A new Bluebird Season

I have cleaned out my bluebird nest and discovered the box filled with ants. Does any one know of anything safe I can put in there to prevent the ants from attacking a new nest?

Shirleyd

Boys, ants are tough problem. Shirley I hope someone can come up with a solution that's safe in the long run. BBBs, what's good news during your Easter eggs hunt with grandson! I'm so thankful of good things coming out of bad situation. Thank you for sharing.

shirley: The following advice about ants comes from Evelyn Cooper, who lives in Louisiana and is a real bluebird expert.

After you have cleaned out the nest box, "the next thing is to put grease on the pole or post. It should be applied right under the baffle or guard. Most people use all purpose or automotive grease, which can be found in the automotive section at Wal-Mart. Some people use a product called Tangle Foot, but it is very sticky and extreme care has to be used when handling and applying it. Birds can be harmed.

Make a band at least 4 inches wide so the ants won't be able to piggy back and get across it. Also, check it during the season as it hardens and has to be reapplied." She applies it to the pole when the first egg is laid.

Thank you for advice on grease for pole---will do!

Shirleyd

I've done that for years to keep ants out of my hummingbird feeders that are on shepherd's hooks. I've never had a problem with the BB's box. Are the ants causing problems fire ants? From where you live, could be.

Bluebirdsnbells -- I now have two eggs in the new nest, so barring any more interruptions, our clutches should be be running close together, with mine tracking one day behind yours. This new female is apparently young and inexperienced. I watch her on the nest cam and it takes her a full 10 minutes to lay an egg. My previous females were in and out of the nest box in a minute or so.

Mints will deter fire ants. However, mints spread like wildfires. So a container planting of mints will keep fire ants away from your garden. Also, if you plant mints. Be sure to trim off the flowers before they go to seeds, unless you prefer to have them running everywhere in the garden. :)

David, Dave and Shirley...so very sorry for your loss this season. Hopefully all will go well and you will soon have some beautiful baby Blues. I have certainly experienced the down side of hosting Bluebirds but the rewards certainly make up for it.

I agree with Lily that this is a very informative and helpful thread.

Love all the photos...they are great!!

Thanks David --and Rose. Glad you like them. Here is one from this morning.

And another.

Here is one more, taken this morning. I had the 600mm lens on one of the mark III cameras, with a 2X TC attached (1200mm) and got this without a tripod.
If you look carefully you can see our house reflected in his eye.

Nice house, Dave. Fantastic to manage a shot like that without a tripod.

Nice shots Dave!

Margaret. Here is one cropped to where you can see the house better. lol

And a small correction. It was the mark IV, not one of the mark III's.

That's amazing. Nice clean windows.

Mine laid her fourth egg this morning and apparently has begun incubating. What is your status, bluebirdsnbells?

Well, despite the fact that she began incubation yesterday, she added another egg today. So this one may hatch a bit later than the others.

Dave
Mine are incubating 4 eggs. I expect hatching to be either May 11 or 12. Unfortunately, I may have removed one of the new eggs when I was cleaning out the old eggs and the old nest that the new female had built over. But it is a good brood. She seems to be patient as I mow the lawn and putter about the nest box.

David

I figure mine for the 10th or maybe the 11th. Should track very close to yours. Let's hope they both are successful!

Checked the box about an hour ago and found 3 new baby blues looking for a handout. One egg is still unhatched. I did not have my camera with me but I will when I check on them tomorrow.

David in No. Stafford, Va

Congratulations David in No. Stafford, Va. :))

David, four of the five hatched this afternoon and I expect number five will hatch tomorrow. She laid the fifth egg the day after she started incubating. How are yours doing?

Congratulations Davids!

Great news, Dave.

I didn't get out to check mine today but I did notice both mama and papa birds flying food to the young ones. I will look at the box in the morning to see if the 4th egg has hatched.

David

Good news!!! The fledge was successful. I am not sure when it happened. It was either late yesterday afternoon while I was doing BBQ on the deck or early this morning. I did notice both of the parent birds at the nest box in the afternoon but did not see the little ones leave. I checked the nest box this morning and it was empty. So I will clean it out and get it ready for the next nesting.

Congratulation David! So so happy to hear the news.