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TRES building, Bluebirds showing little interest

13 years ago

Here in Ohio things are much different than last year! I had a neat, completed BB nest with 5 eggs. The 1st 7 days of April the temp was 80+...I trapped AT LEAST 20 HOSP inbox from my 2 sites or "Trails"

This year, we've had a depressing, gray spring. I've trapped HOSP in both my boxes and my neighbor's PUMA house. I have 2 TRES nests at each site. My backyard site has 2 box pairs. The other has 2 un-paired boxes. We've had ONE 80 degree day. Flood watches are out all over the state.

At the 2nd site, I've seen the TRES even in 40 degree temps with rain. Infact my TRES are out at the moment while it's 44 and raining. I saw one pair of BB here a week ago, haven't seen them back, all the while there is still a box standing un-claimed.

So the TRES, who normally flee when it gets cold and rainy, are staying and building nests. The Blues check out the boxes daily but often fly off after little time.

Not much to be excited about here! The weather has been horrendous for the most part, the Blues have yet to build anything, and it's almost Easter! I don't know about the rest, but for me even though I like the TRES, it simply isn't the same without much blues! I've seen enough of TRES, who keeps infesting their trails with em? I have yet to hear any explanation as to why everywhere I go, the bluebirds are severely outnumbered. Don't get me wrong, I like these guys, but COME ON. While we allow the TRES the blues are still #1!

-Tim-

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Comments (2)

kendra2003
13 years ago
It is odd that your Blues are not yet building. I'm north of you and my Bluebirds eggs are due to hatch on Tuesday. My TRES have arrived, but they generally don't even think about nesting until early May. I feel for you with all that rain you've been having. We had a few springs like that, and they are so awful. It is a curiosity why the TRES so outnumber the EABL. The TRES seem to have a much harder life with their long migration. And they have very similar nesting requirements and predators. It makes you wonder why there aren't more EABL. Hang in there. I'm sure your Blues will nest there eventually.
bandjzmom
13 years ago
Yes, Kendra is right Tim. Don't throw in the towel. It's early yet, and you've had some bad weather in your area. My Blues have chicks now, and I don't yet have any nesting TRES. I am seeing the TRES circling in the sky over my PUMA site, but they haven't been exploring the yard gourds at all yet. I think that I may have spotted my Great Crested Flycatchers yesterday. They were back on April 29th last year, so if it was them, they are a tad early.
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Well I was so busy I was unable to visit the forums for responses. Kendra I haven't heard or seen HOWR in the vicinity. To add to that, the blues and swallows laying are around 100 yards apart. This is my neighborhood backyard site that has 2 pairs spaced 20 ft between boxes and about 100 or so yards apart. Nor have I found any destroyed eggs. I had HOWR problems in the past and that's why I moved the boxes...they are in my neighbor's massive field. Okay...The TRES and Blues didn't lay any more eggs! The TRES still have just TWO and they don't appear to be incubating. the other TRES nest that has 4 eggs are still unhatched (presumably gone bad due to upper 40 degree weather a few days ago) Another strange thing...at site #2 the swallows layed just 3 eggs and not sure if THEY are even incubating! What it the world is wrong with my birds this year?! By the way, I now think I've lost 3 female bluebirds already this year! If I lose one more I will top last year's record! Which was 3 in one season! I saw the male bluebird perched on the sparrow spooker in the Am and the powerlines in the PM. No sign of Mrs. Blue. Really wish I knew. This is the STRANGEST nesting season ever! My bluebirds can't even manage to complete a clutch! I might not see nestlings this year if this keeps up:( Mr. Blue might decide to leave:(..........why?!
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