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I just tried to put in more pics and they disappeared. I’ll do one at a time. I resized these as thumbnails for forums. Hopefully that’s right and not too small. Grainy pics means I took it thru the window! Here’s the box with the short strings, which I eventually made longer. With short strings (as Sialis says to do), the washers whacked on the box in winds. I imagined that driving poor Mama and babies nuts, altho’ they kept using the box. But still, I lengthened the strings and then just monitor constantly (it’s like a habit now) to make sure both washers are always visible, esp on windy days. Sometimes the washers will tangle the line, but it still leaves an opening at the top.
Ok, Barbara, I’ll see if I can paste them here. Not sure what’s up with my email. I’ll do one pic first to see if I can figure this out. Sorry some pics are grainy–I took those from inside the window. This shows the box that gets used the most. It has long strings with metal washers on the end. There’s a baby peeking out from the hole.
Barbara, I just sent you several emails and pics–let me know if they made it. My email has been buggy the last few days. Thanks!!!
Barbara, I’ll send you a photo of my set-up, too. I use fishing line on a Gilbertson box. I have it on the roof in an X, and the bluebirds don’t mind at all. Well, early in the season when choosing the box they peck at it, but once the nesting is in full swing, they work around it no problem, even sitting on top of the box! I also have it hanging like Vanessa with washers on the end to keep it weighted down. The bluebirds and tree swallows work around that like it’s not there, and that box is on a windy corner! Over time, a few house sparrows have managed to do a plop landing at the hole, clinging like a bluebird, even with the fishing line there!! But that’s few and far between. So I don’t think it deters the bluebirds at all. The fishing line helps, but trapping sparrows is the best answer.
We woke to heavy wet snow on everything!! Hyacinths, daffodils and magnolia all zapped. The last 2 days have been cloudy, rainy, windy and so cold. The bluebirds and tree swallows are gone, nowhere in sight. I assume they’re at the river, where there’s a better chance of finding live bugs in this chill. Yday I spotted sparrows going in and out of the swallow box, and here they’d made a whole nest! Thankfully I caught that male. Where in heaven’s name do they come from? I caught a male in there last week, too. I’m thrilled, though. Sometimes those males are smart. Anyway, I have no bluebird action at the moment, but praying they’ll be back….altho’ black-capped chickadees are moving into the bluebirds’ Gilbertson box. I watched one putting moss into it. So it could be interesting when the blues do return!
Carol, our TRES box usually swarms with mites after they leave–the mites exit the box & cover the outside. It’s like a horror movie. Last year I took advice from the purple martin forum who say spray box in late winter with Sevin. I did that, and there were mites again, but not as many. This year I plan to use Renee from Winslow’s advice from this forum of putting powdered sevin under the nest once it’s built. I don’t like those mites & really don’t want them on me! But we love the TRES. They help with all the bugs we have due to living near a river. Last year I got some cleaned feathers and we tossed them into the air for the TRES to use in their nest. They would swoop around us and catch them! My DH & I did this for our evening entertainment. That box was full of feathers! This morning I caught the male HOSP who had claimed the TRES box–victory!!!
Phillyblues, we live on a not-busy street, but there’s traffic of all sorts all day–a few cars, lots of walkers and then my DH and I are in the yard quite a bit (me a bunch). The birds put up with my slow push mowing and this year are still active around the deck repair men. But the blues here are not that active yet in terms of nest building. They’re here daily, but no building yet.
Btw Dana, in early March I often see up to 5-6 bluebirds chasing each other up and down the street. It’s wild. But I’ve never seen them battling over a box like that!
Carol, thanks for that tip. I have never read about touching the eggs. I’ve seen the marking advice, but haven’t ever done it. Phillyblues, here in central PA “our” blues have chosen a box but no nest building activity yet. The male is guarding the box, so that’s a good sign. We have workmen fixing a set of rotten deck stairs, and I thot that would interrupt the nesting process. Nope! These birds just fly around the truck, past the guys and get on the business of checking out nestboxes and fussing over them. We have black-capped chickadees, TRES and blues doing this. Happily the work ends today on the deck, so then–fingers crossed!–nesting can begin with fewer obstacles!
This is so exciting, Carol!! It is so early! I’m so thankful for you. Do you usually have 3 nestings each season? I can’t remember. One year I had 3 nestings, which started with an early hatch like this. Congrats!! Enjoy the excitement of feeding. I love that part.
Phillyblues, terrific pic!!! These bluebirds are just cheerful. Carol, I’m eager to hear how things go thru the cold snap. This spring has been such a roller coaster. I never thot of touching the eggs to feel heat. That’s smart. I always learn so much when I’m here. Thank you for sharing!!
Wanted to share an update: Yday Mr. EAB was courting a Mrs. He carefully showed her every single box in the yard, which involved a lot of going in and out of each one and wing waving. So pretty!! After much careful consideration, they were spending longest time in backyard Gilbertson near the deck. The minute they left the front yard, the TRES flew down to his box and planted himself. I was worried, while he was just biding his time! He & his mate have been flying around the box, peeking into the hole, sitting on the mailbox (it’s near the box). So the world seems to be righting itself here. I’m adding a note to my EAB calendar not to panic when Mr. EAB takes on the job of front yard thug. I think it’s just until he gets a mate that he guards ALL the potential homes. Thanks for help, everyone! Really appreciate it.
Wanted to share a TRES update…They usually take about a month to build a nest, so this will drag on a bit yet. Each day they come and sit on the street light arm, fly around eating insects, and occasionally swoop to the box. En route, the male bluebird dive bombs them. I’ve added another wooden box out front, which male blue has inspected thoroughly. I don’t know if he’s just actively guarding the whole front yard or what. He doesn’t have a mate yet.
I have to share something funny. When I was putting up the new box, I thought to switch them, unsure if these birds were attached to the site or the box. The sky was clear, no birds around that I could see. The minute I touched that TRES box, they appeared out of nowhere dive bombing me, and the EAB started swooping at me, making this hissing sound, then landed nearby and chewed me out with an angry chrrrrrr sound over and over. Lots of dramatic action! I left that box where it was.
Phillyblues, I’m with you on the trapping. Like you, the first 2 years were high numbers. Last year, I would put out the DRST and wouldn’t catch any for 2 weeks! So I’ve finally made some headway. In early March I noticed HOSP at the boxes, so started in-box trapping. Last year I caught a bunch in Feb.! I catch more males than females with this strategy. I have no clue where they keep coming from. My neighbors are fascinated by the DRST full of HOSP, but none have started trapping. Congrats on getting a neighbor on board!
David, I have wondered all winter about your mealworm farm. Have to tell you that it even came up at holiday visits!! My husband’s Aunt Sara always includes bluebirds in our holiday visits. She wanted to know if I was going to grow any mealyworms (her word) this year. I told her about your production system. I’m so happy that is turning into a venture for you. Just think of all the bluebirds you’ll help feed and grow!! It’s so amazing.
