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Strange BB behavior

10 years ago

I am new to Bluebirds. I had two show up in late February, eastern bluebirds, a male and female. They came every few days to feed on suet. The day I put up a nest box the male came and immediately perched on it for some time. The next day the female came and went in and out and then they both would go in. This continued for about a week each day. Then I did not see the female for a few weeks except maybe a day here and there to eat live meal worms or suet. The male would come daily to eat and he would perch on the box and look in but not go in. He hangs around a lot. I assumed she had picked a nest elsewhere. BUT, today she came back with him and she once again went in the house and stayed a bit. He stayed on the top looking out. She came out to eat and then they flew off again. He came back alone and is still looking in box often. Have they selected a nest box yet? Is mine still an option? Or are they just curious even though they may have a nest somewhere. No nesting material is in the box as yet. Thanks

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Comments (5)

nhblues
10 years ago
They are probably still shopping for a house... stay tuned!
mdsmith
10 years ago
I have had bluebirds all winter, feeding them, and have 2 houses. About 2 weeks ago they disappeared. Chickadee in one box that died in the box. Other box empty. They acted like they were going to nest a month ago, but gone now.
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Hiyah all, As I've been doing the day-by-day nest building videos, I've been seeing behaviors that are considered to be 'courting' behaviors such as: - wing waving - male feeding female I can't think of the other ones I wanted to list (it's TOO early!). What else is on the list? I've watched Daddy take out nesting materials that I've read is considered by some to be courting behaviors but as I do the day by day videos, I'm not so sure I see that. What are some others? I've been reading about mating and egg development which somehow I missed in my education. I guess my parents never told me about the birds OR the bees (and certainly not about humans ). So, I gather that it takes the bluebird embryo about 24 hours to develop into an egg in the shell. I just can't seem to find how far ahead of the first egg the actual mating happens. I had to smile when I read something about when the male mounts the female, he nibbles at her neck...I am =very= image oriented and I've been having some hysterically funny images about that!!! This weekend I was telling my husband what I learned and I took two stuff bird toys and showed him which had us both in hysterics. NO, it did NOT give him ideas...'nough said about that :) But y'all know that I'm strange and unusual, traits I highly cherish - LOL! Bluebird blessings, Linda...
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How far apart are the nestboxes? Bluebirds are very territorial. Their territory is an area, not just a nestbox. Linked below is a web page that discusses recommended distance between nestboxes. This time of year, the weather mimics spring, and we often see behaviors as if it were really spring. Also, if the bluebirds are resident there year-round, they will continue to protect what they consider "their territory" year-round. Over the winter, families might stay together and get along just fine. But the competition will really get serious in Spring. BlueBars Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.sialis.org/pairing.htm
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tmann05
10 years ago
They may have multiple options for nesting sites. They also may be waiting out the weather too. Is there a next in the box?

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/
lorraine303
10 years ago
We have pretty much the same thing going on here. They were hanging around the box for days a couple of weeks ago and suddenly disappeared. Then this weekend they had been going in and out of the box, sometimes with grass, but not leaving it. Yesterday it poured and they started putting grass in the box again. Today it was empty. We have a nest cam set up so we haven't been actually opening the box. They keep hanging around but not nest building. At least not here. Wondering if they are still shopping around or trying to throw off possible predators?
sagrinin
10 years ago
Just be patient. I have 2 boxes in my yard. They built a nest in one and in the other one are a few pine needles. They looked at both boxes for a couple of weeks. The male blue doesn't like any other bird to sit or look in the box with just a few pine needles. She laid 4 eggs in the other box and 3 have hatched so far. If it is the same pair, they lay early. They do have odd behavior sometimes.

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