something bad happening...help!

14 years ago

You may have read about my problems between the the titmice and the bluebirds wanting the same box.

Mama Blue is about done with the nest. Yesterday the titmouse went in and out of the nest and each time it did, it worked on "its" nest cup.

Today I didn't see any titmice in the box until about 3pm. Mama worked all day bringing in the last materials for the nest cup (feathers and such). About 3pm, the titmouse went into the box with Daddy Bluebird right behind. He trapped the titmouse for 6 minutes and, at one point, he went into the box WITH the titmouse and I thought they were going to kill each other! I chased the titmouse away.

Just a few minutes ago, the titmouse was back in the box so I chased it away again, I didn't want a repeat performance.

And right after I did that, it was back in the box!!! What is going on???

I am afraid there is going to be a battle to the death!!!! Why do I always get the psycho birds?? (refer to psycho howr a few years ago).

Any suggestions?

By the way, if any of you are considering having a video camera in your nest box(es), think twice. I know this is going on because I have a camera in there. I haven't been able to get anything else done and I'm a nervous wreck.

I wasn't going to do this again this year...

Linda...

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (18)

bluebirdbabe
14 years ago
Linda, can you put another box??? maybe the TT will use that box. What a sad situation!!! I would love 2 have tufted titmouse build in my boxes but not at the expense of a life. I would put up another box and hope for the best.

Karen
lcmoore99
Original Author
14 years ago
Karen, we DID put up another box two days ago the same distance from the mealworm feeder as this box!! I have not seen any bird interested and certainly not the timouse.

I would not be surprised if Mama Bluebird lays her first egg in the morning. What happens if the titmouse comes in again like this...

I quickly put together a video of the most recent fight...

Frightened, Linda...

Here is a link that might be useful: 2nd titmouse vs. bluebird fight
Related Discussions
Did you eliminate something because studies said it was bad?
Q
Comments (26)
Oh no! We stop at Subway when running errands, or on day trips, b/c I thought it was "healthy"! In fact, DD and I just ate there on Sat (hard to say how often we stop, sometimes we go months without going, other months we're there once a week). I confess I switched to margarine when it was supposedly better for you, and am just now getting back to butter. I avoid anything with hydrogenated fat (except when I make blueberry buckle and strawberry shortcake using shortening in the summer), HFCS, artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners, but did get hooked on Splenda 10 years ago - I used to take my coffee with just milk, not sugar, then added sugar when I was pg with DS 16 yrs ago, cut it after he was born, had to start using sugar again when pg with DD, and found I couldn't give up the sweetener afterwards, so switched to Splenda. I am finishing my last packets and plan on going back to sugar. I will eat things with sucralose but don't give it to the kids, and we all avoid acesulfame K. I don't bake cakes often, just for birthdays, and do use cake mix then but 6 times a year or so isn't bad. I don't buy anything with soy (GMO), don't generally buy vegetables at store except lettuce, frozen green beans and peas, sometimes broccoli plus canned beans. We grow own but tend to run out in the winter. I switched to sunflower oil for baking instead of vegetable (soy or corn) or canola. Haven't tried coconut oil yet. We do eat conventional meat, but avoid the Dirty Dozen fruits/veggies. My mom gives DD non-organic fruit and snacks like applesauce with HFCS and shelf-stable pudding (which DD decided she can't stand). It makes me cringe - thank goodness DD decided she really doesn't like potatoes in any form so she didn't get hooked on French fries like DS did. Overall I think my kids eat healthier than most kids - DS is 15 and eats at least 2 servings of fruit (1 being OJ) and 3 servings of veggies each day, the only junk food I know of are the Quaker granola bars (not chocolate-covered) I buy them. Of course any time he can get his hands on chocolate he devours it but I can't blame him ;-) DD has more of a sweet tooth than he does - is always asking for "a little dessert" but that for her is a lollipop or a couple of Girl Scout cookies, or some nuts, sometimes more fruit. She eats at least 2 fruits, usually 3, per day but I wish she'd eat some veggies. After reading Fast Food Nation I don't even know if buying organic/grassfed meat would be any better - can't things still get contaminated at the slaughterhouse? As expensive as it is, I may start buying organic meat locally - after asking about their processing.
...See More
Do I have bad computer breath or something??
Q
Comments (30)
Hi Breezy, please don't feel like crying. You are getting great feedback BEFORE doing your kitchen, which is so much better than finding out after the fact that your layout could have been better. Do you have a way to change your PDF into a single graphic? For example, do you have a screen capture or snipping tool? (I use a PC -- don't know what it's called on a Mac.) My operating system came with a snipping tool and also Paint. So... open up your PDF and expand your view until your image is big enough to read (but not bigger than your screen.) Either use your snipping tool to capture the image (if you have one), OR you can hit the Print Screen button. This automagically takes a screen capture of your whole screen and copies it to the clipboard. Then open Paint, and click Paste (edit menu or shown at upper left.) You can then trim off the unnecessary edges. (I like to press Select All, then manuever the image to the upper left in Paint. Then I use the 'handles' at the right side and bottom to shrink the edges down and essentially crop the picture. Hope this makes sense. Or use Picassa to crop the image.) In Paint you can save it as a .jpg or .png, and upload it to your image hosting site. Now I've gone through this long winded explanation... and I'm thinking instead when you do your scan, you can probably pick a different format to save it in. Look for .jpg, .png, or .gif. Those will be images that you can upload and link to. Hope this helps!
...See More
Am I doing something wrong, or is it just bad luck?
Q
Comments (14)
Ken; thanks for your reply. Starting to see that it is probably a case of my doing something wrong, more that bad luck. Read the TNArb. link, good. I've been planting trees here in Southern Tier NY, near PA border for about 20 years now. Mostly bare root from our state nursery and in the spring, and lately plugs also, some times in the fall. So mostly they go straight in the ground; plugs just in a dibble hole, and bare root with a planting bar. But these are all tough trees proven for my area and most do survive. Have read and new most of this stuff, but get lazy, complacent maybe. The things I've been planting are forgiving of that. Dwarf conies and garden conie cultivars are a new experience for me, so I'm down low on the learning curve. About sand added to clay, at a low percentage yes cement, but up around 1:1 does seem to drain pretty well. Our clay, at least subsoil, is so impermeable that all that is need to have a pond here is to dig a hole! Not quite sure how to proceed now, The Little Brolly has some life in it but I am not pleased with the brown needles. I guess I'll wait and see how it does. I knew schoodic was dead. Should I try again, spring plant with a more mature schoodic? Don't know how containers got in the picture, I want my plants in the ground not in containers. Except for the propagation stage. Doubt they broke dormancy, under the snow most of the winter in this cold place. Just planted a blue shag P. strobus hope I don't kill that too. And the birds nest spruce rooted cuttings... and ... and ... Stanton
...See More
Is this something bad on my Rose's roots?
Q
Comments (15)
That's so true. I've just been thinking that I really need to replace this Rose because it has my favorite fragrance even though it's a bit of a prima donna. But I never had her in a good spot so I can't really make a judgment on her. I tortured her in her placement always. But she is has the most beautiful stamens and sent. Is also a bit of nostalgia about this Rose from me so I will replace it I think. I feel very emotional when roses.. Does anyone else have that feeling? It takes me awhile to replace that because I feel like I have to mourn that plant. I really need to replace Barcelona oh, Mac, and Margo Koster. Those are the ones that have died and now sugar.
...See More
bigmatt
14 years ago
Linda,
I would move the other box right beside the current box,maybe 10 feet away.If the female Blue just finished her nest today,She should not be ready to lay her first egg for a few days.If the Titmouse becomes interested in the new box,you could move it a little farther away,a little at a time.Other then that ,I am not really sure what to say.I would think at some point the Titmouse will get the message.
lcmoore99
Original Author
14 years ago
The box IS 10 feet away! I would have thought that the titmouse would have gotten the idea by now considering that the bluebirds have trapped it twice and I've chased it away several times.

It's just so weird to see the titmouse go into a finished bluebird nest and IMMEDIATELY go into 'finishing the nest cup' mode!!

I do hope that Mama Blue will not be ready to lay eggs today...same with the titmouse.

I'm praying that there won't be any eggs today and maybe the titmouse WILL get the idea.

Thanks, Linda...
dzyg
14 years ago
Yikes Linda, you sure get the interesting nesting seasons don't you??

Hope things calm down for you and the Tuti will go to the other box!

Donna
lcmoore99
Original Author
14 years ago
Donna, "interesting"??? Nerve wracking I'd say. This morning, the titmouse was in the box TWICE!!! And I chased it away and what I assume was the male who was sitting next to the box.

I put up another box in an area of the yard where the tuti's have nested but that also opens another box for future house wren problems. I had taken it down for just that reason.

Is it me? Do I have some bad bird karma???

Linda...
anita55
14 years ago
Hey Linda, one year I had a mother bluebird with a pecked head and blood spatters on the interior walls of the box. she had eggs and the nesting went smoothly. I guess in the wild birds will fight over nesting places. Either you have to let them be and the stronger bird will win or not have nestboxes, so you can't see the struggle in your yard. I know it's not easy to witness and I do remember past years what you've gone through.
bet_from_ct
14 years ago
Sorry, tried to post but must not have hit right button.

Nice "snake display" by your territorial titmouse! Looks like it REALLY wants that box. You must have a shortage of nestboxes/natural cavities in your area Linda.

Anyway, here are some options. In my experience, bluebirds are less flighty and more flexible than titmice. I love having nesting titmice, but they often lose their nests to House Wrens. Out of 100+ boxes, I usually only get a few titmice nests. If they are disturbed during nestbuilding, they often take off.)

Consider moving bluebird nest to the nearby box or put some fresh moss/fur in box you want titmouse in and then put a hole restrictor on the titmouse box (1 3/8", put it on the inside) so only titmouse (not bluebird) can go in. (Titmice seem to like bigger boxes, boxes hanging from trees, and boxes mounted on tree trunks (if done, need bigger roof and maybe Noel guard after egg laying.)

Let us know what happens!

Here is a link that might be useful: all about titmice
bet_from_ct
14 years ago
Just saw the earlier video that did look like it had titmouse nesting material - you could separate out the two nests (or maybe take the bluebird top off and put more dry grass under it) and split them between the two boxes and use the hole guard on the titmouse box....
lcmoore99
Original Author
14 years ago
Bet, I am so tired I can absorb your suggestions but will tomorrow.

I did open another empty box but it hasn't helped. As a matter of fact, this 'competition' is escalating.

You know me in birding season...glued to the video. But I sorely need a shower and a nap which I took. The day had been quiet.

Well of course, only 10 minutes before I got up, the titmice and bluebirds were at it again. First the titmouse went in for about 8 min. and played 'this is my nest and I am making my nest cup.' Daddy blue showed up and an AWFUL fight occured when Daddy Blue went INTO the box!!! If I had seen it happen, I would have stopped it. You'll see in the video what I mean.

I am at wits end and am thinking that maybe it's time for me to hang up my nest box video cams. More about that later.

Thanks for the ideas and support. this is bizarre!

Linda...

Here is a link that might be useful: 3rd fight,both birds in box trying to kill each other
lcmoore99
Original Author
14 years ago
BTW, there =is= titmouse nesting material in the box. I'm behind on the videos, but the behavior of both the tt and bb is very bizarre to get it to this point.

Short story: after some early 'titmouse takes in nesting material, bluebird takes it out' stuff, one day the titmouse started to bring her nesting material in FAST. Mama Bluebird then started to bring pine needles and she worked FASTER to build on the titmouse stuff. Since then, the bluebird looks like she's finished the nest cup but when the titmouse comes in, she acts like it's 'her' nest; ie. she goes into 'ok it is pine needles but I'll use it for my nest so =I= am making my nest cup.'

Bizarre, truly.

Linda...
lcmoore99
Original Author
14 years ago
Bet, OK I've been reading your comments and I have some questions.

You said: "If they are disturbed during nestbuilding, they often take off.) " This titmouse is obviously not in the norm. I went to the link you gave me and over and over they talk about the titmice not wanting to nest in boxes and how easily they will abandon a box if another bird comes to take it over.

You said: "Consider moving bluebird nest to the nearby box or put some fresh moss/fur in box you want titmouse in and then put a hole restrictor on the titmouse box (1 3/8", put it on the inside) so only titmouse (not bluebird) can go in. (Titmice seem to like bigger boxes, boxes hanging from trees, and boxes mounted on tree trunks (if done, need bigger roof and maybe Noel guard after egg laying.)"
How will the bluebirds FIND the nest if I move it? Or if If I move the section in the box that is the titmouse's nesting material, how would they find it. Especially since this titmouse is apparently ready to use the pine needles that the bluebird has in the nest.

And I have NOT seen either the titmouse or the bluebird even look into the second box (it's got a video cam in it, too).

It's going to be a rainy day so maybe both bird families will take a break so I can get some rest!!!
bluebirdbabe
14 years ago
oh wow Linda!!! This is really heart breaking!!! I love both birds as I am sure u do too. I wish I had some wise word for you :( Hoping all works out ok. I don't know what I would do in that situation either. Keep us posted and try and get some rest!!!

Karen
lcmoore99
Original Author
14 years ago
Hmmm, I thought a post I made this morning worked but I guess it didn't.

Anyway, I've posted a video for Apr 2nd which is when the titmouse spent a few hours putting about an inch of nesting material into the box. Later in the day, Mama Blue pushed a few pine needles into the box while the titmouse was in there...she was not amused ::smile::

At the end of the day, it seemed that Mama was going to try to work with the materials there but her last act was to take something out of the box.

Linda...

Here is a link that might be useful: Apr. 2nd titmouse builds,bluebird ???
renee_2006
14 years ago
Hi Linda,
I've watched your videos and I have to say that is one tough little titmouse. As to why this is happening I haven't any idea. Why not put a hole reducer on the box since the titmouse claimed the box first and let the bluebirds choose from one of your other empty boxes. That's what I would do.
I hope there will be peace in your yard soon.
lcmoore99
Original Author
14 years ago
I didn't want to say anything yesterday but there were NO titmice sightings inside the box.

Mama Blue came into the box 3 times and just sat in the nest cup making minor adjustments to it.

We'll see what today brings. A cold front came through yesterday. It had been in the mid- to high-80s and this morning at 8am it was 42 F.

Brrrrrrr...................

Fingers crossed that the titmouse have found a nice home.

Linda....
lcmoore99
Original Author
14 years ago
Ah ha!!!!!!! At 8:30am ET, Mama Blue went into the nest cup and when she left at 8:59am there was an egg!!

My concern continues though. Today I have to do some upgrading to last-year's wren guard and then I'll put that on. I haven't heard the little 'nasties' and have not seen any sticks in the two open nests. Even though I haven't seen or heard them, they are very very fast and sneaky.

We'll see if this is the end of the 'competition' between the titmice and bluebirds. I love them both!

Thanks for your support. I hope I won't be posting on this thread again :)

I will be posting a few more videos to bring me up-to-date with today. Last year I did a blog and videos of just about everything (I'll post that info in another message).

May all your skies be blue, Linda...
dtbjsb
14 years ago
Jeez, I understand about the camera!! It was an absolute thrill to see the eggs accumulate and see Mom nestling down on them. When they started hatching and she ate the shells...we learned so much more in 2 weeks than we had in 20 years. Then it looked like one wasn't getting as many bugs as the others...then Dad's having to feed them by himself and the worms he dropped turned into beetles crawling all over...and the dirty diapers started to pile up.... Raising teenagers is a snap compared to raising B.birds. Oops, gotta go check on the babies. They're performing on the Bluebird Channel in the living room.

something bad happening...help!

Comments (18)

bluebirdbabe

lcmoore99
Original Author

Related Discussions

bigmatt

lcmoore99
Original Author

dzyg

lcmoore99
Original Author

anita55

bet_from_ct

bet_from_ct

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author

bluebirdbabe

lcmoore99
Original Author

renee_2006

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author

dtbjsb

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

something bad happening...help!

Comments (18)

lcmoore99Original Author

Related Discussions

lcmoore99Original Author

lcmoore99Original Author

lcmoore99Original Author

lcmoore99Original Author

lcmoore99Original Author

lcmoore99Original Author

lcmoore99Original Author

lcmoore99Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author