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Unusual blue egg in nest

11 years ago

My friend Joy just checked her nestbox to see how many BB eggs she had. There are six, but one is almost twice the size of the normal eggs. It is also blue, not speckled, perhaps one shade lighter than the other BB eggs.

Definitely not a cowbird egg (which are heavily speckled, light color.) We live in the western mountains of NC. I've checked Sialis.org, and the closest egg appears to be a Robin's. Rarely there are double-yolked eggs in wild birds, but they're a different shape, quite elongated. Joy doesn't know whether to remove it or let it hatch...

I've not heard of this before... has anyone here???

Thanks.

Linda

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Comments (4)

tmann05
11 years ago
I have heard and seen pictures of a double yoaked egg and twin bluebirds but it is very rare. Take a picture and post it? Yes I would leave it be and hope it hatches with the rest. Your friend could make bluebird history!
lindaskyview
Original Author
11 years ago
Well, the large egg hatched yesterday... and it wasn't twin bluebirds. Not even a bluebird, but a starling. My friend removed it from the nest, so now Mama BB has only her own kids to feed.

Just goes to show that an enlarged hole in a nestbox may lead to egg-dropping by other species... Joy will put up a new box a soon as this brood fledges.
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Linda, I am so sorry to hear about your bad year due to those nasty nasty birds. The year before last I had 12 of those dang birds, this last year I think only 8. Last year though down at the park where I have nestboxes, they did get to a Dees nest before I got the wren guard up. I was checking every other day, the Dees laid the egg on the day I didn't check and the wren poked the hole in it before I even knew they laid an egg Ugh!
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I think if she is already building a new nest I would leave the old nest be. How deep is the nestbox from the hole to the floor? Hopefully the new nest doesn't get too close to that hole. Also make sure your pole is baffled to keep away climbing predators.
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Well If you have ever seen TRES fledge theres no way a baby Blue will make it. I would almost opt to candle the eggs and if there is little to nothing there get rid of them. Is it possable to tell the difference between babies at hatching time? I would want to put them in the Blues nest but that could cause problems too. Lets think babies not eggs here. No way a blue can survive with a TRES Mom, overloading a Blue or having babies hatch days before her clutch could result in dead babies. Yikes this is one for Bet, Malinda or Cornell. Im still thinkin destroy the eggs so no babies ever suffer.
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Boy can I relate to your frustration. Those wrens ruin so many nests. Sorry about your Blues being chased out. Those wrens are just awful.
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bluebirdbabe
11 years ago
Tell Joy she did a good job :)

Karen
tmann05
11 years ago
Ahh the starling, we often forget about those non native pests.

I would like to invite you to join the bluebird nut cafe forum. It is much more active than this site and we have many veteran bluebirders that can give quick answers. Check us out!

http://bluebirdnutcafe.yuku.com/

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