skip to main content

NH Eastern Bluebirds Nesting in March

12 years ago

The unseasonable weather enticed a male and female to arrive early. That was interesting, but considering it is only March 22 and pair have already chosen a box and are actively constructing a nest makes me wonder about the coming days. New Hampshire will most likely will return to our 50 - 60 degree days and 30-40 degree nights. Any thoughts?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

lisa11310
12 years ago
Same thing here in Michigan, we can have snowstorms and freezing temps through April, though the 90 day outlook says not this year. I can always shovel a path to the meal worm feeder if need be ; ) Hope you have a great season!
tobygirl
12 years ago
Sure hope they don't lay eggs this early in NH. We lost five week-old BB babies two years ago during the first week of May here in New York State. Temps went below freezing for a couple days - not sure if they froze or if there was no food. Very sad!
Related Discussions
1st bluebird sighting! Right on time!
Q
Comments (15)
Oh yeah I know how that is Angie! I'm not all that open about birds but my closest friends know I'm a bird watcher and seem to respect it. I'm still into a lot of other things for my age but I was born a nature lover and look to maybe have my 1st career being landscaping. And yes, they are awful birds. I've told others that I trap but I try to get them to understand that I'm only doing it for good reasons...:)...the 1st time I had euthanize a HOSP it was tough...real tough...but now, after seing what they do to our good, native, beautiful insect eating birds, I feel no contempt eliminating them. Whatever it takes to restore the balance and keep our good birds alive... By the way...read my post in the other thread...my neighbor owns a Martin house that I remove HOSP nests from.
...See More
Bluebird Trail Open
Q
Comments (2)
Hi Gail, I very much enjoyed reading the story about the Bluebirds and your trail. Spring is SO sweet (especially after a winter like we've had this year) and having such lovely birds to share your life makes it all the sweeter! I don't have any nestboxes (my lot is open woodland and kind of brushy), but for 3 winters now the Bluebirds have come to eat the home-made suet mixture on the suet log. Except during the harshest weather, I have daily visits from these beautiful, friendly birds. They have become accustomed to my presence to the point where I can sometimes stand about 10 feet away from the feeders and watch them, talk to them, or snap a few pictures. They cheer me up during the winter. Once the weather warms up and there are plenty of insects, I don't see them on the feeders any more. Only occasionally, grabbing an insect in the garden, or on a bird bath.
...See More
How to Stop Birds From Building Mud Nests on My Front Porch
Q
Comments (110)
Robins are birds that I enjoy viewing, but not as they try to build nests under our porch lights which are on both sides of an area right by our front entrance door. For three days my husband has removed the straw, twigs, etc in order to prevent a completed robin's nest. They put the straw, twigs, etc. up, he takes them down immediately. Today after reading these posts, I sprayed the area with ant and roach spray that I use when the ants try to visit too close to our outside walkway. Two robins just came with straw in their mouths, but they flew away. I hope this is a long-term solution. This is the first time that we have had this problem in the nineteen years that we have lived here. I am already tired of the mess on our porch and the potential health hazard presented if the robins succeed in building a permanent nest. We have plenty of trees that the birds usually choose for their nests and are still quite welcome to do so. However, why our porch this year is a puzzle. Thanks to all who have posted for their solutions. To the haters, because one does not want a bird's nest in an area that he/she frequently uses in his/her home, does not label the person as an animal hater. Why should my quality of life be compromised daily upon trying to enter my home for the sake of a bird's nest? The answer is that it shouldn't and will not. We will win this fight and reclaim our safety and keep our good health.
...See More
Just Purchased a New Bluebird House
Q
Comments (28)
Linda, If you look at these picture you can see how I put eye screws in the top of the box. Then I tied a couple 3/4 inch washers on the end of the fish line for weight, that's so the line doesn't blow around and get tangled up. You don't want it hanging too close to the opening or there is a risk of the blues getting tangled in it. Then put it through the other eye screws and tie washers on the other end. If you look closely at the second photo you can see where I filed a very narrow notch in the roof so the string hangs in the same place all the time. Just pull it down tight in the notch being carefull not to break it. Also in the first picture you see the silver mylar ribbons hanging on the box. That is the curly gift wrapping ribbon type stuff that you put on Christmas or birthday gifts. It's waterproof and it blows around in the wind. For some reason I can't explain, the sparrows won't go near it. I learned that trick from another Bluebird web site. A woman researcher in CA. discovered that the sparrows don't like it. As far as the screen inside, I left mine in so the nest is off the bottom of the box so it stays dry. There are vents that let the air circulate and that also helps it stay cooler since the box is out in the open sun. I also left the pegs in because the blues will roost on them during cold weather. They didn't seem to be in the way when the adults were going completely inside the box to feed the little ones or to remove the fecal sacs. In the pictures it looks like the box is close to the fence, but it's about eight feet away from it mounted on a pole with a baffle and grease on the pole below the baffle. After the babies fledged I cleaned the box out the next day and the nesting material was free of any bugs and completely dry. Leaving the box just the way I bought it seemed to work just fine so I won't change it. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is my motto. I hope this helps you, I had a successful nesting and now the parents are bringing the young ones to my feeder for the mealworms I put out every day. My success is a combination of luck, research and all the help from members of this forum. I hope I get lucky and have another nesting but it's getting late in the season and the nights are already getting pretty cool here in the mountains of eastern WV.
...See More
dzyg
12 years ago
I am in Central WI and they are choosing nestboxes right now. No nestbuilding yet but I am sure it could be soon. At least for those here in the yard if it gets cooler I do have mealworms for them. They are eating rehydrated dried ones right now along with plenty of live bugs in the yard. Hopefully they don't have eggs if it does get cooler again. Crazy weather, lots of things will be hurt this year if it goes back to normal temps and freezing at night.

Donna
ohsoblue77
12 years ago
My bluebirds have been building a nest since early - mid week last week and look about finished, here in N.E. Ohio

The latest weather I just saw, after 3 straight 80 degree days, says we are gonna be in the 40's by the end of the weekend! BAD!!! Cherry, Dogwood, and Magnolias have ALL broke out into bloom! Other trees are pushing out leaves. The trees are WEEKS ahead of normal.

Really hope my blues don't get a cold spell. Like tobygirl, I also lost a nest of blues to a sudden cold snap. One evening they were very poorly tending to the young. It was around 70 then. The next day, 50! 4-5 nestlings starved to death. I pulled the plug on the attempt after observing them laying in the nest stiffly, with no ability to chirp and couldn't raise their heads. When there were winds and cold rain.

~Tim~
mcgann
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for all of the replies. We have cameras in all of our boxes, so it makes monitoring their activities very easy. I will supplement their diet if the temps drop, but for now it is just wait and see. This is our second year living on this property, and based on how comfortable these EBB's when I am around, I am hoping they are a returning pair. We had a very successful season last Spring.
kendra2003
12 years ago
The year before last we had an ice storm with terrible winds after the babies had hatched. They did just fine because I made sure the parents had plenty of food to give them. If we do get a cold snap in between this unseasonably warm weather, just make sure to feed them. The parents can keep them warm, but they can't feed them without insects.
bettycbowen
12 years ago
I am in Central OK and everything is a month early garden-wise. My blues had four eggs laid by the 19th, the earliest ever for me. A robin has a nest in the nearest tree, and they are getting along remarkably well. This morning they were sitting side by side!
lisa11310
12 years ago
Bubble wrap the box & have plenty of meal worms (also can go get crickets at any Petsmart) May need to disable the crickets (not fun) but can keep the babies alive!
rocky55
12 years ago
I live in Illinois. My blues have built a nest and have 2 eggs laid already! I hope they make it.
mcgann
Original Author
12 years ago
High of 60 degrees here today and felt like it should. EBB did some nesting/ building but seem to have lost the urgency displayed days earlier. On a Great Note...the female finally made the connection between me and the meal worms. Almost felt her 'stink eye' when all were consumed.
kendra2003
12 years ago
I checked this afternoon and my Bluebirds have laid their first egg (Massachusetts). So yours shouldn't be far behind. This year everything is early. Last year the first egg was laid April 9th.
mcgann
Original Author
12 years ago
Freezing temps and very, very high have made these past two days interesting....the worms kept blowing of of the feeder?!? I invented a wind proof feeding station and they went for it...I am supplementing their diet until the btemps and winds offer favourable conditions for them. Nesting activity reduced to a few new pine needles and chest cupping. Happy that they are toughening it out. They follow me everywhere.
dzyg
12 years ago
Its been cool and windy here too. Our Momma Blue is still slowly building her nest. I haven't checked on the progress cause it is too windy. Just watch them from the window. They are happily eating their rehydrated mealworms though, the male has been feeding them to the female. I have mine in a dish in a covered jailhouse style feeder. That way it doesn't matter how windy or rainy it is, they can still get their mealworms and the Robins and other large birds cannot steal them.

Donna

Related Stories

GARDENING FOR BIRDS What to Know About Birds Nesting in Your Yard

By Mitchell Parker

Learn how to observe, record data and help ornithologists with NestWatch’s citizen science project understand bird trends

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Wild Birds Transform a Woman’s Garden and Life

By Mary Jo Bowling

How Sharon Sorenson created a wildlife haven and became the Bird Lady of Southern Indiana

GARDENING GUIDES 13 North American Backyard Birds to Know

By Annie Thornton

Find out about these enchanting native species and learn how to attract them to your yard

GARDENING GUIDES Garden-Friendly Native Alternatives to Overplanted Exotics

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

There are lots of gorgeous, wildlife-friendly native plants ready to make an appearance in your garden

HOMES AROUND THE WORLD Household Habits and Customs to Borrow From Other Countries

By Елена Амбросимова

Discover why salt may be the perfect house-warming gift, how to clean rugs in snow and why you should invest in a pair of ‘toilet slippers’

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES 3 Ways Native Plants Make Gardening So Much Better

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

You probably know about the lower maintenance. But native plants' other benefits go far beyond a little less watering and weeding

Sponsored

More Discussions

Bluebirds never leave North Texas boxes.

0