My Lovely Bluebirds

[HuntressOfLight]

Bluebird Box Monitoring
Accomplished
10:00AM​

Box 2 - checked the box earlier than usual, simply because it's past due date average, and I had not seen any activity the past 24 hours. Mommy Bluebird exited, as soon as I called to her. I lifted the nest and noticed a few ants, one carrying larvae causing a nest pull and box treatment.

Day 21 or 22, four eggs remain and one looks to possibly be hatching, while the bottom right one appears to have issues.

Wiped the box floor down with Neem Oil solution and poured some around the base of the pole, then coated a one inch layer of axle grease along the pole base. Gently secured the eggs and then shook the nest out, placing it back into the box. Both parents watched. She flew out of the box three times for such, back atop her eggs in less than five minutes each time, but I was at the box less than 60 seconds each time.

 

[HuntressOfLight]

Bluebird Box Monitoring
Accomplished
12:00PM
​

Box 2 - no change. beginning to worry that the eggs are not viable. They were very warm, though, meaning mommy had just departed. She was up in her tree.

Box still had ants. Nest was pulled and box treated once again.

Returned at 12:30PM with more axle grease for pole base, spotting both parents up within their tree and on guard. They were chatting up a fierce storm over my approach, and I was quick about it.



Box 3 no change but sparrows or something stuffed the nest material back into the box and are visiting it.

 

[HuntressOfLight]

On Sunday only two eggs remained. I had wondered whether the parents were responsible. I had noticed them venturing around more.

Yesterday, no eggs remained and signs of nest building provided the answer. House wrens had removed the eggs and began to build their own nest atop of it.

I removed their build leaving the bluebird nest and installed my sparrow spooker.

My efforts were in vain. A new build was there today

It was also removed and the door was left ajar.

 

[HuntressOfLight]

Bluebird Box Monitoring
Accomplished
10:30AM​

Box 2 - Bluebirds are currently attempting to reclaim it, working as a team with one atop while another nest builds, after my having removed the many twigs last night, placed atop their last effort, compliments of house wrens.

This is the first that I have seen of them, since their last failed attempt. I shall check the box later, repeating the process is my guess.

Something, and likely english sparrows, is attempting to claim Box 3.

 

[HuntressOfLight]

Female bluebird continues to perch in guard atop Box 2 and enter it, 5.5 hours later. This is a good sign.

 

[HuntressOfLight]

Continued vigilance appears to be their MO. Good signs carry-over today. Was in route to check Box 2 and saw a flash of blue atop the box, before entering it moments ago. Photo saturation enhanced for confirmation.

.

 

[HuntressOfLight]

Box 2 remains empty, which would seem to indicate that my lovely bluebirds may be winning their battle over the house wrens, but time will tell.

The predator guard was off and in the grass. I have since removed all old glue, sanded all sides to include entrance/exit, and shall be reattaching it tomorrow morning. The box will be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected with bleach solution, just as dusk sets in, with the door left open all night, so as to have ample time for all to thoroughly air-dry, before potential nest building begins over the weekend.

 

[HuntressOfLight]

Bluebird Box Monitoring
Accomplished
7:30AM
​

Normally wouldn't have checked the box so very early but ran directly past it this morning with Brewster, as we were breaking up an apparent fight to the death between two grackles. All grackles were involved, loud as could be. I thought it was a mobbing of a predator, but no. Brewster almost had them for breakfast, could even actually feel them within his mouth, but they broke all up just within the nick of time.

Upon return I checked the box, noticing that their nest build had begun as expected. It was sopping wet, due to the vast amount of rain we endured during the past 32 hours but should be dry by now.

 

[HuntressOfLight]

Although my lovely bluebirds began the nest, it looks as if others interfered yet again. I heard the bluebirds chattering above me, as I did a late afternoon check. Time will tell.

 

[HuntressOfLight]

Bluebird Box Monitoring
Accomplished
11:00AM

​

Box 2 - two, thus far, new bluebird eggs

 

[HuntressOfLight]

Bluebird Box Monitoring
Accomplished
4:30PM​

Box 2 - grand total of four lovely bluebird eggs. Both parents were looking-on from the closest oak tree. Time to reattach the predator guard and hope for the best.

 

[HuntressOfLight]

Bluebird Box Monitoring
Accomplished
3:00PM​

And then there were five.

She may begin sitting as early as in the morning, which means babies might be seen as early as June 12. Time will tell. Interestingly enough, one is much larger than the others, just like last time. Parents were chattering from above, as I quickly checked.

What now concerns me are the grackles having recently decided to take-up roost nearby within Bunnyville. I just chased them off once in vain. Probably time to become a bit more aggressive...

 

[HuntressOfLight]

Bluebird Box Monitoring
Accomplished
6:00PM

​

Spied a flash of blue near Box 2,

Saw him fly away

Causing me to check the box. All remains well. Unsure whether she sat any today. Haven't seen her and didn't hang around.

 

[thunderstorm]

One of our boxes has a successful hatch. We've enjoyed watching them work to feed the little ones. I still can't bring myself to "check" the boxes.

 

[HuntressOfLight]

One of our boxes has a successful hatch. We've enjoyed watching them work to feed the little ones. I still can't bring myself to "check" the boxes.

Wonderful. You can elect to leave the old nest or clean out their box, permitting them to begin anew once fledged. I just approached Box 2 and called from 5' out, resulting in the mother's exit; so, she is now confirmed as sitting and count can begin. She wasn't exactly pleased, chattering away up there, causing me to just quickly walk away.