Titmouse V Bluebird, what to do?

14 years ago

Hi all, We have one bluebird box in the back yard with successful nestings in previous years. This year, we have seen BB pair checking out the box but no nesting. In the past week, we've seen a titmouse going in with nesting materials. I have not looked in the box to see how far along the nest is, because I was not sure the titmouse would tolerate it as bluebirds do. Yesterday I saw BB pair looking in the box and leaving, then a titmouse looking OUT of the box after they left. Now, the dilemma..this morning I've seen a BB pair checking out the box, going in the box, and even removing nesting material from the box. Would they bother this nest if it had titmouse eggs in it? Should I look in the box to see what is in there? If there is a titmouse nest, should I try to keep them from disturbing it?

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Comments (7)

lcmoore99
14 years ago
This is FREAKY because this is exactly what I have happening! First, I have a video cam inside the nest box.

On Apr 1st, a titmouse started brining in nesting material...mostly moss. Since the bluebirds didn't seem to show any interest, I just let things go like that. The next day, i saw Mama Bluebird going into the box.

The next day (Sat), Mama Bluebird started taking pine needles into the box and started HER nest right on top of what Mama Titmouse had there already. At one point, the blues were at the hole with the titmouse trapped inside. If you've never seen a titmouse do the 'hiss and lunge' when it's threatened, I'm tryng to get that vid up to YouTube. Sat. the two mamas took turns going in and working on the nest cup which is weird since titmice like their cups in the back and blues like them in the center. They were working AGAINST each other!

We decided to put up a second nest box, not far from the first and as close to the feeder as the other. Mama Blue looked in it a few times but that's it. As far as I can tell, no other birds have been in it (there's a vid camera in it).

Yesterday it looked like Mama Titmouse relented and Mama worked non-stop for hours and has most of the nest done. A few minutes ago, Mama Titmouse came in and started pulling the material SHE had brought in which is now the very bottom layer of the nest! Then she did the 'wing thing' to make HER nest cup toward the back.

She left and I'm waiting for Mama Blue to arrive. I put out mealies and whistled as I always do.

Rebecca, I've taken the approach that I'll let nature take its course. Of course, I want the bluebirds to prevail but I don't want any 'fights to the death' which can happen in some situaitons.

OK, here comes Mama Blue into the nest and she immediately goes into 'making me a nest cup' mode :) The nest cup is not longer exactly in the enter but she's just working away. We'll see what the rest of the day will bring.

Rebecca, I have heard of bluebirds, and other birds, building their nests over other birds nests--well, that happened here. I don't know where I saw it, but there was an instance of one bird building over unhatched eggs of another.

Let's see what the other folks say.
lcmoore99
14 years ago
Whoops, sorry Roberta on the name above!!! BTW, Mama Titmouse has been back, brought more material, and worked on 'her' nest cup. And Mama is back working on HERS!!! This is so bizarre!!

Linda...
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roberta_nc
Original Author
14 years ago
Calling me Rebecca is fine....it's my sister's name and my mom did it all the time :) I am sorry to read this post and the more recent one about your dueling birds! I honestly don't know what to suggest. I have read where you could put a reducer on the hole to keep the bluebirds out if another bird has already built, but this business of both building in he same place and fighting over the same spot is new to me!

I finally took a peek in my box and see that i have one nest, built by the titmouse aparently (due to its construction). The bluebirds gave up and went to a neighbor's box. AND, I haven't seen the titmouse go back in yet. So I don't know if I'll have any nesters or not.

I wish you the best with yours!
jackie643
14 years ago
Iwould remove the nest,if you want bluebirds. they will rebuild quickly. hopefully, the titmouse will build elsewhere. they usually like to build under eaves.
rebecca57
14 years ago
It is okay if you called Roberta, Rebecca. I AM Rebecca, and I post here, too! That is where the confusion came in!
Rebecca
dzyg
14 years ago
jackie643....you said...I would remove the nest,if you want bluebirds. they will rebuild quickly. hopefully, the titmouse will build elsewhere. they usually like to build under eaves.

Roberta should not remove the nest if the Titmouse is going to nest there. They are cavity nesting birds and while we do not have them here I have never heard of them nesting under eaves, that sounds like a Phoebe or Barn Swallow to me. I would prefer Bluebirds to Tree Swallows but if Tree Swallows nest in my box I don't remove their nests in hopes of Bluebirds. Adding another box sounds like a better idea but apparently that isn't always successful either.

Donna
roberta_nc
Original Author
14 years ago
I did not plan to remove the nest (isn't that illegal?...yes, I know it's my backyard but still..) unless I was convinced that the titmouse had abandoned it. I saw it this morning peeking her head out, so the nest stays. We'll just have a different kind of babies this time--I like them, too!

Titmouse V Bluebird, what to do?

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lcmoore99

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Titmouse V Bluebird, what to do?

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lcmoore99

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