Last year early or this year late?

13 years ago

Hi,

I'm in NW Georgia & last year at this time I had bluebird chicks hatching. By March 15th, I had Carolina Chickadee eggs & 2 nests of House Finches. Right now I only see the bluebirds sitting on the nest box, maybe looking in once in awhile. I have a nest box with a little bit of moss in it from a Chickadee who hasn't added any for a day or so.

Was last year early? I was looking at some photos & by this time last year, the azaleas were blooming & we had pine pollen by March 19th!

Bluebird blessings, LInda...

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Comments (6)

sagrinin
13 years ago
My blues have been around all winter. A pair already building a nest in one box. I have three boxes. I am a little surprised at them building a nest this early. Could it be a dummy one? There are just a few pieces of pine needles in the other two boxes, but this is definitely a nest in the third one. She was working at it this morning.
lcmoore99
Original Author
13 years ago
Lucky you! Where are you located?

I've not heard of bluebirds making dummy nests (House Wrens do). Are the boxes close together? Do you hae more than one pair?
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lisa11310
13 years ago
Hi Linda! Nice to see you. Hows everything on the homefront? Mine are not here yet. We are still below freezing at night and there is still a few inches of snow on the ground. I have not dug out my calendar from last year yet but I expect mine here near the end of the month, they have been here as late as the 2nd week in April. I suffered my first Adult death in the second nesting last year. Found Mom dead in the box, no peck marks, the babies were fine and fledged about a week later. My HOSP population has grown and I am fearful. Lost a Dee to one (had not even started a nest yet) last year. : ( Remeber the good old days when there were no HOSPS here? Hope your favorite terrorists don't cause you problems this year. Remembering you one little guy from years back....Pheonix wasn't it? Cheers to a great season!
lcmoore99
Original Author
13 years ago
Hi Lisa, good to see YOU, too.

You're right, it was Phoenix, tough little bird. I didn't have HW problems last year because Daddly Blue (new last year, back now) was vigalent..he was amazing! He & Mama had 3 broods & I was expecting a 4th but I think that the female died after the 3rd.

The home front is quite different than last season. My Mom's had Alz. for a number of years & she and Dad lived in PA for 60+ years in the house I grew up in. In August, Dad got a diagnosis of lung cancer that had spread & he was dead the next week. Mom then had to go to the hospital, then to a nursing home in PA. Because it's only my brother & me, we decided to move her to GA where she's in a nursing home close to me. She came here on Oct 1st & she was still talking & cheerful. She's declined to the point where she doesn't talk much, sometimes doesn't know me. Basically, she is in the last stage. I visit her most days, maybe a little less than at first. There's not much I can do for her but she's in a great facility & they are taking care of her.

I NEED bluebird therapy this year, that's for sure. I've lost both parents in less than a year and it's hard.

Thanks for asking & it IS good to see you & some of the others.

Blessings, Linda.
sagrinin
13 years ago
Linda, I live in central NC. Nest building continued today. I don't really know if I have more than one pair. Sometimes I see 2 males and one female. I have 3 boxes. They nested in all three last year. First nest eggs were not viable. She laid 4 eggs, sat for a little while, then I never saw her go in the box again. I put a dot on the eggs, they were never turned. I left them in there just in case, a few days later they were on the ground pecked open. Not viable at all. A wren had a nest after that In the same box, eggs were not viable either. Strange! The 2nd nesting was in another box and had 4 eggs,
2 of the hatchlings died. The 3rd nesting was in the 3rd box , had 3 eggs and was a success.
ohsoblue77
13 years ago
In NE Ohio we just got teased by a beautiful spring like weekend. Mid 50's on Saturday and Mid-upper 60's on Sunday!

Mid 50's and rain on Monday with falling temperatures. It is now 34 degrees and 1-4 inches of snow forecasted tomorrow UGH!!! And nothing higher than 40's the next several days!

Looks like it's gonna be a later start here. Last year we had 80's for St. Patrick's day! Not gonna repeat....

Robins, Killdeer, American Woodcock, all back and heard. There were at least 4 bluebirds in the neighborhood and it was like a chorus of Bluebirds! At both my sites, there was A LOT of vocalization by bluebirds! Only for this crappy weather to return.

Hoping this season isn't pushed back too much. I know it's early, but Spring is exactly one week away! and our Highs are mid-upper 30's. The average high is 45! Been a rough March so far!

~Tim~

Last year early or this year late?

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Last year early or this year late?

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