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Surprised as to who was in the box.

11 years ago

Our second batch had 5 eggs and 5 fledged on July 8th. Mom and Dad built another nest and I was sure I would have my first egg today, so I went to check and as I approached the box, I could see someone throwing out next material. OF course I was going to blame the Wren or even the House Sparrow, well it was neither. It was a Downy Wood Pecker. I saw a Robin this morning with a blue egg shell and I assumed it was one of her own, but now I am wondering if the Downy threw out the egg and the Robin found it.

So will wait and see if Blue's return or move over to another box in the yard which is empty and they have used in other years.

Connie

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Comments (6)

kendra2003
11 years ago
Robin's do carry off their own eggs shells, so it could be that the egg wasn't from the Blues. I wonder if the Downy scared them off. I know Downys often peck the hole bigger so they can fit in. I wonder if you could put a hole reducer on it ( 1 1/2 inches) to keep the Downy out? Or maybe you want the Downy there. Hopefully the Blues will use your other box if that is the case. I wouldn't mind having Downys and Blues nesting in my yard. That would be pretty cool.
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Connie Kru
Original Author
11 years ago
I will be delighted to have both the woodpecker and the blue bird, so I hope they work it out. I will not be happy if the woodpecker does a job on the wooden house (but my guess is that they will)
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Connie Kru
Original Author
11 years ago
I stuffed the nest material that was on the ground (quite a bit of the original nest) back into the box and did my best to make it look like a nest.
So I waited until late today before checking to see what would happen. When I checked there was a nest that Mom and Dad had worked on and one blue egg. No evidence of the woodpecker, but who knows what the next few days may bring.
Keeping my finger crossed for the bluebird.
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kendra2003
11 years ago
Is this in the box the Downy was in, or the other box? Anyway, it sounds like the Blues are happy with what you did if they're already laying. Hope all goes well for this clutch of Blues. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
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Connie Kru
Original Author
11 years ago
Yes, it was the same box.
Someone has removed the egg and the blues have left.
I have not seen any bird in the box since Tue Morning when I saw the female go in around 8:30 and she stayed in the box. I wanted to check to see if she laid another egg, but she was in the box, both times I went to check. Later in the day I say her on the line and knew she was out and went to check-no new egg and the one laid on Monday was also gone.
I doubt that we will see another brood, as late as it is, but we did have two already this summer.
I have to laugh, I put up our box and watch it carefully and down the street there is a blue bird that builds her nest in a News paper box. They (the house owner) hang up a sign to tell the paper delivery person that the blue bird is back and so far the bird has had 3 nests and babies have fledged from it all three time-They fledge right out into traffic on a fairly busy gravel road.
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kendra2003
11 years ago
It is amazing that no predator has found them in the newspaper box. I guess they've just been lucky so far.
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