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no activity in my BB box

15 years ago

Hi, I am relatively new to birding and installed a BB box late last summer. I have had at least three males and a female or two living in the back yard for a long time. I was very excited to hear many baby bluebirds a few weeks ago and last noticed activity sometime early last week. I had to leave town for a few days and now there is nothing - no parents feeding the babies, no young birds in the area, nothing. Only one male that comes to my feeder and bath. I don't know what to expect - do the babies leave for good when they leave the box? Should I open the box to check on them? I would appreciate any input on what to expect. I can't believe I missed them leaving the nest:(

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Comments (3)

lisa11310
15 years ago
Shellno, If you heard babies a few weeks ago, they should be gone. They don't come back to the box. Go open it, take the nest out and you may get them to nest a second time. Clean the box out with a 1 to 10 bleach solution and let dry in the sun or at least sweep it out the best you can. The babies should be back around in a few days if you have a meal worm feeder. There is a great website to learn all about offering Blue Bird housing at www.sialis.org
shellno
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, Lisa! I'll get the meal worm feeder today and clean the box. I've had several Blue Jays around my feeders lately, will they be a problem for the young Blue Birds?

Thanks again for letting me know what to expect!
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Thanks for your support, guys, I REALLY appreciate it. The nestlings are about 11 days old now, so they will be fledging in about a week. I think it might just be best to leave them as they are and try not to disturb them too much by installing more baffles nearby. In all honesty I have been praying every day for them to stay safe, and they have, and I will continue to do so. Over the years, many sparrows have nested in this location before I became obsessed with Blues, and I have NEVER seen a cat/raccoon/snake climb the swing (everybody knock on wood for me please). As soon as the babies fledge, I am planning on moving the box to a baffled electrical conduit pole, and hoping for a second nesting! Thanks to everyone and happy birding.
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bluebars
15 years ago
Blue Jays can be very aggressive, especially around feeders. If they, or mockingbirds, or robins, discover the mealworms, the bluebirds don't have a chance. I do not have seed feeders, so that was not a problem for me.
You will have to "train" the bluebirds that there are mealworms, without somehow "training" the other birds.
Here is a great web site for hosting cavity nesters, including a page about feeding mealworms. You can also learn there about monitoring nestboxes, so you will know what to expect, including nesting timetables, etc.
BlueBars

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.sialis.org

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Bluebirds never leave North Texas boxes.

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