Bird Watching: Bluebirds 2013, 3 by 2dCousinDave

2dCousinDave wrote:
My birds started early in March --probably too early since we were then having night time temperatures in the low 20's and daytime temps in the high 30's. She laid five eggs and began incubating them, then after 2 days abruptly abandoned the nest. I watched her remove three of the eggs and then she would not go back inside the box anymore. Very strange. After 2 more days with below freezing temperatures and her never going back in, I removed the nest and the remaining 2 eggs. She would not build another nest in that box, despite urging by her mate. After about a week she started a new nest in the trap box the chickadees nested in last year. That nest has been complete for several days, but no new eggs as yet.

Over the Winter I put one of the Gilbertson PVC nest boxes in the front yard out by the street near where another pair nested in the newspaper box last year. I noticed a couple hanging around it so last week I looked inside to see if there was a nest. To my surprise there was a nest with 4 eggs. I do not know when she had started incubation but it must have been about the same time as the one in the back yard, so I am wondering if these will hatch, considering the freezing temperatures. I should know pretty soon.