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David, you could always freeze the abundance and then add them to homemade suet blends for winter. It would be a bonus to the birds that come. I love your at-home project! It’s giving me lots to ponder as I consider mealworms for future. Thank you!
Wow, Carol, you’ve had quite a 24 hours! Here’s hoping things settle with little lasting damage from the lightning. I have found that the blues like berries, too. I have red raspberries they eat, and in winter, they always visit the flower pots on the porch, which I stuff with evergreens and berried holly branches. They gobble those berries right up! They also devour the blackberry lily berries in the fall and winter. It’s comical b/c they get very territorial about those berries–mama and papa get them, usually, but not so much the young ‘uns.
Ooh, so sorry to hear that, Gardensongs. What a terrible feeling that must have be! Please keep us posted how things turn out.
Carol, I received the PA Bluebird Society newsletter today, and it had a great cover article about using nest cups in boxes. Here’s a link by the same author that contains the gist of the newsletter article (couldn’t find the newsletter article online yet): http://www.bluebirdconservation.com/2013/06/why-use-a-nest-cup/
I share this because in the detailed newsletter article he talks about how a cup prevents eggs from getting displaced so that they’re outside the area where mama blue’s incubation heat is. For instance, with 5 eggs, one egg can easily work its way down into the nest beneath the other 4 eggs, and mama has no way to bring that egg back up, so it doesn’t get incubated properly (no mama body heat). Or sometimes an egg gets pushed up toward the outer edge of the nest, where mama’s brood patch doesn’t reach. He laid out several examples like that to explain why a nest cup helps prevent unhatched eggs.
He also mentions the other reasons for a nest cup–easier to check (and later clean) the box, helps prevent fledglings from falling out of box during check, makes nest switching easier, etc. But I found the part about egg displacement most interesting in relationship to your why of eggs not hatching. Of course there a bunch of other reasons, too, but thought I’d share this idea. For what it’s worth.
I had an array of upside down orange Home Depot buckets out there this spring when I first put jelly out in a little bowl. It seemed to work b/c the catbirds found that jelly (i had homemade raspberry then) almost instantly. Carol, can orioles access nectar thru a regular hummer feeder? I didn’t know that! I only have so many spots for feeders and, like you, want to be careful not to draw ants close to the house. Thanks for sharing about your birdwatching adventures!! Love hearing about that.
Thank you for all the great tips, fellow bird lovers!! I had read about these mites on Sialis site last year, but was thankful I had not experienced them. I read on a purple martin thread that one guy sprays all of his martin boxes before they arrive with a low level of sevin liquid. Renee, your method seems more do-able to me. I feel bad for that last nestling–it was probably severely attacked after the others left! I’ll check the box this weekend and see what’s in there. Hopefully no (dead) babies remain. Thanks for the Off! tip, Renee!! Hadn’t thought of that.
Judy, thanks for that tip, too! I’ll keep putting out the grape jelly. For all I know, the orioles could be grabbing it at times of day I’m not there to see. I thought they might disappear during nesting season. I’ll be patient and maybe be rewarded, if not this year, next when I put out that jelly right away!
Judy, I reached out to touch the latch yday and bunches swarmed my hand. It just felt so awful. Like you, felt creepy crawly! Thanks for the advice. I’m wondering now if the weather played a part in this bloom of bugs. The high heat (upper 90s here) + dryness. That makes the mites multiply in the garden. It was just gross. Thank you for the tips! Breaking out the bleach!
Carol, thanks for sharing the final outcome. I’ve been wondering. There’s always so much to learn. Hopefully there’ll be a 3rd nesting for you. If not, you’re going to have one happy fledgling with all the attention it’s getting!
Renee, what fun to see those gorgeous warblers! Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in “real life.” Your yard sounds like a fun place to sit and watch.
Judy, do you put out grape jelly all summer for the orioles? I had orioles come by early this year for a few weeks (a first for me). I quickly put out oranges, which they visited daily, and finally grape jelly, which I saw them at a few times. The catbirds love the jelly, though, so it does get eaten. They fly up to the tree near the house to call for me if the jelly empties! Very comical birds. All my bird books say catbirds are shy. Not these gorging on grape jelly! I don’t do oranges now b/c it’s so hot–they become rancid and stinky fast.
Carol, I like the doves, too. Very peaceful.
Judy, thanks for posting that pic. I’ve read about that and tried to picture it, but this sure helps! Thank you!
Carol, so sorry to hear what you’re dealing with! It can be so discouraging, esp when you’re doing everything like normal (aka right!). Fingers and toes crossed for you. So happy David & Gin could share some advice. Keep us posted.
Phillyblues, way to go on the HOSP trapping!!! Woo hoo! Since I have bluebirds in the yard, more neighbors have put up boxes. If the oppty ever comes up in convo, I mention HOSP trapping. Otherwise those good-intentioned bluebird houses become breeding grounds for the HOSP. Meanwhile, yes, time for another brood! Mine just started incubating their 2nd set of 4 eggs yday. There are so many bugs now that it’s a great time to nest! Keep up the great work! And keep us posted on the shed trap. I’m intrigued by that.
Keep us posted how that feeder process goes, David. I’m really curious to see how the young ones take to it. Love your pics, as always. I often don’t see the young ones unless they’re helping feed the later brood(s) or in the winter, coming to the heated birdbath. Then I see the whole gang. Thanks for sharing pics!! Helps me to know what to watch for around here after fledging.
