"Mr. VanErt" is a reference to Floyd VanErt, inventor of an in box trap that is very effective for trapping HOSP in the nest box.

It was my way of saying I was going to have to trap them.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: link to page on traps on Sialis

Phoebe, I don't think not feeding the nuthatches and other birds will either make the blues stay or go. I feed the blues and other birds all winter. For 3 years in a row the blues stayed all winter, I spent hundreds of $ on stuff for suet, wax and meal worms only to have them leave at nesting time. Last year was the first year the blues stayed and had 2 broods. I think they will stay again this year as they put some pine needles in the box they used last year.

It is hard to figure out what they will do. I have boxes all mounted on metal poles and baffled. I have the proper box size with venting and draining and the blues chose to nest in the neighbors box. This box was nailed to a swing set, and it was handmade by a child. No vents, no drainage holes. They do not feed them like I do. Go figure??????

I have 2 vanert traps. This is a must have for anyone offering nest boxes to bluebirds, titmouse or chickadees. The house sparrows you saw in the pictures will go in the nest box and kill the blue birds.

Hopefully your blues will nest with you again this year, but don't give up if they don't I waited 3 years.

Karen

Phoebe:

Sorry I didn't have time to post a more complete response last night.

I live in a subdivision and on a very small lot so I only have room for one nest box. I put it up when we moved here in 2004 and have had 3 nestings in it each year since then.

I have titmice and nuthatches too, as well as song sparrows, Carolina wrens, chickadees and downy woodpeckers (and unfortunately, house sparrows) that all come for the meal worms I put out for the blues. It's no problem except it runs my meal worm bill up. The blues boss all of the above and on very cold or snowy days will stand guard at the feeder as if they fear I will run out.

I no longer feed seed eating birds (except in severe weather). When I did I was overrun with cowbirds and starlings that nested in the trees behind the house, ate all the seed and harrassed the blues all summer. So now it's just the birds listed above, plus the gold finches and the hummers. Still, because I provide water, my yard is a virtual beehive at times and I know the blues would prefer more solitude, but it is a small yard and they accept all the bustle.

I know of only one other BB house in this development and I see blues nesting in abandoned woodpecker holes in the trees behind the house. I don't know how successful they are with the starlings up there but to me it is an indication that real estate is in short supply in this area. They don't always take many meal worms in the summer but they do appreciate them on days 13 to 18, when they have to hustle to fill 4 or 5 hungry mouths.

All I can think of in your case is that there must be something in your area that threatens them (HOSP, cats, nest box location)and they have found a more ideal location that they go to to nest. As I said, they should be able to control the other birds and with your help, the HOSP too. But if the BBs' nest is nearby, they should continue to come to your place for meal worms and water, if you provide it.

I too see hawks but the birds have a very good alarm system so they rarely are successful and I have never lost a BB yet. Knock on wood.

Best of luck.

Dave

Phoebe51,
Where do you live (city/state).
What is the setup for your nestbox? Like, what is near it, lots of trees or open lawn?
How close is the seed feeder?
BlueBars

I am z9 NE calif. On 5 acres rural in the middle of 40. Irrigation ditch and pond. Native Oaks fenced in lawn area home.Lots of trees in area but open meadow too. BB houses mounted by Bluebird expert. One is on an antique tool shed, thats the one that had the nesting activity. One more on an oak and then he put one on an oak near our driveway outside my yard that I'm sure cats could get too. We have a dog.I have seen over 55 varieties of birds plus all the ducks and hummingbirds and owls & bats.I have currently only been putting out sunflower seed in a non boxed tree & small open feeders.HOSP showed up a couple of years ago. Got one with a BB. Way too many sparrows here to trap. I only saw a HOSP near empty box once.They usually run when they see me.Right now they are trying to run my black phoebe off.
We banded 2 years in a row.I'm sure they have a safe place near by but I miss them so, when I see one or hear them my heart just soars. Thanks for the help.

Phoebe,

I think your "Bluebird expert" needs a refresher course. Mounting boxes on trees makes an easy mark for predators like cats and raccoons. Boxes should be mounted on pipe with baffles.

Linda C

California, then. You will have Western Bluebirds. (Most of us have the Eastern). You might enjoy Linda Violett's web site linked here: Linda Violett. You will see that she uses a unique type of nestbox that she hangs in trees, but it requires special handling. (I couldn't do it, but you could read about the whys and wherefores of her methods and problems she has solved.) There might be other info there useful to you for Western Blues.
You can also see their migration patterns here: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Click on CBC and BBS maps, and Glossary for explanations. Those maps might show when you might likely see them.
BlueBars