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Nest built then BB's disappeared??

15 years ago

HI

I had the same pair of Blues come and they made a nest - started on 3-9 and finished a few days later.

I have only seen thme once since then and the female peeked in the box, a female HOSP flew at her and she flew away.

That was about 5 days ago, I keep taking out the part the HOSP put in, and they have pretty much given up.

BUT will the Blues come back?

Is it common for them to disappear for awhile after making a nest?

They nested here last year, and I put a spooker up after the first egg.

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Comments (4)

organicgardener
15 years ago
If the HOSP is in that box every day, you could set a trap. Make sure you check it often. If you trap a bird, put a large mesh laundry bag over the whole nestbox and pull the drawstring tight. Open the box to see if you've trapped the HOSP. If a HOSP, dispose of it. If it's the bluebird, release it.

Linda C
bluebars
15 years ago
If the HOSP has been nestbuilding, they probably have sent the bluebirds elsewhere. Just be glad the bluebirds have escaped with their lives. HOSP can kill. Visit the link below for ideas and hints if you want to discourage or remove HOSP.
Other bluebirds might move in later, if you can control the HOSP problem. If your HOSP problem is severe (too many), or you are not willing to control them, maybe you could host a smaller species (chickadees, wrens, etc.) by reducing the entrance hole so that HOSP cannot enter.
Whatever you decide, please do not host HOSP intentionally.
BlueBars

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.sialis.org/hosp.htm
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mulchmamma
15 years ago
From personal experience, I have found that once HOSP have claimed a box, no other cavity nesters are safe. Even with spookers and halos and reducers, I still worry. I have a single Ninja HOSP causing me grief. If he claims a box this year, I will welcome him and allow the nesting to proceed, tie up their time and effort and then eliminate the breeding pair with the VanErt. Better to monitor the situation in my own yard than have them nest somewhere else and fledge. That's the plan this year and my two pellet rifles will back me up.

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debbie321
Original Author
15 years ago
NO I dont intentionally let HOSP nest here.
They put grass in the nest box as soon as the BB's took off for the day. I promptly removed it - I have trapped several HOSP and have not seen any in 2 days now. Of course I have seen no other birds either as I took the seed feeder down.
That makes me depressed that I will not have blues now.
: SO there is no way they will come back since I got rid of the problem?
I KNOW there may be more HOSP to come, but I have eliminated all reasons for them to be here now.

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