days ago, I thought I had seen mama leave the box, so I went to adjust the sparrow spooker and do a quick egg count. As I was tinkering with things on the outside of the box, she stuck her head out and just looked at me. Then went right back into the box.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireCertainly agree with the conventional wisdom, David; makes the most sense. A couple of things argue against it, however: It’s cold. Mid 50’s during the day, 40’s at night. Also, the eggs are cold. She has not brought them up to temperature yet. I am not at all worried, just interested in their behavior. These two know what they are doing.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireI have never seen a male build a nest, either. My male is very attentive, but has not entered the nest box since mama laid the first egg. He is first to the box each morning, sticks his head in a couple of times, then perches nearby. Mama then flies right into the box. I am not 100% certain she is incubating yet, as she spends 15 minutes every hour with her head sticking out of the box, just looking around. The clutch seems to be set at 5 eggs, but she appears to be in no particular rush to incubate them…
Randy
Bedford, New Hampshire
