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Only 3 bluebird eggs - what to do when out of town?

11 years ago

I have a bb nest in one of my boxes. On Thursday afternoon, there were no eggs. When I went out of town on Friday morning, I didn't check the box before I left. When I got back on Sunday, there were three eggs. I checked this afternoon, (Monday)' there were still only three and I have seen her go in the box and stay for awhile. I assume she is incubating them. Guess I am surprised there are only 3 eggs. I am going out of town on Saturday and will be gone for a little while. I have another box that is empty. Should I leave that box open to keep wrens or hosp from building a nest in it or keep it shut so they might not be interested in the bbs nest and go to the empty box?

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Comments (7)

dzyg
11 years ago
Normally later clutches of eggs are smaller than the ones you see earlier in Spring. I guess I would shut the other box to keep them occupied. Too bad you couldn't of added a wren guard before the momma blue started incubating. Or do the wrens already know about the box the blues are in?

Donna
sagrinin
Original Author
11 years ago
I haven't seen any other bird around that box really. I saw a bird land on it once last week, don't know what kind of bird it was, but the blue ran it off. Haven't seen anymore in the past few days. I closed the other box yesterday and saw a sparrow on it this morning. Maybe they will build a nest and it will keep them busy, but I don't want them to nest in it at all.They are relentless like the wrens. The box with the blues is across the yard, about 200 feet away, I would guess. Just gonna keep my fingers and toes crossed. Thanks for all of your help Donna.

Frances
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Sometimes it takes 4 or 5 days after the nest is built for the blues to start laying eggs. I strung fishing line on either side of the entrance hole. I used 4 tacks...two on the top on either side of the hole and two on the bottom. Just wrap the fishing line around the tacks on either side of the hole, close to the opening but of courses not blocking it. I found out how to do it online. I leave it there all of the time. That is supposed to help. I also use a sparrow spooker after the first egg is laid. I have 3 baby blues now.
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Laura, so sorry to hear about your eggs. To me it sounds like a House wren, do you have them in your area? I would mark the eggs that are in the nestbox with a marker, just put a dot on them to see if they are being moved at all however my guess is the Blues see this as a failed nesting. Once you know the eggs aren't being incubated or moved at all for sure, you can remove the eggs and nest and hopefully they will start over. Sometimes moving the nestbox or just turning it to face a new way is helpful because sometimes they won't renest in a box that they had a failed nesting. However if this was a wren you could have the same problem. Read up on sialis on the house wrens. Oh and it wouldn't have been a chickadee, they wouldn't have done that, they are low man on the totem pole and once the blues evicted them they would have moved on. Next time you could try a 1 1/4" hole reducer if you have a dee nest to prevent the bluebirds from taking it over. Another thought is the House Sparrow, do you use sparrow spookers like seen on the sialis site? They could prevent a House Sparrow attack. Good luck!!
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Leslie, I'm sorry that happened but as many others have replied, we've all made mistakes. Fortunately I had bluebirds nesting for at least two years before a chickadee showed up and claimed another box. Because of this forum, and the helpful members here, I knew that I could protect the dees FROM the bluebirds by adding a hole reducer (to keep the bluebirds out). I've talked to several people over the years (people I know personally and not from this forum) who have removed chickadee, titmouse and brown headed nuthatch nests because they wanted bluebirds. When I listened to their stories I took a deep breath and then explained how much these other species NEED our help. Bluebirds have been getting our help (YEA!) for the last 40 years and sometimes it's easy to forget or not even think about the other species who also need a safe nesting spot. I think that when we put up that first bluebird nest box we only have one thought in mind...... getting bluebirds to nest in our box! I waited FIVE YEARS to get my first bluebird couple! LOL! What I've experienced in hosting three nest boxes is that the Dees and the brown headed nuthatches are just as much fun and such nice little birds! I've never been lucky enough to host titmice but maybe one day.... Anyway, I know you are sorry and won't do it again and that really is the point. Janie
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dzyg
11 years ago
YOu so have a sparrow spooker on the Blues box, right? If you have HOSP interested in the other box your blues are not safe without a spooker. Good luck!!

Donna
sagrinin
Original Author
11 years ago
Donna, I am planning on making a spooker or rather my husband will. No nesting attempt in the other box. I opened it again. Will shut it before I leave and hopefully they will stay busy with the other box. Don't know what else to do.
dzyg
11 years ago
That about all you can do, get the spooker up and hopefully when you get back all will still be well! Good luck!

Donna
sagrinin
Original Author
11 years ago
Spooker is going up tomorrow. Since the female is sitting on the eggs, its not too late for,the spooker?
ohsoblue77
11 years ago
Nope, not too late. Just watch for the female to go in and accept it. Or leave a blade of grass across the hole, and if it's gone, she's likely gone in. Egg laying would have been a better time, but with a completed clutch she should be motivated enough to get past any fear of it.

In fact, the pair I have with young now were going in and out of a box with a spooker already on it containing a swallow nest, and the male often uses it as a perch.

~Tim~

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