Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
9 pair nesting
35 eggs (incl hatchlings)
10 hatchlings
0 fledglingsOnly monitored five boxes today. I’ll check the others tomorrow and update numbers. Then I’m out of town for a week so no updates until at least 6-25. It’s getting crazy out there!
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Haha. Thanks for the encouragement.
I’ve pointed out snakes on the trail to Rosie but she isn’t interested. Now if chipies and squirrels were a danger to bluebirds then she’s a champion!
U am really enjoying this. Though I’ve found that the number of nest boxes I’m monitoring is a challenge. I’m hoping my library will have a bluebird seminar next winter and I can find some folks to delegate some of that work.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
8 Pair of Nesting BB.
30 BB eggs. (Counting hatched)
5 Hatchlings.3 pair Tree Swallows nesting
14 eggs (including hatched)
8 Hatchlings.Sorry if this is TMI. I’m practicing for season end reporting to BRAW : )
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I’m going out on a limb and saying this has been a big success for this rookie bluebird landlord who less than a month ago didn’t know if I was going to get any nesting pairs. Keeping my fingers crossed that hatchlings and fledglings are close to 100%.
One thing I didn’t realize is how much this hobby has consumed me. My daily dog walks have turned into daily bluebird trail dog walks. The birds definitely notice Rosie but don’t seem to be too concerned. I do have to apologize to my Yooper neighbors. I may have put a small dent in bluebirds migrating through to the UP : )
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
My method is probably not for most people. I am a member of a teardrop camper forum and they host their own photos on the site. It creates a “Image BBCode” (I don’t know how that is different from JPEG). Anyway, if you are a member of a forum that uses that format when you post photos there you may be able to copy and paste here.
I try not to overdo posting bluebird related photos there when they have nothing to do with campers. Maybe bluebirdnut could look into offering that option, but, I suspect it is a costly upgrade.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I’m lucky. I haven’t seen a House Sparrow in my community yet. I know they are here but not bothering my nest boxes.
About six miles away (as the bluebird flies) there is a Home Depot that they seem to prefer. When I go there I hear them under the canopies and inside they are chattering all day.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
17 nest boxes installed in my community at four bluebird trails, two at home, seven at a large soccer field complex, two a cemetery, two at an old landfill and three at an industrial park field and one at a neighbor’s home.
7 confirmed pairs nesting. Two more looking possible with nest materials just beginning to show.
29 Bluebird eggs so far. Four white eggs in one nest box.
10 Tree Swallow eggs in two nest boxes.
And the little stinker (wren) that kicked out our Chickadees in April has seven eggs by my pond.
I’m finding that monitoring 20 boxes is a workout. But so far not a bad problem to have. No predator evidence yet.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I added a piece of Reflectix reflective insulating material to the roof and I think it will work well. It keeps the roof shaded and reflects the sun away from the nest box. I was worried that installing might bother the blues but they returned right away and don’t seem to be concerned with the difference.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Is 90+ degrees harmful? I may be able to put some shade over the boxes in the sun but I’m hesitant to disturb the momma to be. Water access should help, but I don’t know when to be concerned.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Thinking back 15 days I was all poop-lipped about not having any success with blues. This is today on my home garden fence and another Wren box by my pond. Luckily the Wren is now leaving the blues alone. I see why with seven eggs in their box.
Keeping a couple water baths nearby. We are having some very warm weather the last week. 91 today!
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Good to hear Dana. Congrats on being a good bird landlord!
Still waiting for my pairs to hatch. I’m thinking in the next week or two. Some just started laying.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Look to the positives. You are doing good work providing nesting for them.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Yup, five nesting pairs confirmed. Another pair checking out a box and another box with likely bluebird nest starting but no visuals on birds yet.
So out of twenty new nest boxes installed this spring we have five confirmed and possibly seven pairs. Seven would be 35 percent bluebird occupancy and another 10 percent with nesting Tree Swallow pairs nesting. That’s a big boost to my hope for at least one pair this season.
So, sorry for my excitement overflowing this forum. I’m guessing many of the members live where blues have been mating for months and maybe they’ve moved on to other exciting things. We’re just getting started here with first arrival on May 16.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I’m beginning to wonder how the real pros in the bluebird trail world keep up. I’ve put up 20 nest boxes in four areas and with only five pairs taking up residency I’m BUSY!
Just keeping up with wasp nest starts on vacant boxes is time consuming. I hope at least they become discouraged and find other spots but I expect I’ll be dealing with them until nesting season is over.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
