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Judy, congrats on the quick 2nd nesting!! That’s exciting. As is Carol’s double-catch of HOSP!!! I don’t know how you do that, Carol! I’ve never gotten 2 at once, and I’m a rather persistent trapper. And laugh of the day to you, David, for not falling for their plot!!
Judy, the blues here took 8 days to complete a new nest and then waited another 6 to lay the 1st egg. I was starting to wonder if they had made a dummy nest!
Phillyblues, soooo sad to hear this!! Those awful sparrows! I have no love for them, either. Don’t give up and keep some hope for another brood yet this summer. The blues here just laid the 1st egg of the 2nd nesting, so there’s time yet in PA. The sparrow bothering boxes here isn’t here full time, seems to be nesting a few yards away, but still comes back on occasion to torment everyone. They are just hateful creatures. The spooker is the only thing that saved the TRES in my yard. Keep hope!
Carol, I don’t know that the male is building the nest. He’s just spending lots of time on the box. In the morning, I have to keep front blinds closed ’til 11 due to intense sun, so I miss a lot! Probably Mama is building that nest. I try to see from other windows, but can’t quite. Thanks for the tip on the wrens. I’ll stay on it.
Love that photo, Phillyblues!! Congrats on some happy little campers!! Will be praying with you that they make it. I bet you’re so excited. What a gift to give your neighborhood. Best wishes for successful fledging!!
Dana, so glad to hear you have Round 2 underway!! Summer is definitely here now–90s today here. I’m tickled to meet another PA bluebird-lover as well! I really hope this nesting goes well for you. Best wishes! Enjoy the blues!!
Carol, I really only see these things by pure chance. That’s why it’s so fun to me! I do work from home and I can see one of the boxes (the unused one) from my desk. But I only see the occupied one if I lean way over in my chair, which means I’m not getting any work done and am about to fall out of my chair! But yes, they do bring me great joy. My husband works very long hours and says they keep me company, which they do.
I would never have put up a box without this forum! That is the only reason I did. I happ’d to see bluebirds chasing each other up and down the street a few years ago (again, lucky timing when I was working in the front flower bed). I saw this for two days and started to look online about bluebirds. I knew they nested in boxes and that was about it. The rest I learned from all of you! That’s why I cannot thank everyone enough for sharing so much. It really got me started on my journey, and it’s been such a source of joy, except for the HOSP, of course!
I was thinking one reason to feed worms is to be able to see the babies a bit more. Is that true? Last year I did see the babies helping feed the 2nd and 3rd nestlings. It was quite something. The Mama and Papa had a rhythm of bringing food to the nestlings, like a well-honed machine. The babies were clumsier and funnier, but the parents were patient as they waited for the fledgling to feed the new babies. One day I watched a fledgling trying to feed at the nest. He would sit the unused box, then fly over to the box with nest, but missed the hole the first 3 times! It literally bumped into the side of the box and then fluttered back to the empty one. This happ’d for a day or two, and then it was able to hit the hole & cling there each time. I felt badly for it, but it was funny.
Phillyblues, I had the same pair the last 2 years. I know this b/c they were old hands at nesting–I recognized how efficiently they did each task. They were amazing. AND when I would want to check the box, I would whistle softly, and Mama would pop right out of the box. She definitely knew my whistle. This year, though, I have that new pair and it’s been crazy. They are not comfy around me yet. The TRES, on the other hand, I suspect are the same ones. They respond to me like always, and this year (so far) they’ve been kinder to my husband. Things could change when those eggs hatch, though!
I can tell that the first round of HOSP nesting has produced b/c I now have many in the yard. I told my husband I’d set up the DRST this week at some point. That doggone male is STILL on the loose here. Now whenever I walk into the backyard he starts this high alarm chittering. He knows I am out to get him! Grrrr. He’s been singing on the 2nd front box, the one that’s only ever been used once by blues. He was there all day Tues. I finally put the trap out, came back a few minutes later, and it was tripped. Hallelujah! Out I went, and to my horror discovered I had caught Bluezer!!! Oh dear. That poor bird. I’ve noticed he’s still guarding the other front yard house, so hopefully they’ll nest here. No new nest activity yet, which is slow for my experience. Maybe this week…
PhillyBlues, I agree with you re: educating people not to breed HOSP! Every time I hear one cheep, it’s like fingernails on a blackboard to my ears! I just detest them.
Carol, I have seen more grubs than ever in my life this year when I was edging and weeding the flower beds. I can’t imagine how many beetles there will be…
Carol, your box sounds so funny with all the add-ons! So glad she popped right in after the newest addition. We also had those storms. It was something else. The only damage here was to perennials–so thankful. The 3 little blues had fledged a few days prior. I can imagine that was quite a wake-up call to the outside world!! We had straight line winds for nearly an hour, along with tornado sirens blaring. Our area was unscathed in terms of toppled trees that we saw. Storm damage is no fun! I do wonder what those little blues thot of those winds!
Tammy, I ordered a Gilbertson from Etsy last year for my sister. It used little nails to hold the house in place, which I just couldn’t imagine trying to keep track of when checking the nest. The guy said he had to use little nails because the Gilbertson is patented. I couldn’t find the regular kind last year.
Have they chosen a house yet, Carol? It’s so fun to watch the process through your words!!
Carol, you are so funny! I love your system with the picnic plastic silverware!! That’s the kind of tip you can only get from someone who does it. I’ll have to read up on this (i haven’t at all yet). It took me a year to be able to work up to dealing with HOSP with the DRST, so I’ll just learn, learn, learn and then take the plunge for mealworms! I’ll check out the old link you shared where you gathered all the info. I was already thinking my husband could get me a feeder for Christmas! ha ha. So I’m halfway there! But I was imagining the smell of a pet store in my fridge, which I don’t think I could stomach. This is exciting to have a new project on the horizon.
Dana, I’m so sorry to hear this! It’s such a great source of joy to watch these birds do their thing and raise their young. The good news is that it’s still early here in PA (I’m north of Harrisburg). Here’s hoping a pair of happy blues will come and surprise you with a nest! Cleaning up the box is definitely a great first step toward that. Last year I had 3 nestings, so that could even happen for you. Be encouraged! As Judy says, the weather has to be better this time around.
This spring’s weather has been downright rude. I didn’t lose any veggies to the frosts b/c I waited to plant, but many did and had to replace entire gardens. I was very worried about the blues here, but they hatched all 4 eggs. I’m so thankful.
I have a question about mealworms. Is there an odor with them or the bedding? I ask b/c we have just one fridge, and I’m nervous if these are smelly. You all are so helpful! I would study before trying mealworms, but have already learned there’s much more to it than I realized.
Well, Dana, I wish that Blue-zer’s efforts were more successful!! That HOSP has been sitting on that box singing all week. He’s there now. He doesn’t ever go into the box, so there’s no point setting up a trap. Blue-zer has been patrolling the box regularly, so they’re definitely moving there after the 1st babies fledge this week. Bluezer has taken to sitting on the speed limit sign under the street light or a stop sign across the street, so as not to bother the TRES. So it looks like things should work out in that area. I just wish I could get rid of this HOSP.
