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Tim, what I’m wondering is…maybe backyard birders are not normally birders that use ebird, so the normal birds that visit the backyard don’t get recorded as much and so the numbers are skewed. That’s what I think because some of the migrating info on the backyard birds seem really wrong.
I use ebird occasionally but I don’t use it to see when my backyard birds migrate. I don’t think the real birders are going to see a ton of house finches, goldfinches, bluebirds, wren, purple martins etc. Just a thought.Tammy
Judy. I had the same issue. Mine hatched too and I was elated but we had another night that didn’t get to freezing but dropped low and since the hatchlings can’t regulate their temperature all 6 babies died.
They’ve already laid 2 new eggs.Tammy
Merlin of course does make mistakes quite often but I’m guessing it’s right. Id be surprised if you didn’t have bluebirds in your area right now. They were probably in your area before May 6th last year but you just didn’t see them.
Canada already has purple Martins. And bluebirds usually migrate before martins and tree swallows normally.
Keep us posted on your success.Tammy
Where in Michigan are you from? Just wondering how north are you? If your a Facebook user there are a lot of Bluebird groups there. This group used to be hopping but FB kind of changed that.
Tammy
They do check out other boxes. They are always curious. It could be the case that the eggs are infertile but checking out boxes is normal behavior.
Tammy
I agree. That means that either a female gave up on her eggs and realized they weren’t going to hatch and so re-laid eggs or something happened to her and so the nest was abandoned and another pair of bluebirds or other species of birds built on top.
Is it past hatch date? If you feel like the eggs will get mixed up I’d put a permanent marker dot on the old eggs so they don’t.Tammy
I’ll study that photo and see if I can ID it. But you’re right it isn’t a House Sparrow. I agree with Dana. It would be much scarier if they were competing for a nestbox. There’s nothing more you can do about this behavior. Usually the behavior stops at some point. I’ve had mockingbirds that have been aggressive. Usually it’s over a food source like my feeder.
Tammy
Tim. I’m not from Michigan but here in NW Ohio, (Toledo area) our bluebirds mostly overwinter here. They’ve already scouted out nestboxes and I have one nest of 5 eggs in my property and 4 other complete nests on my 14 box trail. So I would not wait.
Mine start claiming nestboxes in January. Better to be safe and get those up instead of wishing you had. I’ve seen many photos of bluebirds overwintering in Michigan too.
Just a suggestion.Tammy
Yay!! I used to have 3 broods a year but something always seems to happen to one the last few years.
Tammy
I agree with David in Stafford. The wrens will probably get the new eggs too. It’s their thing. If put up a wren guard.
Ilovebluebirds…are you talking about Carolina wrens? They are awesome to have. House Wrens are cavity nesters and I’ve never heard of them nesting under a deck. The Carolina Wren has an eye stripe and they nest in unusual places but they never nest in nestboxes. (Although I think I’ve heard of it happening once) and they are not aggressive.
Tammy
It’s kind of personal preference. I don’t usually worry about removing eggs. If I do remove them it’s always after about a week because there have been accounts of eggs hatching late. Not many but I always err on the side of caution.
I’ve never had a dud egg crack open and cause a mess.
Glad your bluebird pair took care of it.I do feed mealworms. I do it selfishly for me. I open my patio sliding glass door and throw them right by the door and they come and eat.
Tammy
I’m in the same boat as you. I have a windy property so the mylar steps are always blowing off the box, rarely brushing the top.
The ideal scenario is for them to rest on the box to discourage the house sparrow from perching on the box. So I don’t think it’s as affective for us. But….I don’t think I’ve ever had a spooker box breached so it must still work.
I’ve never had my mylar strips stick together or get tangled. Are you using shiny mylar strips? I don’t think mine can tangle or stick together.Tammy
Hey, Roy. That’s quite amazing and very unusual. How do you know that the hawk got both the male and female? Is it at all possible that the female didn’t die and she found a new male. Glad they fledged!!!!
Tammy
I’m sorry to say that the wren guard works when the wren hasn’t found the hole yet. It may or may not work now. My guess is it won’t work but give it a try.
I just went through this with my very first Dee nest at my house. I was so excited. A wren removed all 4 eggs. After I put the wren guard on.
Put sides on your wren guard too.
Sorry. Wrens are scary!! I’d rather have house sparrows.Tammy
