Question about nesting behavior

[mjs1973]

As some of you know, I put up some bluebird nesting boxes this winter. This spring I had 2 pairs of bluebirds using the boxes. They began laying egs on April 18, and ended up with 5 egs in each box. The eggs began hatching around around May 10th. Not long after that I stopped opening the boxes as I didn't want any of the hatchlings to fall out. Over the last few weeks, I have watched the adults hunting and feeding the young.

Knowing that the hatchlings should be getting strong enough to leave the nest I decided to check the boxes today. The first box I checked today, was epty, except for 1 small blue egg in the nest. I know bluebirds often have 2 broods per year, so my question is this: Is this egg the start of the 2nd brood, or could it be an egg from the first brood that didn't hatch? I would have thought that an unhatched egg would end up broken with the other 4 hatchlings climbing all over it trying to get a meal from the adults, but that's just a guess.


When I checked the other box, I was surprised and disapointed to see that the bluebirds had been completley evicted. The nest they build was completley gone. In it's place was a new nest made of small sticks and twigs. (The bluebird nest was made out of grasses.) Could this stick nest be sparrows moving in? I cleaned out the box, but I'm affraid the bluebirds have moved on. Any chance of the bluebirds from this box coming back this year for a 2nd brood if I can keep the other birds out of the box? What really sucks is, this was the best box for taking pics. :mad2:

[mjs1973]

I have contunued to check both of my bluebird boxes as spring has turned to summer, and have discovered some intersting things.

The one egg that was in the upper box, was eventually burried in the nest. The bluebirds beefed up their nest, and covered the egg that never hatched. There are now 4 new eggs in that box.

After I emptied the stick nest out of the lower box, it sat empty for a while. Then one day, it had another stick nest in it, so I cleaned it out. A wouple weeks went by with no new nesting activity in the lower box. I checked it again last week, and told myself that if there was another stick nest in it, I would leave it, and just see if I could get a positive ID on the builder. When I opened it up, I was surprised to see a nest made of grass inside the box. It was a little thinner than the original bluebird nest, but it was the same material, so I cosed the box up, and left. I stayed in the area for a few minutes to see if the nest builders would show up, but they didn't show. I checked the box again yesterday, there are now 2 blue eggs in it! They look like bluebird eggs, but I haven't seen the adults so I'm not sure. I will have to do some checking to see if there are any other birds in this area that use nest boxes, and lay blue eggs, but I'm hopefull that the bluebirds are back for another brood!

[paulnj]

I don't know how I missed thge original post, but here goes.

Some sparrows, swallows and wrens will use bluebird boxes and none of them are bad to have per say. Cowbirds and starlings usually can't fit through the hole(built that way purposely),

I can't think of any bird with blue eggs that can nest in that box, so bluebird eggs they are.

Next time you deside to evict, make sure your not evicting a good wren or misplaced good sparrow. In my area some boxes get house sparrows... people kill them if they can and remove the nests every few days until a good bird moves in.

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the info Paul. I was assuming the new tenant to be a house sparrow, that's why I removed the nest. The more I thougth about it, the more I wished I wouldn't have done it, just in case it wasn't a house sparrow. I'm glad to have the BB's back, but I next time, I will make sure I'm not removing the nest of a "good" bird.

[mjs1973]

It's nesting season again. This year I put up 5 bluebird boxes. Two of the boxes have a plexiglass pannel on the inside of the door. I built them like this so I could open them up and see in without risking having a hatchling fall out.

I checked my boxes on the 14th. All boxes were empty, but I did see a sparrow going into one of the boxes.

I checked all the boxes again on the 15th. The box that had the sparrow had the start of a nest in it. It was made out of dried grass. One of the other boxes had a nest in it that was made out of moss and rabbit fur. There was a dead rabbit in the road not far from the nest.

Yesterday (16th) there wasn't any changes in any of the next box's.

On today's box check, I found another nest made out of moss in another one of my box's. This nest is about 1/2 the size of the other moss nest. I have yet to see any birds go into the boxes, other than that first sparrow.

[paulnj]

I have no clue what would make those moss nests, but remove the sparrow nest if you don't want them nesting. A good way to put up nest boxes is 2 per post back to back. You will have a chance at bluebirds in one and tree swallows in the other

[mjs1973]

I'm hoping the weather cooperates the rest of the week, and this weekend so I can get some time to sit and watch the boxes. I'm wondering what's building the nests too. I'll keep updating this post as I learn more.

[mjs1973]

I set up to watch the box with the moss nest in it. I was a little surprised see a pair of black-capped chickadee's going in and out of then box. A house sparrow came to check out the box, but the chickadee's chased it away.

[paulnj]

BC chickadee huh, I can't say as I have ever seen them use a bluebird box. They are definately cavity nesters though.

[big baldo]

Very cool posts. I would like to start putting out some boxes to see if I can get anything to start using them. I dont think BB's visit the swamp much. However I have been actively searching for an Ivory billed woodpecker in the swamp

[Nanken]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first time posting and I am not sure if it's the right place or not. We just put up our first bluebird box a week ago and within 2 hours, a pair started checking it out. They were busy with the box for a few days and then disappeared.

I checked the box and sure enough there was a lovely nest. However, no birds have been seen at the box for at leasst two days now. Is that normal?

I think I have a good picture of the pair (female inside with male on top) with my Canon Rebel with a Sigma 300 lens but have not downloaded to the computer yet. Just found this site.

Thanks for any info

[mjs1973]

Welcome to the Forum. I don't mind if you post questions to this thread. I don't know for sure about bluebirds, but I know other types of birds will build several nests, then pick the "best" one.

[paulnj]

males make a nest then try to get an interested female is what I've been told.

[Nanken]

The birds came back today. They had left the nest for at lest four days but are looking again- that is if it's the same pair. Sure hope so.

[MonkeyWrench]

How close are your bluebird boxes? I was looking at setting up one or two on my acre lot and was told that bluebirds are very territory minded and that the boxes should be fairly far apart. I do not remember the exact distance. Having said that I see many a setup with several or more boxes in a row. Your post has renewed my interest and I may set one up yet. Is it too late? Do I need to wait for next spring?

[mjs1973]

My boxes are fairly far apart. I would say at least 200-300 yards apart, maybe more. I have a total of 5 boxes, spread out over several acres. I can't find the size of the property, but I remember reading about it a while back. I think it was in the 20 to 40 acre range.

I have attached a map of the property, and the red numbers repersent the nesting boxes. I found at least 4 eggs in box #2 yesterday, and at least 1 in box #2. I say at least, because I couldn't see them. The eggs are burried deep in the nest, and I had to feel for them.

I have cleaned house sparrow nests out of box 1 at least 3 times now. Hopefully they wont come back.

[mjs1973]

I checked all 5 boxes a couple times this week. Box 1 is still empty. Box 2 has at least 5 eggs. Box 3 has at least 2 eggs. On Monday, box 4 had a few small sticks in it. On Tuesday, it had a few more sticks, and they are starting to take the shape of a nest. Box 5 is still empty.

[mjs1973]

Your post has renewed my interest and I may set one up yet. Is it too late? Do I need to wait for next spring?

I think you should still put the box up if you haven't already done so. Bluebirds usually have 2 broods per year. It might be too late for the first brood, but you may get some in a month or two when it's time for the second brood.

[mjs1973]

I checked boxed 2, 3 and 5 today. The BC Chickadee's were busy incubating their eggs in boxed 2 & 3.

A pair of House Wrens were busy going in and out of box #5. The wrens were using the vent opening I left on the sides fo the box as way in. They used the hole on the front as the exit.

[paulnj]

See that out of focus branch in the last image..... stand one foot past minimum focus from it and you will get a very tight image of that house wren calling.

[mjs1973]

I haven't been checking my nest boxes as often as I would like to, but I have been checking them. Here are some updates.

The two families of BC Chickadee's have both fledged a brood. Since they only have one brood per year according to one of my books, I cleaned their nests out of the boxes.

The two families of House Wrens have also fledged one brood each. Since my book says they have 2 broods per year, I have left their nests intact.

The box that I had to kick house sparrows out of several times this spring, is now the home of 4 Easter Bluebird chicks!!

One of the boxes that I cleaned the BC Chickadee nest out of is now being occupied by another family of Eastern Bluebirds. On Thursday, there were 3 eggs in the nest, and there was a forth egg added on Friday.

Hopefully I will get my long lens back soon, and have some photos to share.

[paulnj]

Great to here bluebirds are in a few boxes!

How long have they had your lens???

[mjs1973]

How long have they had your lens???

I have been without my lens since the 11th. I got my estimate and told them to go ahead and fix it on the 25th. They told me at that time that it could take up to 2 weeks to get it back. So Monday will be 3 weeks without it, and it's driving me nuts.

[paulnj]

Yikes! They did mine very fast. 3 weeks isn't a long time though to be honest. I have heard of 6 week plus repairs from every manufacturer.

[mjs1973]

Yeah, it could be worse. The part that's killing me tho is that I'm missing the newborn fawns! Hopefully I will get a shot at some when I get it back. I'm keeping my fingers crossed to get it sometime this week.