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New to the Forum

15 years ago

Hello!

I am new to the forum and am enjoying all of the great Bluebird stories! I wanted to post a quick question. I currently have a pair of BB's in 1 of my boxes and if I calculated right, I think the babies (4 in all) will be ready to fledge the beginning of next week (around the 15th). I will be out of town during that entire week and am bummed I will miss it, but, more importantly, I won't be around to clean out the nest box or take down the sparrow spooker. How quickly will they likely nest again if they are going to? If the old nest is there will they move on? Will they build on top of it, which I know is not ideal. Will the sparrow spooker being there discourage them? I would love them to nest again, any thoughts?

Thanks!

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Comments (6)

lisa11310
15 years ago
Howdy and welcome! The one thing I can say for sure about the Blues is that you never can be SURE of anything! LOL Any one of the things you listed MAY happen but they usually will be off in the trees with the babies for a week or two before they start nesting again. They are used to the spooker so that shouldn't bother them. Is there anybody around to watch the box for you while you are gone?
luvtheblues
Original Author
15 years ago
I don't really have anyone to monitor the box for me while I am away (and am not sure I would trust anyone either, LOL)! When I get back I am sure the first thing I will do is check the box to see that all of the babies have fledged. Hopefully I will see them hanging around for a while with Mom and Dad. How exactly do you clean the box, other than removing the old nest? Do you think that they could have another brood or is it too late in the year?
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kenn3d
15 years ago
Hi and welcome luvtheblues,

This is only our 2nd season hosting, but we always clean out the box asap after a fledging. I hose it out, then scrub it inside and out with a mild bleach/water toothbrush, and rinse again. Then leave open in the sunshine 'til dry.

Our pair this year began their 3rd nest less than 72hrs after the last of the 2nd nesters flew.

best luck,

Kenn

Here is a link that might be useful: Our Bluebird Family
renee_2006
15 years ago
Kenn, I went to your site and I wanted to say that the pic of the baby bb in the orange dish with his wings extended around it is just darling. That expression on his face is adorable. I would love to use that as a wall paper for my monitor if I may???? Please????
kenn3d
15 years ago
Hi renee,

That's Prince Billy, the first fledgling out of the box from nest #1... I'm glad you like the picture.

Of course you may use it as a desktop for your PC if you wish. All the photos in our gallery are freely downloadable at screen resolution, and we are delighted for anyone to use them for any personal or educational (non-commercial) purpose.

We invite everybody to visit our gallery and hope others will enjoy our birds as much as we do.

Kenn :)
renee_2006
15 years ago
Thank you Kenn. I'm going to save it for a desk top and enjoy it every day.

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