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Blues Building

17 years ago

We noticed yesterday that pine needles were hanging out of the box. There was a half built nest inside. Then moments later Mama came to the box when some needles in her mouth. We are keeping our fingers crossed that our pair continue to build.

Spring is on the way! Can't wait to read about your blues too!

Vanessa in Texas!

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Comments (6)

dzyg
17 years ago
OMG no fair!!! Do you realize it is only February and I am in Wisconsin!!!! Blues don't start nests here until late April and we don't see them until then either! Wahhhhh!!!

But really, lucky you! Keep us posted!

Donna
donnalovesblue
17 years ago
WOW Vanessa!!! I'm in MS, and my blues began building last season on 3/13! You're the first to report nestbuilding, at least on this forum. Good luck and keep us posted.

Donna
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You are proposing to create a problem --a rotting fence -- and then spending time and effort trying to figure out how to prevent the problem in spite of its existence. The only good method is as Lyfia suggest ... keep an air gap (several inches at least) between the raised bed and the fence. There is no other way. And this creates another problem ... a place where trash is trapped and maintenance is more difficult because of limited access. Cedar will disappoint you with its shortened life span if you don't make sure it is able to dry quickly after its gets wet. I ask the same question as Lyfia ... why does the garden need to be raised? If you wish to raise the grade, the proper way is to create the raised area and place the fence on top of it. Placing anything against the fence will ensure that it doesn't dry quickly.
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You can leave them. The Blues often start nests in different boxes before deciding which one to use. It shouldn't bother any other birds to have a few pine needles in them.
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Hi Lisa This is what i do since i am a absent landlord. Mount a bluebird type box high maybe 6 feet on a barn or your home the sparrows want to nest in a high box once they start to nest insert a Van ert trap. My bluebirds have run of the farm all HOSP that fly in want the box mounted on the horse farm barn nice and high and right where they want to be near food. Try this and you will never worry again. Ground traps are good in late summer only... I have decimated the HOSP population in this one town because of this method. Remove the HOSP with clear plastic bag. open box and he will fly into the bag. remove trap and just wait for another pair of HOSP to show and thats all you do. Add trap and remove the flying rats. Ray
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Patience is definitely needed! This is my 7th season with the Blues and probably 5th or 6th year trapping HOSP. Yet things are far from the same every year, with different HOSP behavior. At the other site, I'm a little worried the blues were ready to nest and thus may have moved on to another cavity. Here, I'm just hoping the blues aren't attacked when they start building a nest! Mr. Van Ert's traps have been a god send!!! Along with Blaine's sparrow spookers.
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bluebars
17 years ago
How nice for you. A promising start on the season!
BlueBars in MD, turning green from envy, with probably several more weeks to wait for nestbuilding.
(It is encouraging to hear that Spring is on the way!)
mulchmamma
17 years ago
Vanessa, how many broods will you have, 4??? Do you realize how lucky you are?? I'm like a kid waiting for spring and by first nest. Just to see that first blue egg will certainly raise my spirits.
lisa11310
17 years ago
Oh my gosh.....we just had our first day of above freezing temps in months. It will take a very long time for the 152" of snow to melt here and it's only Feb...there will be more snow to come before we see spring.! Good luck with you blues! Check out my "can somebody post a pick of my nest box " thread to see what we looked like a few weeks ago
lcmoore99
17 years ago
wow, that is exciting! I'm waiting to see a similar scene. The temps are going to go up again here this week and I'm hoping that my blues will start their nest soon.

Congrats! Bluebird blessings, Linda...

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