today I discovered were the Bluebirds have nested. A very old nest box that has been up for years. the opening has long since been chewed large.
After seeing the mama fly toward this big old Oak tree in the front yard I investigated closer. I found 5 eggs.
This is a horrible site!
After chopping away some brush and braving the poison Ivy and ticks I was just able to fit my camera thru the entrance hole and found 5 eggs. man was I getting dive bombed.
I guess this looked like an tree cavity to Daddy Blue.
I'm hoping for the best, fingers crossed!
Maybe 'Big Daddy' can scare off any interlopers.
i haven't been able to mount a nest box on the baffled pole that I finally found somebody to put up for me and guess they got tired of waiting. I just figured they nested someplace else...well, they did.
So...should I intervene in any way? Try to move this nest box to a baffled pole? Move the nest to a BB box on a baffled pole? Or... just leave well enough alone and pray alot for their safety. I even am wondering if my chopping away at the brush to access the box was wrong.
I have been trying to figure out how to get a nest box on the top of this baffled pole. Having neither a "honey do", helpful neighbor or 3 arms...I have not been able to mount one myself. Now that they have nested I would think that mounting a box should wait till this clutch either is successfully fledged or whatever. I can't imagine any way to make this nest safe.
Here's a pic of how far the pole and baffle plan got.
Feedback appreciated.
I would leave them right where they are. Birds were doing just fine long before people arrived.
We don't even have a bird house here & birds are everywhere! Singing all day long. We have lots of natural habitat.
I have put in erosion strips planted with alfalfa & shrubs. Our grove is old & has lots of under brush. Even houses those pesky rabbits & deer.
Bernie
Oh poor Birdie...I think it best to leave them where they are, but I am not an expert. Is there a reason that the person who put your pole up could not mount the box at the same time? Of course they are not going to wait around...but go and find another nesting site.
What does that matter anyway?...its in the past......But..I did not have the right hardware..the u clamps or clips were to small to go all the way around the pipe....
So they are nesting in the front yard..now , so should I wait to get the nestbox mounted on the pole till after this clutch is gone or what?
the baffled pole is in the back right next to where the old box was and where the mealworm station is.
See what Dave thinks.
I would think you would put it up as soon as they fledged.
That is what I am thinking..so as not to confuse the pair or invite others.
Thanks,
Sheri
I'm not an expert, but I think you should wait until September.
I would mount the new box as soon as possible.
I agree with the others that I would not try to move the nest now. But as you describe it, this sounds like a terrible site. The odds are high that this will not be a successful nesting. Any number of preditors could get in there at any time. I would be ready with the new box (and I would take down or plug up this old one as soon as they are finished, whenever and however it ends).
The bluebirds usually nest three times a season in the middle Atlantic area (which includes Carolina). Assuming these are your birds, I believe this is their second nesting, so whenever this nesting ends, you want to be ready for their third nesting. They will find the best place available within a week after this nesting ends. You want that place to be in your new box on your baffled pole.
Wishing you and your blues the best.
Dave
This message was edited Jun 10, 2009 10:20 AM
well, this morning I found an empty nest box. the eggs are gone. I am amazed that I even saw this nest. I have gotten the nest box mounted on the baffled pole. It could be sturdier, but I did the best I could do. the "c clamps" first were to small and now are to big, so I put a spacer between the baffle and box (short 1x1) against the pole. I have an appt this morning, but will work more when I get home between rainstorms.
Apparently this is my pair and they are staying in my yard.
There is even a 2nd baffled pole now about 50 yds back into the rear of the yard. I planned on mounting 2 boxes. I am just going ot work on getting this one mounted securely and not complicate this issue.
Thanks Dave for your suggestions
Birdie,
I am so sorry you are having problems setting up your new birdhouse. I had the same problem last year, with the birds nesting in a box on a tree. Something climbed up the tree and took the babies away. It had me so upset, I bought some conduit and my son pounded it into the ground for me. My grandkids helped me make two bb houses, and my DGD and I drilled holes into the back of the houses and into the conduit. It seems to be doing well -
I found the baffle at Birdwatcher Supply - it has a ring you slip over the top of the pole and tighten, then slide the baffle over top and you can adjust the height on the pole. Then you place your birdhouse on the top. Don't let the baffle be so low that an animal can jump and hang on to it.
After the frustration of losing babies last year, I have seen a group of five fledge from this birdhouse this year, and mom and dad bluebird are nesting for the second time right now. The same-type house I have in the back yard has black-capped chickadees about to fledge.
