BBs moving in?

17 years ago

We have blues that overwinter on the farm and the woods next door. I think the population is blooming thanks to the farm's many BB houses and the area's dying Ash trees. I put up a BB house in the spring and TRSW moved in. I loved them too. I put up the house again a few weeks ago, and the BB's have been checking it out. A female spent the better part of a day fending off other birdies. Then no action for a week. Now it is snowing and she has come back for another look at the house. Is there anything I can do to convince her to move in? If she does, will she bring a hubby or teenage children?

Second question, I have another location prepped for a BB or TRSW house. It is 80-100 ft away from the first house. It is close because I read that TRSW's like a nearby nesting pair to ward off enemys as a team. Can I put the BB house up this close to the first house or should I move it to the back yard.

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

vonyon
17 years ago
I think the two houses should be closer together to have TRES pair with BB's. I think they like it 15-20 feet apart, but you can check www.sialis.org for the exact distance. I have two about 30 feet apart and we always get a pair of each (TRES and BB) every summer. I will say the TRES are pretty ferocious about protecting both boxes for a while though.

I don't know anything you can do to encourage a female BB to stay. A pair won't nest this year, but perhaps they will roost in the box over the winter. If so, they seem to bring the whole family. I had a dozen here the other day going in and out of both boxes. I see them in the winter head into them just around dusk. The first winter before I had a pair nest in my yard, I had a pair checking out the boxes in the winter. So, maybe the fact that she is checking it out is a good sign. If anything you could try putting some mealworms out in a dish near the box just to convince her that there is a ready source of food nearby. This time of year a source of water is always helpful as well. I have a heated bird bath, but you may not need that where you are. My blues do not eat mealworms this time of year though. They love things like cedar berries, so I have cut branches and stuffed them through the BB feeder and that has attracted them in the winter. Now mine eat crumbed suet cakes, but that took some convincing.
Related Discussions
Do BB's kill fish if they swallow them?
Q
Comments (5)
It is doubtful the fish swallowed the BB. I have seen too many fish mistake something inedible for food and they just spit it out. While it is possible a fish would get something stuck in it's mouth it isn't likely it would happen to more than one. However it is possible for fish to die from a fright. If he managed to hit them with a BB it might scare them sufficiently to cause them to die. The changes in the water as the weather gets warmer can cause fluctuations in the pond chemistry that could kill them. Parasites are particularly active as the water warms up and must be considered. Have you done any water testing? It is important to maintain certain chemical balances in the water and PH in particular can be a problem but it is easy to fix. How sad your son isn't able to enjoy the exciting things that happen in and around the pond. I would be making sure my kid was participating in pond maintenance. Sandy
...See More
I hear BB babies in the BB box
Q
Comments (3)
Bless your heart. We do worry about our Blues, don't we? Well, the hawk isn't going to get the babies while they are inside the box. Mom and Dad are at risk though. Honestly, there is really not a thing that we can do to keep the hawks out of our yards. If you have bird feeders, they might draw the hawks in for a try at the pool of feeder birds. Were you sure that the Chickadee baby had been abandoned? Many times, the parents are nearby even when we don't see them. I wish you the very best of luck, and I hope that your Blue babies successfully fledge and grow to adulthood!! :o)
...See More
Help! 6th straight clutch of unhatched bb eggs
Q
Comments (2)
I really hope you don't "pick" off the male bluebird. How long are you waiting to see if the bb eggs hatch?? I have not heard of that many eggs not hatching.
...See More
baseboard help!any 'molding' to fill gaps where bb meets floor?
Q
Comments (28)
red eared-You did the right thing w/the turtle! That blind turtle of my mom's is going to outlive her, that is too much of a commitment for me, without any payoff, as far as I am concerned! I would love to see pics of your house. Post them here if you want! hoosier-Thanks! I guess since this is going to be our home for a loooong time, I feel I want everything perfect. Also, this is the first(and maybe the last) house that is not only a home, but a way of expressing ourselves. I never used to be "into" interior decorating, landscaping, etc. I mean, I could appreciate a beautifully appointed room or a pretty plant, but now I am actually interested in learning more about them both. While I just said I feel more comfortable in a slighly messy (lived in) house, I also appreciate going to someone's house and seeing that a "mood" has been created and effort has been put into bringing it all together. I am worried about having my beautiful spanish dining set handed down from my parents, gorgeous art on the walls, well thought out window treatments and then have something simple and basic as baseboards detract. But yes, yes, I know...no one is noticing! Except maybe a Gardenwebber. Not sure I would let any of you in my home! Haha, I kid, I kid!
...See More

BBs moving in?

Comment (1)

vonyon

Related Discussions

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US