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Finally an egg!

15 years ago

WELL....I finally have an egg! Not so sure about a spooker or a baffle as this female seems quite skiddish. I'm really at a loss as to what to add first. I spotted a young male HOSP yesterday so I guess the spooker will go up first. This pair has played musical boxes for so long. They had chosen the trap box first (that does not have a baffle) so I switched boxes and put the baffle on at that site...then they switched again so there is no baffle on the new "trap" box that now has an egg. I don't know if she liked the box better or didn't like the baffle. Thank GOD I can be home to see what she does and does not accept. The bad part is this female does not stick around much...I still have my worries if she is ready to be a Mother. TRES still playing with the box but no nesting material, Dees still checking out boxes, TUTIs taking meal worms but not flying off to a nest with them. What a weird season!

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Comments (10)

ohsoblue77
15 years ago
Great news! I was surprised by when I got my eggs but unfortunately as you know probably lost yet another female. We've lost dozens around here. Yet Mr Male BB has no problems defending himself. Typical. lol!

I would use the spooker. I'm planning on getting the DRST as I'm tired of the HOSP and am just gonna euthanize any one I can get a hold of. There's just way too many of them!

Good luck!
bandjzmom
15 years ago
Tim's right Lisa. Gotta put that spooker on, esp when you are seeing HOSPs. Congrats on the egg!! If the little girl is ready to be a Mama, she will figure it out as she goes. Keep us posted!~~Angie
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lisa11310
Original Author
15 years ago
Well that darned HOSP showed up again this morning but he got away before I could get the 22 out. There is a 2nd egg and I have put the spooker up. So far she has not entered the box but is perching near it and going to look in. The male looked in once but he did not go in either. I will leave it up and hope she accepts it sometime today. I have not seen the HOSP looking at any other boxes nor does he sing like he is bonding to the box....he really looks more to be just "curious". I am hoping he will become "curious" about another box where I can get a good shot, hopefully soon, I have TRES getting ready to build too. The Blues have found the meal worms and were defending the feeder from of all things Cardinals!!!!!
bandjzmom
15 years ago
Oh Lisa, I sure hope you get that darn HOSP. It is so worrisome to know that they are there when you have Bluebird eggs in the box. I hope that Mama gets over her skittishness. I think she will. The drive to get to her nest and eggs should take her there in spite of her fears.
lisa11310
Original Author
15 years ago
3rd egg....she has accepted the spooker. I have not seen the HOSP but that does not mean he is not around! Got my 22 ready and waiting. I will feel much better when he's gone.
kendra2003
15 years ago
That's great news. They usually do accept the spooker, but it is such a relief to know your female Blue is continuing to lay. I'm sure you'll get the HOSP soon. Wishing you the best of luck! I had to replace the sparrow spooker three times because the wind we've had kept blowing it to bits. The first of my Bluebird babies are due to fledge tomorrow. I very much doubt they will all fledge the same day. For some reason (and this is a first for me) three eggs hatched one day, then a day later a fourth hatched. The fifth one hatched two days after that, so I'm expecting they'll fledge at different times too.
lisa11310
Original Author
15 years ago
Kendra, I have had them hatch a day or two apart. Be prepared, sometimes the younger will try to fledge with their older siblings. I have had to intervene several times but as far as I know they all made it to the skies. I know you have a reducer on hand, may need to stuff a baby back in a box! Good luck and let me know how it goes!
lisa11310
Original Author
15 years ago
4th and looks to be final egg . She is incubating this afternoon! Still no sight of the HOSP. My neighbors would probably not want me wandering around in the woods with a 22 looking for him! LOL
bandjzmom
15 years ago
Had to giggle at that one lisa. Too bad we all don't live closer to each other. Wouldn't bother me one bit to have you hunt for them on my property!
kendra2003
15 years ago
Lisa, the younger ones did not fledge with their siblings. The parents are feeding the fledglings in the trees, and coming back to the box to feed the other one or two still in there. If they are no longer defending the box by tomorrow, I will assume the last of them has fledged and peek in the box. Right now I can't get near the box without being dive bombed (not that I'd open it near fledging time, but the Blues don't know that).

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