Bluebirds worse than HOSPs - Help

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Bulldog1
Posts: 700
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:33 am
Location: Mississippi/Hamilton

Got a problem with bluebirds. Done everything recommended: 1. Gourd on shepherd hook 35 feet away from my set up. 2. Gourd facing away from set up toward a small tree. 3. Box on other side of the yard.

This afternoon, I get home to see if my martins are coming back to the gourd they spent the night in. As soon as one flies up to gourd, 2 bluebirds attack. Really viscous attack. I walk outside on deck and they retreat. Martin circles overhead and leaves the area. I sat out on deck until dark to see if martin returns, no dice.

Will not let bluebirds nest in my gourds even if it means I don't get any martins this year. Any advice will be appreciated.
PMCA member
2015 - 18 Gourds offered - 12 active nests, 62 eggs, 51 fledged
2014 - 18 gourds offered - 12 active nests, 52 eggs, 48 fledged
2013 - 12 gourds offered - 9 pairs, 56 eggs, 52 hatched, 49 fledged
2012 - 12 gourds offered -4 pairs, 20 eggs, 19 fledged
2011 - 6 gourds offered -1 pair, 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 fledged !!!!
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2441
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged

Bulldog1 -- Here is a must read page, if you have not read it. Take a few minutes and check this web site out.. Good information to know. Good luck..

http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/~Dan/T ... GENCY.html

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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ron20m
Posts: 466
Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 3:01 pm
Location: Oklahoma/Norman

I love bluebirds and had a pair nesting 20 feet away and never saw any aggression. Sorry you are so bird blessed. Glad your fighting it out between some awesome species instead of my sky rat infestation.
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dcartwright
Posts: 259
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 2:52 pm
Location: Winchester, Ky.

Not sure how much space you have but I also have Blue Birds and had them before PMs. I put up lots of boxes. Gave the little blue devils lots of choices. By the time the PMs arrive here in central KY, the BBs have their box and settled in. They use the racks even now to perch before the PMs arrive, but once more than five PMs show up, the BBs no longer use the racks.

Now that you have only a few PMs wanting to return and the BBs claiming the PM rack, this is a bit more difficult. I would put up more boxes, even closer than normal, close off any gourd(s) the BBs have entered, and chase the BBs off the rack if you have the time. I've noticed that even when a male BB has a box and a new one goes up near by, he can't resist checking it out.

Hope this helps.

Don in Ky.
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TammyBears
Posts: 135
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:00 pm
Location: Bridgecreek, Oklahoma (SW of OKC)

:lol: :lol: :lol: No kidding ron20m! :evil: Haven't had S&S all winter even with year round feeding stations, as soon I put my houses up, there they are like they own the place. I did have a BB near a box, but the HOSP have run him off I think :cry:
Tammy
RIP my precious Josie, 7/5/2000-11/6/2014
2015: 22 pair plus lots of bachelors
2014: 25 pair and some bachelor subbies
2013: 17 pair
2012: 7 pair (first year)
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Tim Stover
Posts: 505
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:04 pm
Location: Tennesse/Madisonville

had the same problem here my first two years i had to consistently run them off i mean i stayed on them till i convinced them to move on not scaring the martins but it worked good luck
2009 2pair 2010 24pair 2011 106 pair
2012 124 pair
2013 145
2014 170 pair
+
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Bulldog1
Posts: 700
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:33 am
Location: Mississippi/Hamilton

The only good thing is the HOSP are scarce now.
PMCA member
2015 - 18 Gourds offered - 12 active nests, 62 eggs, 51 fledged
2014 - 18 gourds offered - 12 active nests, 52 eggs, 48 fledged
2013 - 12 gourds offered - 9 pairs, 56 eggs, 52 hatched, 49 fledged
2012 - 12 gourds offered -4 pairs, 20 eggs, 19 fledged
2011 - 6 gourds offered -1 pair, 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 fledged !!!!
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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.

My nesting BB are feeding their chicks and are fierce when a HS shows up. I almost find it hard to believe that HOSP are a threat to BBs. :) My BBs are often on the gourd rack but I have not seen them react to the martins at all... in fact my martins seem to react to them by swooping and hissing at 'em when they see them up there. Guess I'm lucky.
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jr 2
Posts: 749
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:20 pm
Location: ohio,proctorville(just across ohio river from huntington,west virginia)

seen a pair of blues checking out my martin housing this morning;;have all holes closed except spar-a-doors;;have housing for blues in backyard;;jr2
PMCA member; s 2011 2 pair fledged 3; 2012 3 asy pair,4 sy pair,2013 8 asy pair,6 sy pair;2014 19 asy pair,2 sy pair
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