A bumper crop of bluebirds

15 years ago

I have had a active bluebird trail on my farm for the past 3 years. At present I am monitoring 16 bluebird houses. Some my Mother-in-law put up about 25 years ago, but most that I have put up in the last 3 years. I went out today after work to check the houses. After I added everything up, I was stunned at what I have so far. Only one house is empty. One house has a mossy type nest with the Mother bird sitting on eggs. She did not want to come out and I did not want to bother her, so I closed the box knowing she is not a bluebird, but not yet sure what she is. I have two boxes with bluebird nests, but no eggs as of yet. I have one box with 3 BB eggs, 2 boxes with 4 eggs, 7 boxes with 5 eggs, and 2 boxes with 4 babies each. That is 54 eggs or babies. As I said before, I am stunned to have this many so early in the season. I have spookers up on all of the boxes with eggs or babies except one, and will take care of that one this weekend. I can't tell you how much fun it is for me, my wife, and our grandkids to go out and check all of our houses. One of my grandsons had to do a sort of show-and-tell of his Spring break. He is five. He drew a picture of a bluebird house with a sparrow spooker on it. I would have loved to have heard him explain to his teacher and kindergarten class what a spooker was.

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Comments (7)

fairychick
15 years ago
Oh my!

I'd love to hear that explanation as well. My granddaughter is spending Spring Break with me and loves watching the blues come when I whistle. To make things even more special with her...her last name is Byrd.

tara
michelle_4466
15 years ago
rxblue and tara,
It is a great exposure for young children growing up.Education on nature's wonders make children develop an interest in nature early on in life which puts them on a better to adulthood.I managed a bluebird trail at an elementary school for 5 yrs and I still cherish the memories of my young students learning about nest building,egg-laying and seeing the young bluebird babies emerge from the eggs.I was able to give great exposure to 42 young students.
michelle
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fredsr
15 years ago
As you mentioned, those are impressive numbers this early in the season. May I ask what style boxes you are using? Whatever they are, the bluebirds seem to like them!

That mossy nest very likely belongs to a chickadee. I have a pair that have just completed a nest in one of my boxes. The nest is a work of art.

Congratulations on the early success of your trail this year.
mulchmamma
15 years ago
What a happy BB papa. May I ask if you have a HOSP issue and if you actively trap? Since you have a farm, are you noticing fewer and fewer HOSP? If so, is it because you have less accessible grain for them to feed on?

Seems that people who live near farms have issues with HOSP. I'm happy your blues are doing so well, it is very hopeful.
rxblue
Original Author
15 years ago
I think the mossy nest does belong to a chickadee, and it is a beautiful nest.

I have several different styles of boxes. I have several that I made over the last 3 years. I have 2 that I bought from Walmart that have plexiglass to view the nest. Don't waste your money on these. They are to small. I removed the plexiglass last year. The bluebirds did take to them this year for the first time. I have two houses that my Mother-in-law put up about 25 years ago that have the words "Baily N.C." on them. They are still in good shape. Seem almost indestructable. Something always builds in them. I have several houses by Stokes built to NABS standards. They are one of my favorites. I also have a Gilwood house. It is one of my favorites also. I put it up on a Saturday, went back the next day to check it and a pair of bluebirds had already claimed it and started a nest. The blues really like it.

I am very lucky and don't have a big problem with HOSP. I do have a deluxe repeating trap, and a Van Ert in box trap that I use. I have a much bigger problem with starlings getting into my purple martin housing.

As a side note, I live in Tennessee. We had a lot of tornadoes go through here today. A tornado went over the hospital were I work, but did not touch down. All we had was hail damage. But the town just a few miles north of us (Murfreesboro) got slammed. Lots of damage, lot of homes destroyed, and some deaths. Those folks need your prayers. More expected through here Sunday night.
bbcathy
15 years ago
I will pray for your neighbors and for all your birds too.
Cathy
paperart
15 years ago
yes, I am praying for Murfreesbor's residents too.

I am having blue birds for the first time in several years. I have owned this property for seven years but moved away and rented the house for a couple of years - back for the second summer and finally have my BB's back! Papa bird guarded two houses for a couple of weeks but he finally convinced Mama to reside in the one right on my deck! I wrote about him and added pictures on my blog. Link below. I am so happy!

Here is a link that might be useful: bluebird in ornamental house