Bluebirds

Hi, I'm new here. WarneC told me about this birdwatching forum and thought I'd check it out. Chris, if you read this, my username is birdfinder here and not what you're used to seeing elsewhere. I'm an avid birdwatcher and bluebird lover. My blues actually haven't nested in my nestbox at all this year, they seem to like the neighbors boxes better. But I love taking their pictures when I feed them mealworms in my yard. I also feed them mealies at a window feeder and that is where this picture was taken. I've got lots more, if you'd like to see some of them, not all bluebirds either, they're just my favorites!

Very nice birdfinder, neat name also. Welcome to the bird Forum. Would like to see more of your birds.

Me too!..Welcome, and you'll find this forum very satisfying. I'm also fairly new, and being part of this forum has been a great experience so far..

Welcome to the forum bird!

New birdlovers are always welcome. Looking forward to more of your pictures.

welcome! It always amazes me how many worms they can fit in their mouths. how fortunate you have the window feeder.

Welcome, birdfinder. This is a really lovely community of like-minded souls. Love to see more of whatever picutres you have.

Welcome...and we love to see pics!!

Darling picture...I love Bluebirds too! Welcome to the BW Forum!

Anyone know if a bluebird will find it's box if you move it? I have a box that has eggs already, it is late in the season and once again, I didn't move it before it got too hot for them to survive in the box. It gets full afternoon sun and last year four babies burned up in that box and the female laid ten more eggs with none of them producing babies, I am sure because of the heat.

We went on vacation and she has just fledged a group of three, and when we returned there were already four more eggs and then there were seven or eight. She pushed some out of the nest, left four I assume are the viable ones (?). Anyway, my DH told me to just move the box t oa spot where it will not get the afternoon sun. I am worried she won't find it.

So what do you think?

Well Dave will probably chime in. The only way I think you could do it is to move it a foot or so at a time, like he does with the mealworms. What about a patio umbrella?

I will have to get a stand for my umbrella. I tried a beach umbrella, lol and it wouldn't stay put...kept having to retrieve it from the yard.

If I did the foot or so at a time, would you think over a period of hours or so? LOL? I guess I could sit it on a ladder or something and move it gradually...I thought about just moving it to a ladder in a different spot, but I am sure the predators could be in the nest quickly if I give them a step ladder to use...lol

How far do you have to move it? I moved one about 15 feet after they started a nest and they found it quickly and finished the nest and laid the eggs. From what I understand you have to be very careful moving a nest with eggs so they are not shaken ( a two person job). I have read where some people in the warmer states will use different materials to insulate the box against the heat. Have you checked the Sialis site? I will see what I can find and get back to you if no one else does.

I need to move it from the side of the house to the back of the house at least, to keep the sun from getting to it in the afternoon. Ideally I would like to move it to the shaded area of my backyard. I don't know, they may already be "well done" from the heat we have had. My DH just thinks I should move it and at least they won't keep laying the eggs and having them fry.

They have been using this box for several years, but last year was the first time they laid them so late that the heat was unbearable. I drilled holes all in the box trying to help get some air inside....but I just don't think it is enough help. Insulating would be great. I am concerned that if I move the box they won't use it next year...I hate to lose my bluebirds!

Here is a link to a box that was "insulated" using screening material. http://bluebirdnutcafe.yuku.com/topic/3843/t/Solar-Screen-And-Other-Heat-Shields.html . It looks pretty simple and something you can do this year and possibly move the box after this nesting. I can't say for sure if the BB's will find the box if you move it. I think they become attached to the box and not necessarily the location.

I have also seen where they have used styrofoam to make an extra roof with a spacer in between the actual roof and the styrofoam one. I don't know if that would work too well if you have heavy winds.

Let us know what you decide... I am going to go with the screening material when it gets hot here. Good luck!

JanetS
Your situation is most interesting, and in several aspects, very unusual, at least in my experience.

Do you think there may be more than one female laying eggs in the box? It is very unusual for a BB to lay more than five or to push some of them out. And I doubt she would be able to tell "viable" eggs from the others. I have seen them sit on non-viable eggs for a month before they simply abandoned the cause, and I have never had them go ahead and lay more eggs among the old ones. More likely that she would first build a new nest on top of the old eggs, if you did not clean the nestbox out.

My nestbox sits in full sun ALL day and we have had 90 degree-plus days for most of June, as we have had for the past several years. My birds have always laid their third clutch in late June or early July. I have lost a clutch to the cold but I haven't had a single one of those third clutch eggs not hatch.

Is she staying inside the box during the heat of the day? If so, she could be holding the temperature of the eggs closer to her body temp. And I would be more concerned during the brooding process (first few days after hatchage) when they need her to regulate their body temperature (up or down).

When are the eggs due to hatch? As far as moving the box is concerned, I think,under the circustances, I would wait until they hatch, if they do, then move the box to the cooler location in one single operation. I am sure the BBs would see you move it and even if they didn't, they would find it in no time. BBs are amazingly tolerant of such human intervention.

Maybe you need to monitor a little more closely. I look in on my nest every day and keep a calendar starting when she begins building the nest, during her egg laying and incubation. Otherwise I do not know when hatchage is overdue. After they hatch I check them every day until the 13th or 14th day. After that to open the box may cause premature fledging.

Like everyone else, I will be most interested in a progress report. Good luck.

Dave

Thank you so much for the information. I thought that perhaps last year their was more than one laying eggs in the box. I had hoped that having so many eggs in the box then was a fluke and wouldn't happen again. Especially after I had some of those hatch and the babies died.

So I just don't know. I do know it was about the same time of year last year, that we had so many eggs in the box at one time though.

I checked when we got home from vacation a week ago and there were four eggs, and then a couple of days ago their were seven or eight. I check them again when I saw one laying on the ground and there were only three left, yesterday.

She has been sitting on them during the heat of the day, yes. So I will just leave them and see what happens...and I will update.

I did not clean the nest out after the last ones fledged, I was not home. But last year they laid them so quickly I had one build on top of the old one, and two broods were raised in the second one..so I just don't know....I didn't realize I needed to do so much with them...I guess I need to learn more!

Thanks again!