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Glad to see the forum is back up and running. I tried to get on during the lock out. I didn’t know what had happened and was hoping it hadn’t even closed down. I’m doing a happy dance it’s back.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
Happy Belated Bday Tammy 🎂 🎁 🎈
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
Spray your hands and arms with OFF before messing with a box with mites. Put on rubber gloves too if there are nestlings still in the box.
Use an old spatula to lift up the nesting material, then spread a thin layer of Sevin Dust on the box floor and gentle push the nest back down.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
My blues fledged yesterday and the nest was a mess. Up the walls and the nest its self looked like someone had a poop smearing party. I chuck it up to the fact that this year has been much cooler and rainy compared to the past several years. I think the parents had to spend more time trying to find food than worry about keeping a tidy nest.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
No problem. Its hard to keep up with everyone’s nestings.
My first year with TRES was a mite infested nightmare. I was thrilled that they had come to nest. The female built a nest in a Bluebird box and layed 7 eggs. That year I had an in-box nest camera in that box and over time I could see the mites crawling all over the nestlings. It was awful. By the time I knew what to do about it there were so many mites you could see them crawling all over the out side of the box, too. One of the nestlings died. I was a nervous wreck but I got everything ready, put some gloves on, sprayed myself with OFF except the gloves. I took all the nestlings out and put them in a towel lined bucket and covered it with another towel. I removed the old nest and replaced it with the alfalfa grass one I shaped in a bowel. The I put the nestlings back in and that did help with reducing the number of mites. After that year I started using Sevin Dust underneath the nesting material. I use an old metal spatula to lift the nest up and then put a very light covering on the floor and push the nest back down. That has taken care of any mites before thay have any chance of getting started.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
Thank you Carol but its chickadees not blues who were objecting to the guard. The blues accepted it with no problem.
Well the guard was finally accepted by the female this morning. I waited for over an hour before she finally succeeded in going in. WHEW what a relief since its only a matter of days before those house wrens are due to make their appearance.
I forgot to mention in my original post that the Tree Swallows have failed to make an appearance this year so far. Last year they showed up but unbeknownst to me a wasp had started its nest in the box so the TRES went elsewhere. I soap the @#$% out of the box this year but again a wasp had started a nest. I had gone out to recheck and there one was. Luckily, it was a cold day so it was sluggish and I squashed it and got rid of the nest. I again soaped the #&$& out of the box especially the inside roof area. I haven’t even seen any TRES or for that matter Chimney Swifts either. They usually arrive close together.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
Well I tried again with the wren guard and had to remove it yet again. I waited even longer today than yesterday. One of them actually flew up underneath peering into the hole but did not enter. I will try again tomorrow.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
I would never ever let starlings nest in my yard. Remove the nest and block the hole if you don’t want to take the box down.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
So far, knock on wood, I haven’t had this happen on a baffled box. I did once that I know of have a snake go up a tree and get a Robin nestling. The nestling was pretty good in size but not fully feathered. I found both on the ground under the tred. The nestling was dead, with its head still in the snake’s mouth and soon afterwards so was that snake.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
I found his/the FB group and can once again enjoy his excellent photos. Thanks everyone.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
Tammy, In a way thats too bad. I enjoyed his excellent photos so much.
Carol, I sometimes wish I didn’t do FB either.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
Well I spotted the female Warbler attempting several times then succeeding to go into the box this morning. BUT my hubby has to pick this morning to mow the yard and keeps scaring her back out. Men, why do they ALWAYS have to do things that are sure to make loud noises when we are trying something.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
Never forget it is not just the blue birds that are tormented by non native bird species like house sparrows but just about all our cavity nesting birds. I know how you feel. It is hard to do what must be done for all of the native birds sakes.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
Thank you everyone for the encouragement. I will never give up hosting my birds. But one just needs to vent sometimes.
Gin, last year a female warbler accepted the guard with no problem. I am not sure why the first female of this year did not. I’m hoping that this female will accept it.
Strange thing is yesterday another? female warbler had tried building a nest in my trap box, which is about 20-22 feet away from the hexagon box currently wren guarded, and was trapped in it. She was released gently. I cant tell you how relived I was seeing it was her and not another #%$@*(>× house wren. I can only guess that most natural nesting sites are full of water because of the amount of rain we have had this year. It has been a strange year weather wise for sure. Although I can remember Spring being this way when I was a child.
Well in a few hours we will see if it is a success or not. Cross your fingers everyone.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
