Mr Bluebird is cracking me up

18 years ago

I posted a few weeks ago asking about territory behavior, so my question was answered and I've just been enjoying the activity. (A chickadee had been looking in a house that the blues had just fledged from, and Mr blue chased it away).The blues are on their 2nd nesting, in a different house. I felt bad for the chickadee, so ended up mounting a third house way around the other end of the yard, not in sight of the other two. Figured the chickadees could look all they want, and maybe next year would be able to use it. Today I heard Mr. B just chattering away, so went to look and he has found the third house. He was going from the one with the nest, to the second, and to the new one. He'd sit on top of each one and chatter away. I looked in the two empty ones, and he's got pinestraw in one of them. I'm hoping he has plans for a third nesting. I had thought about putting a hole reducer on the new one but now I guess I shouldn't in case that's the one he wants to use next. I have visions of a dozen houses and Mr B claiming every one of them! Seriously, should I put a hole reducer on one of them for next year? I have seen the chickadee trying to look in several times as recently as today. I doubt they'd be nesting this late, just figured they're shopping for the future?

Cabin Gal

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Comments (5)

bluebars
18 years ago
Isn't that just like a man? (Just kidding, women can be fickle too!)
I've heard that a hole reducer could discourage the chickadees, but once they are nesting, they will adapt to it. So I would wait and watch and see, but it is your choice.
Maybe they had a nest failure elsewhere. Bet's web page on chickadees says they nest only one time per season, but the timeframe is thru early July. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and the chickadees! I just love those little tuxedo chicks!
BlueBars

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.sialis.org/chickadee.htm
mulchmamma
18 years ago
Do you have a wooded area to relocate a dee house? The blues at my house have shown zero interest in the dee boxes.
The blues prefer an open area and the dees are on the forest fringe.

Linda
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Cabin_Gal
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks! I love them too, they are really sweet. Have had them for years, they're always dependable for a smile. I'll wait to see what happens before doing anything. This morning Mr.B did his rounds again, but this time he brought the Mrs. along. She went into the new house then sat on my clothesline for a long time looking around. I actually hope they choose that one because I am in that part of the house more and can watch them from my shop window. The dee was looking in the other house, so in theory it'd work out nicely, ha! I'm sure Mr. B will be the deciding factor. Yes, I wondered if maybe the dees had a failed nest, usually by now they would have been bringing the little ones around and I haven't seen or heard any young ones.

I can't wait to see what happens next. How soon do the blues start to make a new nest? They are just at the hatching stage on their present nest, it's day 14 as best as I can figure. Always before they have used the same house for all their nests, I clean it out and they start a new one. But with them looking in this new house I have no idea.
Cabin_Gal
Original Author
18 years ago
Linda,
Your post must have come in while I was writing. I actually live in a wooded area, and have always been amazed that the blues have adapted. I have the houses on the fringes, in the few places where I could get them in a safe place from overhanging branches. Originally when I put houses up I was thinking dees and titmice, and used to get them. Then one year the bluebirds started coming, so I did research and learned about putting them on poles in safe places etc. I know the dees have lots of natural options it's just nice to see them nest close. And they are always around, coming to feeders and water so I do get to see them. I guess the area around the house is open just enough to attract the bluebirds, any more wooded and I doubt I'd get them. Guess what I mean is, I'll always have the dees because of the woods, and I'm lucky to have the bluebirds.
bbcathy
18 years ago
CG You could use a reducer for the Dees. Just make it 1 1/4" so the blues can't fit. I've had trouble getting them to nest in 1 1/8" unless they already have eggs. That's what I use when I want to exclude hosps but 1 1/4" is fine for Dees. They very well may have had a failed nest and if so it is not to late for them to start over. Mine did after a cat got their nest out of a natural cavity.
Good Luck
Cathy

Mr Bluebird is cracking me up

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bluebars

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Mr Bluebird is cracking me up

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bluebars

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