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Cousin lived in or near Sylvania. Her mom is 93 and still kicking!
5 eggs this morning. Plus four other boxes with a single egg. It’s laying season but it seems to be lower bluebird numbers than the past two years at this time. I’m hoping things will change in the next couple weeks. We’ve had some crappy weather in April.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Haha. Small world. My cousin passed on Easter Sunday. She lived her whole life in Toledo. Her property was an amazing bird sanctuary. She was a big fan of Aldo Leopold, and not just because she shared a last name with him. She was very interested in natural things.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Does the BBCode automatically reduce the file size of the original photo to allow posting? I always reduce manually on “Paint”, save it, and then use that reduced size image in The forum.
The other forum I use for posting photos requires smaller photo files. Maybe I don’t need to do that if I use a BBCode. I’ll test that tonight.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Thanks David. I’ll give that a try. I’ve never used imgur so I’ll have to open that up and see what I can do.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I use a process that is likely not recommended as it uses another forum I post to occasionally as the host. The image is hosted there. It is not related to that forum’s content but I use it so infrequently that I haven’t had any issues.
I’ve tried different ways to post. Occasionally my posts disappear into the netherworld and they’re never published. I have never figured out the proper way to post images on this forum. The forum that hosts my photos has a BBCodes version of the image but I haven’t been able to figure out how to use it.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I’m excited!
I was driving west across the UP Tuesday after a funeral in Toledo and hit at least two areas of snow flurries. The last thing on my mind was finding eggs in the few nests that had been started the week before. It was 82 degrees in Bay City just after noon. By the time I reached the bridge (Mackinaw City/St Ignace) it was 42. Temps dropped going west and I think the wind chill was probably in the 20s. The bridge crossing was the slowest I’ve ever experienced. I probably averaged about ten miles per hour all the way across as I followed a semi being battered by gusts.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
That’s great David. I’m being patient with my bluebirds. Some evidence of nests starting but we had snow flurries this afternoon while driving back home across the UP so it might be a little while.
Keep the photos coming.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
(@ Tim C) I wouldn’t count on E-bird numbers to be accurate for bluebird nesting.
OK. I was just referring to local friends contacting me about sightings in our community. This is just my third season. After doing a presentation at our library last spring about my first season’s experience I have a small group of locals that I supplied with nest boxes and they are very enthusiastic at this time of year in terms of letting each other know of their sightings.
During my first season I was asking here (BBNut)and checking Internet sources for arrivals. I found those not very useful for my area. Similarly, I’ve just finished building a purple martin house and I was quietly referring to the PMCA “Scout report” for some arrival information, however, I’ve found that report to have stalled about three weeks ago in reporting for northern WI and MI. We’re on the northern fringes of the PM range and there are probably few spotters actively using that method to report arrivals.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I’d have to agree with AIH. If disturbed it might focus on the bluebird nest. Maybe having some pesky stinkers like a wren pair around could help reduce some other predators. But the minute that wren decides to harass the blues I would be cleaning out their nest. I think the blues will defend the nest successfully if they have eggs present.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
The cool thing about bluebirds is their resiliency! They seem to take things in stride and keep moving forward.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
It’s early enough. Stay patient. Build their home and they will come.
Near me it’s not too late even a month from now to locate a new nest box for later arrivals (we don’t have blues all year).
Good luck.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I’m just wondering. Just a newb here, but, do you think maybe they are providing more insulation during the cold snap? Or will the next day or two show them giving up on those eggs. Very interesting. I hope I’m thinking right but either way looks like you’ll have a nest.
We are just beginning to see bluebirds here on the WI/MI Border. Earliest report locally was about a week ago. Very little nest building going on. A couple nest boxes with some wispy bits of grass. We have snow in the woods still.
One PVC box I installed has moss nest from chickadees.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I’ll try to be completely clear on this…
You are asking an important question. So, do not feed dried mealworms to nesting birds.
The hatchlings only source of hydration is what they are fed by the mom and dad. If the mom and dad are starting a brood they will find all the bugs needed naturally.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Sad day today after returning from a weeks vacation. I took a look at my nest box in my yard and saw this…
I don’t know for certain, but prior to leaving a Wren occasionally landed on the box. His/her brood is in a nest box about 15 yards away from this one. I can’t say for certain but I believe that little turd bird may have killed the five hatchlings. Fortunately I have another nest box about 15 yards in the other direction. Prior to vacation there was no activity in the box. Today I found three nice blue eggs. So I think the pair will recover.
Now what to do with the Wren. They have seven hatchlings in their box. I will leave nature to take its course but it sure is tempting to evict the little turds.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
That is sad. Nature is wonderful and cruel. Are the nesting pair still hanging around?
I don’t have experience with this as I’ve never had a nest destroyed but there are folks here that will be able to help you out with some advice. If it were me I would just monitor the nest and see if they come back in a few days. Bluebirds know what to do.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
