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Another thing you might want to buy is a Van Ert trap. In case House Sparrows try to take over. https://vanerttraps.com/shop (First one)
You can wait but if you need it you need it!!Tammy
Nest boxes draw them more than anything! Nesting season is almost over but they love to investigate nest boxes so there’s a good chance they’ll find it before next year. A lot of people have them in their suburban back yard.
Tammy
I think occasionally playing the bluebird song is not a bad thing. Just don’t do it too much. Do it after you put your box up.
Boy! You went from not wanting to put up a box to having a fully loaded nestbox with baffle and everything! That’s amazing. A nestbox will draw in bluebirds better than anything. It will be easier for the bluebirds to find your mealworms once they have found your box. So I would Store your mealworms in your fridge until you can get that up.Tammy
Here’s the best way to use fishing line. I’ve heard this works well and it can be kept on the box instead of taking it down in between nests. https://ohiobluebirdsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Monofilament-Sparrow-Spooker.pdf
Did you just decide to put up a nestbox? I thought you were mainly interested in feeding them only? I’m excited for you. You’ll love it!Tammy
Watch out for meal moths or pantry moths! I did this once and never again. I had them in my basement because the garage was too cold during the winter and meal moths laid eggs in the wheat bran substrate and I didn’t see the cotton candy like webbing in the containers and before I knew it there were meal moths ALL OVER my house. I still have a few. But not like before but it’s from the seed in my garage. It was awful! But I envy you at being able to pull this off!!
Tammy
By the way JTL. Is the feeder you bought the blue one that is advertised here? I love that feeder!! You’ll like it. I can give you hints on helping your bluebirds find your mealworm feeder.
I know you said you don’t want to put a nest box up but I think you’d love watching that!! So keep an open mind. You may change your mind!Tammy
Tim: I’m sure you are right and it’s bluebird eggs. You know the shape and slight tint of Tree Swallow eggs. I always like to see the white eggs.
AIH “That’s right about white eggs. Those females will lay white eggs throughout their life.
No hard and fast rules. The saying is “they don’t read the bluebird books” or something like that. It’s really much more clever sounding than that. LOLTammy
My guess is it’s the same pair. They usually choose the same box. They’re very territorial and don’t allow other bluebirds in their area.
They can easily start a new nest about 14 days after the previous nest fledged. And sometimes unfortunately they start a nest even earlier and let their fledglings fend for themselves. That’s not a good outcome.
I think I did have 4 nests one year but 3 is more reasonable. But it definitely could happen. Keep us posted.Tammy
You can put some kind of corrugated board on a nestbox roof with a spacer in between and that helps a lot. Martin landlords put shade over their gourds by using corrugated boards and other things. Here in the north, it gets hot in there but they will be fine. It’s good to have ventilation holes or slots in the sides of your box too. Or a big opening like the Gilwood box has. Any shade helps!!
Tammy
PhillyBlues…they might have all jumped because of mites. It’s been a very rough year for a lot of Martin landlords so you are not alone. Many have had many nests of babies that have died because of all the rain.
I’m the future another thing you can try is put a hole reducer on the box and put the baby back in the nestbox. That will keep the baby in but the parents can still feed it. But you have to watch and see if they’re feeding it though. It’s all just trial and error and sometimes doesn’t work. Sorry about your awful year! That’s a terrible feeling. I had a year like that awhile ago.Tammy
