skip to main content

Crazy Start Of The Season

15 years ago

Hi all...haven't been on this forum in quite some time and hope all is well with everyone.

This season has begun on a very different note. I have 3 nestboxes and have always had the blues in at least 2 of them. Last year, the dees began building in a box and the blues harassed them until they left and found housing elsewhere. I had 3 BB nestings last year, but only the 3rd one was successful.

The Dees began building about 3 weeks ago all while the blues were checking out their box. The blues just weren't interested in the other 2 boxes. While there is plenty of housing for all, this one box seems to be the most popular!

This morning I discovered nesting material in the 2nd box and it wasn't a BB nest or another Dee pair. Just a few minutes ago, I saw a Brown Headed Huthatch enter with nesting material!!! Haven't had these little cuties in 3 years!

I do love the Dees and Nuthatches and am delighted to have them....just hope as soon as those nestings are complete (and I pray succesfully), that I will have the Blues at some point. I may attempt to move box #3 to a more BB desireable location and see what happens.

I look forward to all the BB stories here and hope all goes well for our beloved blues.

Donna

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

bandjzmom
15 years ago
Hi Donna! That is really cool that you got nesting BHNU's!! I used to have them at my feeders when I lived at my last house, but I don't get them here. Not enough pine trees, I think. It'll be really fun to monitor that box! I know what you mean about the Chickadees. I have 2 BB boxes in my yard, and my Carolina Chickadees almost always try to get one of them. I do offer a bunch of other options for the Chickadees and wish that they would automatically choose those instead. I have been fighting off a pair of HOSP's to try to make the way clear for my BB pair to build in peace. I do believe that they are just now ready to build. Good luck!! See ya back here often!~~Angie
ohsoblue77
15 years ago
Hey there Donna! The forums here have missed you...remember a few people this forum hasn't had in the last couple years...glad to see you back!

For me, I've had dees check out a box but never had them nest. My boxes are out in the fields so I have the Bluebird and Tree Swallow duo. My blues are resting well knowing I'm keeping control of those nasty HOSP.

Good luck! Hope you have a great nesting season!- Tim -
Related Discussions
Starting of a new season, busy two weeks!
Q
Comments (3)
If you are talking about the plastic mulched beds, no we laid that by hand. It takes some time, but we are getting faster. I hope the time spent now means less weeding in the future. First I till the beds out to at least 3 feet wide. Then I come back with a rake or a hoe and make a 4 to 6 inch furrow on each side of the bed. Then we set the roll of plastic on the bed roll it out a few feet and bury the edges and on the end. It works best to hold it down with a helper or a heavy concrete block. Then unroll further and stretch as you go. Fill the sides back in with the dirt. Then at the end of the rows, my helpers help me out. I hope this helps. I wish I had a mulch layer, but I need to get the tractor and tiller first. I did build a garden bedder/hiller that I used to make raised beds outside. I rented a tractor this year and it worked great. Jay
...See More
Crazy idea for warm season over-seeding
Q
Comments (8)
Here's my problem: Compacted, scraped Red clay dirt + rocks. On a hill side = Whole yard washes downhill when it rains I can't afford sod right now.... I need something to get me thru till fall when I can set out seed that won't all die this summer. I don't particularly want a whole yard of Bermuda + Mulch (The neighbor's solution...) Annual Ryegrass is a bad choice -- it dies in the hot summertime... If I plant out Annual Rye now, it will all be dead in 3 weeks... so I need something that likes hot weather. Millet has a very short growing season -- 60-80 days. After that, it dies out. It should get me thru to late summer/early fall when I can plant out my grass seed... I am going to keep it mowed, so far, it looks like grass. I am going to try to get some pictures... Maybe this will help out folks who are in the same boat as me.... Thanks
...See More
Horrible winter and start of the season.
Q
Comments (4)
Sorry to hear that. I've killed many a plumeria in my life! LOL! Rule of thumb: Don't leave plumeria outside overnight until night temps are 55 degrees or above. An occasional night in 40s may not be too bad, but could shock them if they are used to warm temps. When they are more or less dormant in cool temps in winter (50s to 60s) only water very, very sparingly -- and then only around the perimeter of the pots. Otherwise the trunks below the surface may rot. If you keep the plants warmer -- like around 70 you might get by with watering just a bit more. Of course this all depends upon the age and general vigor of the plants. The smaller the plants (like newly-rooted cuttings), the more temperamental they can be. If you have them under HID lights and provide them with more than 12 hours of 'daylight' you can keep them growing and therefore can water them more.
...See More
Crazy season so far!
Q
Comments (0)
Yesterday, I visited my other site with 2 boxes that are on a couple diff. properties. The week before, a HOSP was inside the entrance hole to one chirping away! I wasn't able to get him. So when I returned yesterday, I set out my Van Ert. A bird that clearly LOOKED like a HOSP landed on the box and moved around like one too. At the same time, I was hearing HOSP vocalization. I watched the box. I heard it go off, thinking "YES!" Upon further inspection, I found it was a female bluebird!! In my other box, I had a Van Ert set, and again heard the HOSP vocalizations. 2 birds were at it. 1 was trapped. I opened the box with bag, out flew another female bluebird! Turns out the HOSP left and there are 2 pairs at this site who were near each other at one box WITHOUT fighting. Despite the females being trapped, they promptly returned to their boxes. Here at home, I have 2 box pairs, and my TRES pairs just returned for the season. I have a Blue pair actively, slowly but surely building a nest. A male and female HOSP just showed up at the other pair, and TRES were harrasing them. Of course, at the same time, my Van Erts are set! This is my first ever experience trapping bluebirds with the Van Ert. Contrary to what sialis says, both female bluebirds flew straight out INTO my mesh bag. I scurried them back in the boxes, removed the bag, and opened the doors. They exited immediately. Crazy stuff here! the Bluebirds appear in control, even at my second site, where there are many HOSP. Can't believe it. ~Tim~
...See More
dzyg
15 years ago
How cool Donna! Would love to get Nuthatches nesting, we only have White Breasted here in the Summertime. Have had a pair of Red Breasted around for the last couple of weeks but I am sure they will move on, their nesting range is a bit north of here. My problem each year is having so many TRES I am never sure if I will get Blues nesting but I always seem to. Hopefully I will this year too. Good luck to you and hope you get a Blue pair or two!!

Donna

Related Stories

MOST POPULAR How to Start a Cool-Season Vegetable Garden

By Marianne Lipanovich

Late summer and late winter are good times to plan and plant cool-season crops like salad greens, spinach, beets, carrots and peas

DECLUTTERING 5 Ways to Jump-Start a Whole-House Decluttering Effort

By Laura Gaskill

If the piles of paperwork and jampacked closets have you feeling like a deer in the headlights, take a deep breath and a baby step

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Tips to Start a Garden — Can-Do Ideas for Beginners

By Alison Hodgson

Green up your landscape even if you're short on time, money and knowledge, with these manageable steps for first-time gardeners

FUN HOUZZ 14 Things You Need to Start Doing Now for Your Spouse’s Sake

By Mitchell Parker

You have no idea how annoying your habits at home can be. We’re here to tell you

DECORATING GUIDES Decorating 101: How to Start a Decorating Project

Before you grab that first paint chip, figure out your needs, your decorating style and what to get rid of

REMODELING GUIDES 10 Things to Ask Your Contractor Before You Start Your Project

By Ventana Construction LLC

Ask these questions before signing with a contractor for better communication and fewer surprises

GARDENING GUIDES How to Stop Worrying and Start Loving Clay Soil

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Clay has many more benefits than you might imagine

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Crazy for Fruit Trees

By Marianne Lipanovich

Whether a single citrus or a mini apple orchard, even the smallest landscape space can bear deliriously delicious fruit

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: New Love and a Fresh Start in a Midcentury Ranch House

By Mitchell Parker

A Nashville couple, both interior designers, fall for a neglected 1960 home. Their renovation story has a happy ending

FARM YOUR YARD 6 Things to Know Before You Start Growing Your Own Food

By Abundant City

It takes time and practice, but growing edibles in the suburbs or city is possible with smart prep and patience

Sponsored