I saw two and now they're gone

16 years ago

Hi,

I am new to bluebirding. I put nesting boxes up last year and no bluebirds. I moved the boxes, put up a bluebird garden flag, and even bought mealworms. The problem is that I finally saw two bluebirds on Friday of last week, but I haven't seen them since! Nobody is eating the mealworms. I feed goldfinches with nyjer and also use black oil sunflower seed. Do you think the bluebirds were scared away with all the activity in the yard? What can I do to get them back?

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Comments (5)

kendra2003
16 years ago
No, they should not be scared away by other birds feeding. I forget where I read it, but when I first put up a nest box, I read that since they're so territorial if you put something blue on the box it might entice them down to take a look. I hung a piece of blue fabric on the box and had one checking out the box in no time. You could always try that as it's simple to do.
callalilykris
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks kendra2. I also read that about putting something blue on the box so I did that and still nothing. I'm starting to believe seeing the two was a figment of my imagination because I want them so bad.
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While others on this site will tell you differently, as a general rule of thumb, no more than two fixtures on a 1/2" pipe. Your problem is simply lack of pressure and/or too much pressure loss. You can get a water pressure gauge at Home Depot that will screw onto a hose thread connection found at a wall hydrant, sill cock, hose bibb or laundry faucet. With all faucets shutoff (No water flow) take a reading of the "Static" water pressure. I've seen water pressures vary from 34 psi to 110 psi, but 40-60 is an average. Pipe sizes are determined by many factors suchas, minimum branch size (Typically 1/2" to shutoff), fixture unit count, fixture value, gpm, pressure available, pressure loss and velocity. Trying to keep it simple you have 3.7 cold water fixture units and 3.9 hot water fixture units, which means you have 7.55 gpm cold water and 7.85 gpm hot water. A 1/2" pipe at 7.55 gpm has a velocity of 6 feet per second and a pressure loss (Friction loss) off the scale at over 50 psi per 100 feet, so if you have a pipe run of 20' laterally and maybe 14' vertically you have a loss of 34' x (50 psi/100')= 17 psi pipe friction loss. Plus you have a static pressure loss for the height of the highest fixture, if thats 14' then 14' x .433 psi/ft = 6 psi. So you are lossing about 23 psi because the piping is undersized. Generally speaking you should have a pipe pressure loss of less than 3 psi / 100' and velocity of 7-6 feet per second. When sizing piping you also have to take into consideration all looses suchas, water meter, water softeners, water heater, water filters, backflow protection, valves, fittings, and any device which restricts the water flow. These all create "Pressure Losses" (Dynamic losses) with the flow of water (Residual flow). Using the rule of thumb will correct your problem. A pressure balanced shower valve will elimate any scald problem. 3/4" in and out of the water heater. Have a Happy New Year, Dan Martyn
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Ann
16 years ago
Callalily,

I smiled when I read that you are starting to believe you imagined the blues---I have had the same feeling when I saw wild & wonderful things; my first and only cedar waxwing, my first and only rose breasted grosbeak, my first hummingbird examining a rose.

Don't be down. If they're in your area, they'll likely come back! Do you have a bird bath?

I think luring blues is as much luck as anything else...I live just off a bicycle trail and saw some blues on the trail about 50 yards from my house, 20 yards from my yard. Bird houses went up, and the next spring I got their attention! Be patient....it's worth it! Every morning when they show up, I feel like a dream has come true.

Good luck,

Ann
callalilykris
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, Ann, for your encouraging words. I do have a birdbath and even a fountain bath as well. I'm hoping they'll be back.
dzyg
16 years ago
Never heard of putting something Blue on the box to attract them but you never know. I do know Bluebirds don't readily come to a mealworm feeder, they need to be trained to do so. They really need to be nesting in your yard first before you offer mealworms. Bluebirds are drop feeders (they perch and watch the ground for bug movement and drop down on it) so you need to see where they normally perch and then put the mealworm dish below this spot. Once they find the worms then you can move them to wherever you want, slowly if it is far away, or into a mealworm feeder.

Good luck, hope they come back for you! I have a Blue pair that are taking their sweet time in nestbuilding. Have lots of houses but I have no clue which one they want and the choices are dwindling down due to TRES taking the others. They have been here for over two weeks now so I am pretty sure they will nest but you just never know.

Donna

I saw two and now they're gone

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kendra2003

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I saw two and now they're gone

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kendra2003

callalilykrisOriginal Author

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Ann

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dzyg

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