Bird Watching: Autumn Blues, 0 by 2dCousinDave

2dCousinDave wrote:
I do not monitor a trail but know and talk to many people who do. I understand that when boxes are placed that close (and are also within sight of each other) the boxes are rarely all occupied by bluebirds. Some boxes may go unoccupied or perhaps be occupied by other cavity nesters, such as tree swallows or chickadees or even (God forbid) HOSP. I have three boxes, two about 50 feet apart and within sight of each other and a third on the other side of our house. I have a single pair of bluebirds that alternate in nesting between the two that are within sight and they will not allow any other birds to nest in the unoccupied box. The box that is out of their sight has had chickadees and tree swallows nest in it.


However, I know that for whatever reason, some bluebirds are more tolerant than others. For example, one year I had a pair that allowed all their offspring from all three clutches to remain near the nest box during the entire nesting season and over the following Winter. Several juveniles from the first or second clutches even assisted in the feeding of the nestlings of the third clutch. The pair I have now is quite the opposite; chasing the juveniles away as soon as the female lays the first egg in her new nest.

I would also mention that I provide them meal worms and that the adult bluebirds also try to control the feeder, at least when it comes to other bluebirds. I also have titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, song sparrows and Carolina wrens that help keep the meal worm feeder empty and the bluebirds seem moderately tolerant of the other species.

Here is one of the Carolina wrens waiting for meal worms in the freezing rain this afternoon.