I am very sad to inform you that I found our Mama Bluebird dead on the nest yesterday. She was sitting on 5 eggs and it looks like she died in her sleep. Perhaps it was the heat or pesticide poisoning but there was no trama and I am very grateful of that. She died doing what she did best and was beautifullly intact.
OMG, I'm so sorry Rose!! She was such a wonderful Mother. (((HUGS))), Pelle
...
Thanks Pelle...she definitely contributed to the Blue population in our area! I had checked her the day before yesterday and decided to not open the box as she was in it and didn't fly out like she usually did. She had probably already passed but I didn't realize it.
Yesterday when I went to check the box I noticed a lot of activity around the box...a male and a female were in and out and on the box in an unusual manner...so Papa blue wasted no time in finding a new mate. So..she may have been gone for a few days and I just thought she was sitting.
Here is Papa calling to his new mate. It is very hot here and he looks it.
Aww, that is a shame.
I'm glad he found another mate so soon but we definitely have to be so grateful to the original Mama.
I'm so sorry to hear about mama, but I'm glad she died peacefully. It must have hurt you badly Rose and I'm sorry.
Glad papa has found himself a new mate.
Thanks Duc...it is hard to lose one especially one that has been nesting. I am glad that Papa has found a new mate also...they have been in and out of the nestbox all day long but so far no nest building.
If it might have been heat, worth rigging up some shade for the box, so it isn't repeated
Resin
Yes Resin I've thought about that. It hasn't been a problem in the past as it is in complete shade by noon but I will see that it is shaded in the morning as long as the heat continues.
Sorry to hear about Mama's passing. It must of been hard to find her like that. She has done her share in breeding. Hopefully the new couple will bring as much joy in your life and ours.
Dang it...I'm sitting here fighting back tears. That is very sad news:(
I'm glad Pappa found a new Mamma, but I'm sorry for the loss. That will be a very special brood.
Rose, I'm so very sorry about Mama Blue. I know how attached to her you have been.
Very sorry for you Rose.. Did you remove the nest and the eggs?
Dave
Thanks again...I know all of you bird lovers understand...
Dave...Yes, I have removed the nest and eggs and the Blues are still in and out of the box.
I think I heard Papa say something to the new Mama that sounded like "I don't think we'll find a nicer place this late in the season"!!
Too bad, rose. I worry about my box getting too hot. It's in full sun. I really don't have many options as to a place to move it. When I have the garden house out back, I hit it with some water to cool down. But, I'm gone a lot, in TX for 8 days now. So the BB's are on their own. Had two newly hatched and two eggs when I left last Thursday.
BB's have a very strong drive to nest and raise offspring. On the whole I suspect nest boxes are much more a contributing factor to the species than a detriment. Thanks for sharing, maybe others can learn from your loss.
Thanks Red, I hope your BB's are doing OK in this heat. When I had my nestbox in full sun I would rig up an umbrella to shade it...of course on windy days that would not work too well.
Here is a link to the Sialis site that has some solutions to heat/sun problems http://www.sialis.org/heat.htm .
