COOL! this is TRULY a Great group!
Glad you did the Sparrow proofing!
Let us all know how it works out, I LOVE pictures!!!

I hope a raccoon or cat doesn't get the babies or the adult birds. Putting a box on a fence post is dangerous. I did the same thing when I first started bluebirding. I didn't know any better. Now all my boxes are on metal poles and baffled.

Great job on keeping the sparrows away, they are killers of any cavity nesting birds.

Keep us posted!

Well, checked the eggs today when we got home from work and one has hatched. The other two should be coming along in the next couple days.

How do I post the photos of the sparrow spooker box? Every time I try upload a photo with the message it rejects it because it's bigger than 61K.

If your photo's are in photobucket....I can help.

Click Images (under my albums at left) click resize, click pre set sizes down arrow, select message board.

Timothy - Good for you!! I'm pleased to hear that monofliament has done the trick for you. It sure works like a charm for me. Good luck with your little ones.

Thanks to a long-time forum member (moq), there is an old post entitled "Instructions for Posting Pictures on this Forum." Every once in a while, we bump it to the top for helping newer members learn to post their fabulous pics.
BlueBars

Today when we got home the second of three eggs hatched. We are waiting for number three, maybe tomorrow. The adults have been busy feeding the little ones. So far it looks like everything is going fine. I still have not seen any sparrows near the box. I can't believe how good the clear fishing line and the silver mylar has worked. I have been putting plenty of mealworms out for the adults. They really gobble them down. Will they eventually start feeding the mealworms to the young?

OK, I hate to be the mean one here, but your bluebirds will not be safe in that nest box on the fence post. Cats, raccoons, squirrels and any other climbing critter can get at the babies. While I think it was wonderful of you to build the blues a nest box, there are no vent holes to circulate the air and I am sure there are no drainage holes in the bottom of the box.

After all of your hard work keeping the house sparrows away, I would hate for a cat or raccoon to get the babies or the adult blues.

Tim We've all lost our beloved bluebirds to predators or house sparrows when we first started. That is why most of us came looking for help or info on the net. The best website is www.sialis.org There is so much info there to help us help them. I have personally lost bluebird females and eggs to the monofilament fishing line. It is just a deterrent for before they actually lay eggs. Check it out and Good Luck
Continued success,
Cathy

Here is a link that might be useful: sialis

Bluebirdbabe, I have not seen any signs of racoons or squirrels, there are no woods closer than about a quarter mile of my back yard. Right now the babies are doing good but as soon as they fledge I'm taking the one off the fence and hopefully they will take to the PVC one on the pole in the second photo. We also have a dog in the back yard so she helps keep "critters" out of the yard.

You have a good starting point, and now you know where to go from here. Remember though, that raccoons are nocturnal, and can live anywhere, urban or suburban, even in cities. Is the dog out there 24x7? I have seen raccoons in my neighbor's backyard at any time of day, snacking on the leftover nachos they toss out when the party's over. They love pet food too, so don't leave that outside.
Exactly how far away is that Gilbertson box? Maybe you could relocate the nest, if you follow certain guidelines.
P.S. NOTHING is 100% HOSP-PROOF. However, I must commend your efforts! The link below will provide more hints and information about HOSP. Read all you can there. Praemonitus, praemunitus (Latin: "Forewarned is forearmed" - Knowledge of imminent danger can prepare us to overcome it.)

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

That looks like something I could do. Are they metal washers on nylon string? And what's on top of the box?

Tim, I sure hope/pray those Blues stay safe until they fledge. 1/4 of a mile from the woods is not very far for a racoon to travel at all, and they can and will climb that fence and get those babies. Babies can be very noisey in the nestbox at night/day and can totally draw attention to the box. Any raccoon, cat or squirrel will have no problem getting into that shallow nestbox. The sialis site blubards listed also has tons of plans for proper nestboxes you can build. I love your fence btw, it is very pretty.

Donna

Hi, Tim. Hey, we're practically neighbors! I live just across the river (in MD) from Harper's Ferry and we're only about 15 minutes from Charles Town. My dh and I lived in Martinsburg for several years and it is a beautiful place. I agree, however, that just because you don't see the climbing predators (raccoons, snakes, cats, etc.) doesn't mean they're not there. Definitely consider moving that nestbox asap. It needs to be on a metal pole with a predator baffle mounted beneath it. I monitor several trails in Frederick County, MD, and each and every box has this type of baffle. I've never lost an adult, egg or nestling to any climbing predator, so the baffles do work--an inexpensive way to gain peace of mind. Please let me know if I can help you in any way.
Kathy
P.S. Congrats on your so-far successful battle with the dreaded hosps. Don't let your guard down, though, because they are very crafty little buggers that can wreak havoc in a matter of minutes.

cbyrne,

Yes it's about one inch diameter washers tied to clear fishing line and I tie them around a push pin into the wood. The stuff on top is silver Mylar, it's the stuff you buy to put on top of a birthday or Christmas gift. I like the silver because it reflects the sun as it's blowing around. The blues don't give it a second look but the sparrows won't go near it.

griffin_md,

You suggest moving the box ASAP, I have a much better box, deeper, vent holes, a screen that keeps the nest off the floor of the box, when you open the side it has plexiglass that you can just look through or slide up to clean the box. Can I carefully move the nest to that box if I place it on a pole almost where the current one is? Will the parents still come to it and take care of the babies? I can put it in the exact same location except not on the fence and a little higher. Then I can get rid of the other one so there will still only be one box in that location. I have already "spooked" it with Mylar and filament like the one in the picture. Any advice would be welcome, it sounds like you know a lot more about this than I do.

Tim it's nice to have someone "listen" to advise. You do need to get that box off the post or you will be posting next week that your babies disapeared. It happens all the time, someone comes in for advice, doesn't listen and then are back asking what went wrong. So glad you are working on doing the safe thing! I would put the pole 10 ft from the fence being sure there are no trees or bushes that something could jump on the box from. Be sure to have the hole face in the same direction it is now. In this heat I am sure your babies are going to really need the vent holes. Take whatever you have on the old box and put it on the new box. Be sure to get the baffel on the pole too. Once this is all done take a pancake flipper and a shallow bowl or box to transfer the nest safley. Mom and Dad will hear the babies and find them but be sure to do this when you have time to sit back and watch the box to be sure they DO accept it. Good Luck! OH BTW be sure you are tracking how old they are so you don't look in after day 13 AND to know when they may be fledging....you don't want to leave your Dog out during that time.

Lisa has given you excellent advice, Tim. My only addition is that I would leave the old box in its present location until you are certain that the parents have accepted the new nestbox and, only then, go ahead and remove it. Lisa is also correct that it is refreshing to have someone eager to follow suggestions on how to keep those blues safe. Many have learned lessons the hard way and it says alot that you are willing to learn from the mistakes of others. If I can help in any way, please let me know. Also, please keep us posted on your little ones.
Kathy

O.K., I can do it this weekend so I can monitor the situation closely. I sit on my deck all the time when I'm not working. One other thing, one egg has not hatched yet (as of yesterday) and the other two babies are three and four days old. If that's not an issue my wife and I can follow Lisa's advice and very carefully move them tomorrow.

Tim If you are sure about the 3 and 4 days old I would remove the egg when I switch the nest over. It most likely is a dud. Not that unusual. Sometimes the parents remove it but if they don't it could get broken and draw ants or predators to the nest.
Good Luck
Cathy