not sure if HOSP have taken over

14 years ago

The other day I found 5 broken bluebird eggs on the ground outside the box.

A couple of days later I believe I saw a HOSP fly out of the box.

This morning I saw a male and a female blubird alternately flying to the roof of the box then to a nearby tree.

They looked inside,went back to the tree. This went a few times and then apparently left. They never went in while I was watching.

I don't want to disturb the nest if it still belongs to the bluebirds, but want to get the HOSPs out if they have in fact taken over. How exactly do I tell?

Or is it too late in the season here in NJ to expect the bluebirds to come back?

I'm rather upset about this as the house has been up since winter of 08 and had a family since then.

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Comments (16)

mulchmamma
14 years ago
Leave the nest in the box, put on a 1 1/4" reducer and install a Van Ert inbox trap. You can probably trap both the male and female HOSP (after being sure they are HOSP) and dispose of them.

Only after the HOSP have been dealt with will your blues be back. It's not too late for a second (or possibly third) nesting. Unless you take care of the HOSP, it is likely this incident will repeat.

Linda
bluebars
14 years ago
Bluebirds will often abandon a nest site after such a failure. It will take a while for them to regroup. If HOSP have taken over the nestbox, you will see them around.
Visit this link
http://www.sialis.org/index.html
to see pictures of how their nest looks, and what you can do. If you can be rid of them, perhaps another bluebird pair or other native cavity nester will find your nestbox and be safe from HOSP.
BlueBars

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.sialis.org/index.html
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bigmatt
14 years ago
It could have been a house Wren also,they are known to throw eggs from the nest as well,A Sparrow Spooker is a good deterrent for the House Sparrow,and may have saved your eggs if it was a House Sparrow.I would advise you to read the link below on Sparrow Spookers you can learn how to make and how to use it. I would also invest in a Van Ert inbox trap as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sparrow spooker
dzyg
14 years ago
Have you looked at the nest? If it was a wren you will find sticks in the box, if it was HOSP you will find the box filled with lots of grass plus lots of other things making a dome in the box. You need to look or you won't know for sure. If you have HOSP order a van ert inbox trap and trap and dispose of the HOSP. You could try adding an additional box to your yard if you want to try to draw the Blues back as they probably won't nest in that same one again after a failure. But only do this if you plan on actively managing the HOSP if that is indeed what is now in the box. Good luck.

Donna
jerseybob_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
No, I haven't checked the nest yet. I didn't want to scare the bluebirds if I was wrong about seeing HOSP. I'll check it first chance I get.
Thanks for all the help. I'll let you know how things turn out.
bbcathy
14 years ago
If the eggs are thrown out of the box that is what will scare the Bluebirds off. Monitoring the nest will not make them leave. If you don't deal with the hosps you will find dead adults and or broken eggs next time too.
Cathy
lisa11310
14 years ago
Hi JerseyBob...hope you make that "first chance you get" right away..Priority! Best of Luck!
jerseybob_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
After receiving the Van Ert I "eliminated" the problem.
The box has been cleaned and moved. Almost a week now, but still no signs of the blues. I'm still hoping though.
mulchmamma
14 years ago
Now you're on the right track!! Just to be sure, you haven't eliminated THE problem. That would be great but there are many more killer HOSP out there. You'll always have to be on your toes for those sneaky SOBs.
jerseybob_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
I've been checking it every day. The male blue was checking out the box again, both yesterday and today.
bbcathy
14 years ago
Excellent news!!! Great going Bob!
jerseybob_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
Well it took awhile, but mom and pop have built a new nest. No eggs yet, hopefully in the next day or so.
I have the sparrow spooker and wren guard ready to go.
I did see them chasing a starling off this morning.
So I guess that is my next problem. Any suggestions?
dzyg
14 years ago
jerseybob, if your nestbox has the proper size hole
(1 1/2 inches) the Starling should not be able to get into the nestbox. They seem to like to check nestboxes out alot but never stay around if they cannot get into them. When they (Starlings) get too bad in my feeder area and start eating all the suet I use my BB gun.

Good luck, hope you see some eggs soon!

Donna
jerseybob_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
Donna,

Thanks, the hole is 1 1/2 inch, so the starling shouldn't be able to get in.
The starlings don't stay still long enough for me to get a bead on them with the pellet gun. It's kind of tough to hit a moving target!
jerseybob_gw
Original Author
14 years ago
As an update. I checked the box yesterday and there was an egg. I put the wren guard up right away.
This morning I saw the male trying to figure it out a few times, but he didn't go in. He was hanging around the area, I saw him chase a chipmunk and then he went after a squirrel. Mom was on and off the top of the box but making no effort to go in. I was getting concerned and thinking of taking the wren guard off for the day, but she finally managed to figure it out.
dzyg
14 years ago
Glad the mom figured out the wren guard. I had a pair last year that couldn't figure it out, no egg the second day (checked at 11:00) so I took the guard back off and she went right in and laid the second egg. Luckily the box was fine without the wren guard though.

If you want to get Starlings with a pellet gun, they love suet. I got around 30+ the last two weeks with the bb gun, I no longer go through a suet cake a day either now so when the woodpeckers come they don't get chased away anymore and they always find suet ready and waiting. Can't stand them dang Starlings.

Donna

not sure if HOSP have taken over

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mulchmamma

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