New to bluebirds HELP
9 years ago
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9 years ago- 9 years ago
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Bluebirds and my new nestbox
Comments (6)What I do each year for the birds in general is brush my thick-coated Golden Retriever and put it in a suet box. Her fur is soooo soft and water repellent too! I hang the 'hair box' under a tree and it's fun to watch some of the smaller birds (like chickadees) pull the fur from the box and fly away. I have a nest box video camera so I've gotten to see how it is used by some birds. I've had bluebirds use the fur over the pine needles in the nest cup instead of grass. Also a nest of chickadees used it on the top of the nest esp. in the nest cup. The cutest thing I saw was a titmouse who used to take the fur from the side of the nest (their nest fills a bluebird box but there is a nest cup which is usu. in one corner similar to chickadees) and when she left, she'd pull the fur like a blanket over the chick. Linda... Here is a link that might be useful: time to brush the dog...See MoreBought a new bluebird box and hole reducer.
Comments (9)Yes I put it up just as soon as I gat home with it. I did notice the male bird was on top of it a couple of times, but then they would go back to the old box. I have several birdbaths in my yard. I don't have a big yard but I make sure my birds are taken care of. I hope they will accept this box cause I sure do want a family of blues this year. Everyone say a special prayer that I will have a family of dees and blues in my yard this year. Thanks so much for everyones advice. If anyone else has any more advice please let me no. Thanks again!...See MoreNew to bluebirding...need advice
Comments (4)You can move a nestbox with eggs but you have to be very very careful...it is much easier to move a nestbox before the eggs are laid. Conduit is the easiest thing to mount a nestbox on, 3/4" or 1" is the sturdiest. I usually just have a 10ft piece and pound 4 1/2 feet into the ground but 3 feet would be plenty to have in the ground too (some have only 2ft) so you could have it cut. Get a piece of 6 or 8" stovepipe (they come in 2ft lengths) and an end cap for the stovepipe. Drill a hole in the endcap the size of the conduit and place a emt clamp on the pole where the baffle will be (I have mine about 6" or so under the nestbox) set the endcap on the clamp to hold it in place and place the stovepipe around that, attaching it to the cap. Those are from instructions that make it pretty easy...I do mine just a bit differently as I am not up on power tools. ( I clip the top of the stovepipe and fold it over the top of the cap part and use a tin snips to cut the hole in the top/cap. Oh and it should be wobbly...that is what deters the coons the most is the wobble. I then use one hole straps to attach the nestbox to the conduit. Two hole straps aren't as sturdy and won't hold the box as tight as you need it to. Good luck..hopefully you can get things moved quickly before they start laying again. My first year with bluebirds I had them nesting in a nestbox on a wooden post. First nesting went fine..nestlings fledged. Second nesting the nestlings gotten eaten by raccoons when they were 12 days old. I was so sad! After that we put up a properly mounted nestbox and then added more and I also have a small trail at a park now too. Good luck..let us know if you need any more help, especially if you end up moving things when there are eggs. Oh and check out the sparrow spooker page on sialis.org in case you have House Sparrows in the area. Also wren gaurds in case of House wrens...they aren't always needed depending on where you box is located. At my place the boxes on the west side of the house normally need guards as they are closer to the woods, on the east side I never have a wren problem as a road and an open field are there. Donna...See MoreAbandoned bluebird nest, please help, I'm new
Comments (5)Hello Michael, First I am glad you found this site, I was happy when I found it to, but I would like to invite you to join the bluebird nut cafe and we will provide you with all you need to know about these birds. It is way more active and you will get fast answers to your questions. Hope to see you there. http://bluebirdnutcafe.yuku.com/ Secondly your bluebird pair have committed to that nest with eggs so they won't abandon it easily. How much rain are you getting? One year I had blues there were several days of rain and no bugs except earthworms around to feed the babies. They didn't survive despite the parents efforts. My guess is your pair has left to find a food source and will return. I do find it odd that they left when you are providing mealworms. I would recommend you ask this question on the bluebird nut cafe site to get other's input. -Tyler...See More- 9 years ago
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