Bluebirds and my new nestbox

17 years ago

For the last two weeks, I've observed a male and female bluebird checking out my new nestbox: sitting on it, hovering over the hole poking their head in, etc.

I never saw one fly all the way in.

Today, one of the bluebirds (I think a female) was checking out the box with its head in the hole. Then a male flew right up to the other bluebird, who immediately flew into the box.

I captured the episode on my camera.

Please let me know your thoughts about what was taking place, and why it's taken them so long to fly into the box.

Image link:

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

donnalovesblue
17 years ago
This is the time of year they are checking out housing and it sounds like your blues are very interested. The female makes the final decision on a nesting site, so they're just doing their thing right now. Keep an eye on the box and check to see if there is any nesting material in the box. If you're lucky, you might catch Mama blue in the building process. It's so much fun to watch. Good luck!

BTW, great pic!

Donna
jlaz
Original Author
17 years ago
Donna,
Thanks for the reply.
I put out some nesting material (grass, pine straw) in a piece of bark at the base of the pole and haven't seen them use it yet.
I read somewhere that gathering material for them is helpful.
Do you have any insight on this?
-Jared
Related Discussions
Are bluebirds disturbed by my yardwork?
Q
Comments (5)
I am fairly certain there are eggs already, as Mama stays in the birdhouse just about all time. She frequently can be seen peeking out of her box. I comically think back as to when I was pregnant on bedrest looking out my window wishing I were outside! That has to be how she feels, needs to stay with her nest, yet wishes she could be out flying around! I know many of you pros open a door and peek inside, I'm just not comfortable doing that. I'm scared something would happen with my luck, like an egg rolling out! The other day I was watering my roses and as I walked directly in front of the box Mother bird flew out, and scared me to death! lol.. She dd stay in there as I watered, but waited until I left to fly on back after walking in front of the house. I guess I'll dig a bit, and if she flies away, I'll just have to do it over a number of days to make sure she isn't too bothered?
...See More
HOSP take over Bluebird Nestbox!! $%$#@!
Q
Comments (2)
Sorry to hear this Tim. If I were you I would remove the HOSP nest and hope the blues return. I doubt you will get the female HOSP now that the male has left. In my experience with TRES I see them highly motivated to run off any bird in paired boxes when they are nest building. Once they are laying/incubating and feeding nestlings they focus much more on that then defending the other box. I have lots of paired boxes and that is what I have found anyway. As far as the Blues letting the HOSP take over the box...well they know they cannot win I suppose, no eggs or nestlings to defend so it is hard to say. I think each bluebird is different too on how hard they defend things. This year I have a hugely territorial male, never had one like this before. He has chased off my chickadees and is trying to chase off all the Tree Swallows in the yard. He is defending four nestboxes, two of these are 65 yards or so from the box they have eggs in. Nothing will be nesting in the box paired 35 feet from the blues nestbox...he won't allow it. The chickadees weren't even house hunting, just trying to eat out of the birdfeeders and he won't allow it. A couple times I have seen a HOSP come to the feeder and I quickly try to get the bb gun but the Male bluebirds chases it away before I can even think about it. He won't stop chasing until it is out of the yard too. I am curious to see if he calms down a bit once the eggs hatch which should be next week. Good luck to you, hope your blues can get down to business now that that HOSP is gone. Donna
...See More
New to Bluebirds
Q
Comments (8)
Yes, Lornas, even though you trap the raccoons, other animals are also of concern including snakes. It would be a good idea to move the box now and it can be done if you're careful. All of my nestboxes are mounted on 3/4" electrical conduit with stovepipe baffles to protect from climbing predators. The pole should be located at least 10' away from fences, trees, etc., to prevent animals from jumping to the nestbox. I would remove the nest, carefully, from the nestbox and place it in a shoebox. Cover it with a lid and set it aside until the move is complete. Then remove the nestbox from the fence and mount it to the newly located pole (I have Home Depot or Lowe's cut the conduit at a 7' length and then I pound at least 12" of the pole into the ground). Once the nestbox is mounted, carefully replace the nest and then watch the box from a distance to be certain the parents accept the change. Many of us have learned the hard way that mounting nestboxes to fences and trees may work for a time but eventually the predators catch on. Once a box has been raided, the predator knows where to find an easy meal. It's bad enough to lose eggs or hatchlings to a predator, but a box mounted on fences and trees also puts the breeding pair of birds at risk. Take care and let us know if we can be of further help. Kathy
...See More
Abandoned bluebird nest, please help, I'm new
Q
Comments (5)
Hello Michael, First I am glad you found this site, I was happy when I found it to, but I would like to invite you to join the bluebird nut cafe and we will provide you with all you need to know about these birds. It is way more active and you will get fast answers to your questions. Hope to see you there. http://bluebirdnutcafe.yuku.com/ Secondly your bluebird pair have committed to that nest with eggs so they won't abandon it easily. How much rain are you getting? One year I had blues there were several days of rain and no bugs except earthworms around to feed the babies. They didn't survive despite the parents efforts. My guess is your pair has left to find a food source and will return. I do find it odd that they left when you are providing mealworms. I would recommend you ask this question on the bluebird nut cafe site to get other's input. -Tyler
...See More
donnalovesblue
17 years ago
There are so many pine trees and dead grasses in the woods near my house that I don't need to provide nesting materials. They'll be fine, with or without your help, so don't worry if they ignore what you've offered.

Donna
mulchmamma
17 years ago
Thought mice were chewing up the front door cocoa mat. With all the material the blues could have used for nest building, it was mostly cocoa mat material I found in the nest.
donnalovesblue
17 years ago
Oh, that is too funny! I do remember that last year I had some moss in a bag purchased from a garden center. Just for the heck of it, I placed some on a crepe myrtle branch and within days, it disappeared though I have no idea who the takers were!

Donna
lcmoore99
17 years ago
What I do each year for the birds in general is brush my thick-coated Golden Retriever and put it in a suet box. Her fur is soooo soft and water repellent too! I hang the 'hair box' under a tree and it's fun to watch some of the smaller birds (like chickadees) pull the fur from the box and fly away.

I have a nest box video camera so I've gotten to see how it is used by some birds. I've had bluebirds use the fur over the pine needles in the nest cup instead of grass. Also a nest of chickadees used it on the top of the nest esp. in the nest cup. The cutest thing I saw was a titmouse who used to take the fur from the side of the nest (their nest fills a bluebird box but there is a nest cup which is usu. in one corner similar to chickadees) and when she left, she'd pull the fur like a blanket over the chick.

Linda...

Here is a link that might be useful: time to brush the dog

Bluebirds and my new nestbox

Comments (6)

donnalovesblue

jlaz
Original Author

Related Discussions

donnalovesblue

mulchmamma

donnalovesblue

lcmoore99

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Bluebirds and my new nestbox

Comments (6)

donnalovesblue

jlazOriginal Author

Related Discussions

donnalovesblue

mulchmamma

donnalovesblue

lcmoore99

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

jlaz
Original Author