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Once again, They're back! Nesting?!

16 years ago

I just saw my blues again today, checking out the houses. I have some mealworms now that we bought in desperation at a local pet store (only about 100). The weird thing is... they're building a nest! Is it normal for blues to build a nest at this time of year? Do they normally build a nest to use for roosting?

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Comments (12)

griffin_MD
16 years ago
Ken, one of my females did this last year and it scared me to death!!! I was so afraid to go and check the box for fear I would find eggs. Actually she and the Mr. did roost in the box over last winter and had a head start on nesting season this past spring. She spruced things up a bit, added a new nest cup and was ready to go. I've read that the reason there is so much increased interest in nestboxes in the fall is because the sun and length of days mimics spring. It serves a purpose, in any case, because the blues get familiar with the nesting sites in a given area--maybe getting ideas for spring.
Kathy
donnalovesblue
16 years ago
I thought this was so interesting when I first read the post.

Today, I saw Mama Blue perched on top of the nestbox with a piece of nesting material in her mouth! A minute later she dropped it (either accidently or purposely) and flew away. Another blue flew out of the box so quickly that I don't know if it was a male or female. There is no nesting material in the box.

This is certainly a first for me and I'm glad Kathy responded to shed some light as to why this is happening.

Donna
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My blues came back again yesterday, until then had'nt seen them since last Tuesday but could here them in the woods behind the house....but yesterday they flew to the box the male checked it out going in and out but not the female, so I went to the store yesterday and bought mealworms so this afternoon I put some out on my patio and they were ther in 5 min. and the male flew into the box a couple of times and then they flew off, then when I came home from work around 630 this eve I put another serving of worms out and they were there again so they're somewhere close but not nesting in my box. I also live in ILL. across from downtown St.Louis in a town called Edwardsville. I believe in my cul-de-sac I'm the only one with a nesting box. Is this normal Blue behavior? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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compost_hugger_nancy
16 years ago
In some areas they do nest late. Malinda in Michigan often posts about blues building and sitting on eggs as snowing!

I live north of her though and my blues are hoarding up in the box. Watched 15 yesterday!!! Don't know how that many fit in there!
janie_may
16 years ago
I find little bits of new nesting material in my nest boxes every single fall. I clean them out at the end of the season, at the latest by mid August, and usually find a little pine straw by the end of Sept. Checked the back yard box this weekend and a few new blades of pine straw were there.

Blues, blues, blues.... in and out of the boxes all day long this weekend. They don't/won't lay eggs, this is just their way of making an early claim on their box for next spring. Very normal behavior around here.
ken3592
Original Author
16 years ago
They were here again yesterday putting more nesting material in the boxes. I have a little stash of mealies (only 40 or so left) that I feed to them when they show up. They only seem to show up on the nicer, sunnier days, however I'm trying to coax them with the mealies so they visit regularly into the winter. Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced bird bath with a heater? I'm looking for one to have for them during the winter if they stick around. Thanks
dzyg
16 years ago
Hey, not sure on the birdbath but since you have had the Bluebirds eating mealworms you could get some dried mealworms and rehydrate them in water for about an hour or so then drain them before you give them to the Blues. I have been doing this for about 2 weeks now and they are eating them like crazy! Much cheaper than the live ones too I get them for $7 (tax included) for a container of approx 5,000 at a store here in town. I am on my fourth container so far. So much cheaper than the live ones. Mine don't overwinter here but I will continue to feed them until they leave.
donnalovesblue
16 years ago
Thanks for the suggestion about rehydrating the mealworms...never thought of that! I've offered the dried worms in the past, and the blues loved them, probably because they were feeding babies and I had no live ones to offer. I'll start putting these out again and see if the blues will come around more often.
janie_may
16 years ago
Alrighty, I'm ready to try the freeze dried mealies. Donna, where do you buy them?

Nancy, you mentioned that Malinda has posted about blues sitting on eggs when it's snowing. That is "Spring" snow, not fall or winter snow. Her blues are usually finished buy early August and have never nested/laid eggs later than that.
donnalovesblue
16 years ago
Janie...don't know where the other Donna gets hers, but I get mine from a local farm/feed store. They carry Cole's brand and I've ordered them on-line as well, for 7.99 per bag.
dzyg
16 years ago
I get my dried mealies from a place called Fleet Farm, kinda farm supply store/sporting goods...the mans mall. Hope you can find some.

Donna
janie_may
16 years ago
Thanks, Donnas! I just ordered them on-line. I hope my blues and other favorite song birds will like them. :)
lflower11
16 years ago
Me too! I haven't seen any blues since Aug, and this morning a pair is nesting in my most popular nestbox. I freaked! (I'm in NE Missouri) but you all have reassured me that they know what they are doing. They are now feasting on leftover mealies.

The neat thing is that today is my birthday. What a WONDERFUL present!

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