I put up two BB houses a month or so ago and kind of paid no attention to them. Well this evening I thought I'd check them out and one has a nest with 4 blue eggs!! I've been noticing a lot of BBs flying around the yard- some with their new fledges following them around too, which is very fun to watch when the parents show them what to eat.
I did not check the other BB box because it was getting dark. It is in the backyard far from the first.
What is with them waving a wing all the time? Almost seems like they are waving at each other.
found 4 BB eggs!
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
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Guest
David:
That sounds really cool; I wonder what that is.
I was so close to having BB babies this spring until a house wren destroyed all of their eggs. I was really disappointed.
Enjoy them!
-Steve
That sounds really cool; I wonder what that is.
I was so close to having BB babies this spring until a house wren destroyed all of their eggs. I was really disappointed.
Enjoy them!
-Steve
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
oh my! Will house wrens do that too? earlier when Iinstalled the boxes (19 dollars from WMart) the little house wrens checked them out too but didn't do much more than that.
On a side note- the House wrens love to check out my martin's gourds too.. but are chased away by the parents.
I only worry about the House Sparrows getting in the BB nests and it is all I've ever read about as an issue with BBs.
I actually like the house wrens. The males are pretty with that rosy red upper chest. But boy, they look a HS to untrained eyes. Their long calls are pretty too. I came close to killing some during the winter thinking they were HS. Good thing I had a scope. Now I can ID them very easy.
On a side note- the House wrens love to check out my martin's gourds too.. but are chased away by the parents.
I only worry about the House Sparrows getting in the BB nests and it is all I've ever read about as an issue with BBs.
I actually like the house wrens. The males are pretty with that rosy red upper chest. But boy, they look a HS to untrained eyes. Their long calls are pretty too. I came close to killing some during the winter thinking they were HS. Good thing I had a scope. Now I can ID them very easy.
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ljd-kc
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:05 am
- Location: Kansas City, Mo.
- Martin Colony History: Started my Colony in 2008 with 32 gourds and one ASY pair. As of 2017 I had 106 cavities with 106 pair.
David,
I lost a clutch of baby bluebirds to a male house sparrow. The male house sparrow is relentless when it comes to a taking over a cavity they want. It took a day an a half to get rid of him. By that time the bluebird babies were dead. The bluebird pair have renested and this clutch is due to hatch any day now. I have notoced the male blubird is alot more aggressive in my opinion now. We will see how this one plays out.
Jack
I lost a clutch of baby bluebirds to a male house sparrow. The male house sparrow is relentless when it comes to a taking over a cavity they want. It took a day an a half to get rid of him. By that time the bluebird babies were dead. The bluebird pair have renested and this clutch is due to hatch any day now. I have notoced the male blubird is alot more aggressive in my opinion now. We will see how this one plays out.
Jack
I do not have Bluebirds where I live, but I found this interesting website. It states that a nest box with two holes will favor the Bluebird in competition with the House Sparrow. I certainly cannot say this is true, but if it is, I wonder why all Bluebird houses being sold, would not have two holes? http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/
Gary
Gary
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
thanks for the link. No HS problems in my area. Something is keeping them out of my area. I see fewer and fewer as the year progresses.
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bwenger
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:24 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania/Espyville/Pymatuning Reservoir Area
- Martin Colony History: Taking care of 11 active public colonies and trying to start two more in northwestern PA. Also attempting to restart another one in southwestern PA, in Collier Township's Hilltop Park. In 2017, not sure what happened but the ASY male returned and then a couple of weeks later he was gone. It could have been weather related. No other birds showed up. I had a starling nesting at the Public site that I had trouble getting rid of.
In 2018, we fledged 629 martins at all of the sites.
David,
It seems that when they flap their wings, they're looking for food. When our female does it, the male will usually get a meal worm and take it to her.
Also, once the young fledge, they do the same thing when the parents have food for them.
Good luck,
Bill
It seems that when they flap their wings, they're looking for food. When our female does it, the male will usually get a meal worm and take it to her.
Also, once the young fledge, they do the same thing when the parents have food for them.
Good luck,
Bill
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
In all the excitement of the fledge day, I forgot to mention my Bluebird eggs hatched that same day too!
At least I have something else to watch over. I guess it's good to have BB houses up-- kinda helps you get over the martin withdrawal syndrome.
BB are here for a much longer interval which is nice. I see them during the winter here, so it will be nice to see them around.
At least I have something else to watch over. I guess it's good to have BB houses up-- kinda helps you get over the martin withdrawal syndrome.
BB are here for a much longer interval which is nice. I see them during the winter here, so it will be nice to see them around.
david thats great. my blue bird pair is on their last clutch of five. their last five babys that fledged are helping them take care of these five babys. that is so neat about the blue birds. iv always loved that part. then soon they will be gone like the martins. so enjoy them.
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
Yeah Kelli-
I love the little Juvenile BBs too. They are cute and I love how they tag along with the other adult. I've seen the parents feeding them on the fence. Really cute to see.
Looks like I have three BB hatchlings with one egg that won't hatch. Not sure if they are like martins and have all eggs hatch at same time.
I like all the fluffy stuff on the heads and bodies. Very different from the pinky martin babies.
We have so many BBs out here. I never realized it.
I'm going to move the other BB house from the backyard to my neighbors back yard across the street. I think it will be better there and far enough from the other. I think the occupied BB house in my front yars is keeping the other BBs from nesting in the house in my backyard. Or it may be too close to the trees and neighbors pool on the other side.
I love the little Juvenile BBs too. They are cute and I love how they tag along with the other adult. I've seen the parents feeding them on the fence. Really cute to see.
Looks like I have three BB hatchlings with one egg that won't hatch. Not sure if they are like martins and have all eggs hatch at same time.
I like all the fluffy stuff on the heads and bodies. Very different from the pinky martin babies.
We have so many BBs out here. I never realized it.
I'm going to move the other BB house from the backyard to my neighbors back yard across the street. I think it will be better there and far enough from the other. I think the occupied BB house in my front yars is keeping the other BBs from nesting in the house in my backyard. Or it may be too close to the trees and neighbors pool on the other side.
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pugsleyhall
- Posts: 268
- Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:28 pm
- Location: Alabama/Grant
Hey David!
Bluebirds love to bathe so hopefully you have a birdbath. I have been lucky enough to have these birds for years and they are a joy to have. They love mealworms so if you can, place some in a small dish on their house when the babies hatch. Best of luck to you.
Melissa
Bluebirds love to bathe so hopefully you have a birdbath. I have been lucky enough to have these birds for years and they are a joy to have. They love mealworms so if you can, place some in a small dish on their house when the babies hatch. Best of luck to you.
Melissa
Proud member of the PMCA
2008-0
2009-0
2010-Several Lookers
2011-Quite a few visitors but none stayed
2008-0
2009-0
2010-Several Lookers
2011-Quite a few visitors but none stayed
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
I don't have a place for them to bathe, but I did put my hose on a light fog pattern this morning and rested it on the gound near their house.... it's making a nice mist and both the male and female are hanging out near it looks like it may be bringing some worms or small bugs. I figure if they like water, this should provide some relief and fun.
That egg was bad Kelli. It was just liquid inside. Almost looked like it had a very tiny hole in it. I figured if it didn't hatch by now- almost 5 days past the other three, it must be bad. No signs it even had a developed chick in there.
Hey those little hatchling have fluffy stuff on them... looks like dark cotton on top of their heads.
That egg was bad Kelli. It was just liquid inside. Almost looked like it had a very tiny hole in it. I figured if it didn't hatch by now- almost 5 days past the other three, it must be bad. No signs it even had a developed chick in there.
Hey those little hatchling have fluffy stuff on them... looks like dark cotton on top of their heads.
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dsonyay
- Posts: 1677
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 3:10 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Broussard
- Martin Colony History: 2010-2014 located in Slidell LA. Gourd rack with 16 gourds. Max of 2 pairs during this short period in Slidell. Plenty of fledglings.
2014-present.. moved to Broussard LA. Same Gourd Rack but added a 6 room house (modified from a 12 room)
2020: after a long drought of nothing, 4 pairs and 4 nests, 23 eggs total.
6 fledges.
2021: 9 pair, 47 eggs
36 hatchlings
30 fledged
2022: about 12 pairs.. many eggs, all fledged.. only had one hatchling die.. probably because of our schnauzer. :(
2023: 16 pairs. So far about 60 chicks with about a dozen eggs to go.
2024: 13 pair. About 60 eggs
2025: 14 pairs .. 69 eggs.
I don't have a place for them to bathe, but I did put my hose on a light fog pattern this morning and rested it on the gound near their house.... it's making a nice mist and both the male and female are hanging out near it looks like it may be bringing some worms or small bugs. I figure if they like water, this should provide some relief and fun.
That egg was bad Kelli. It was just liquid inside. Almost looked like it had a very tiny hole in it. I figured if it didn't hatch by now- almost 5 days past the other three, it must be bad. No signs it even had a developed chick in there.
Hey those little hatchling have fluffy stuff on them... looks like dark cotton on top of their heads.
That egg was bad Kelli. It was just liquid inside. Almost looked like it had a very tiny hole in it. I figured if it didn't hatch by now- almost 5 days past the other three, it must be bad. No signs it even had a developed chick in there.
Hey those little hatchling have fluffy stuff on them... looks like dark cotton on top of their heads.