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Post by tomcat on Mar 16, 2013 8:12:56 GMT -5
I have a pair of bluebirds back checking out the house and have often wondered if the same birds return to the same house year after year.
Also have the dreaded English sparrows checking it out and just took two of them out with my trusty old Remington Model 510 Targetmaster. Although I've never attracted any, I could live with swallows but not sparrows.
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Post by bawanajim on Mar 16, 2013 9:52:42 GMT -5
Last Sunday it reached mid 50s here and a pair of blue birds camped out on my honey bee rack and spent the day eating the bees that ventured out.
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Post by Dutch on Mar 16, 2013 12:26:12 GMT -5
I have several boxes around my property. You build it they will come!! I also have the Tree Swallows and the Blue Birds competing for boxes.. They say you should keep the Blue Bird boxes about 150 yards apart because the Blue Birds are territorial. I think it was RSB that gave me the tip once to put two boxes back to back. You can then get Tree Swallows in one box and Blue Birds in the other. I have one set of boxes back to back. It works! I believe they do that at Middle Creek now, back to back boxes. Lots of Bluebirds up there.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2013 20:18:05 GMT -5
I have several boxes around my property. You build it they will come!! I also have the Tree Swallows and the Blue Birds competing for boxes.. They say you should keep the Blue Bird boxes about 150 yards apart because the Blue Birds are territorial. I think it was RSB that gave me the tip once to put two boxes back to back. You can then get Tree Swallows in one box and Blue Birds in the other. I have one set of boxes back to back. It works! Just goes to show that it's possible for all us to get along & live happily ever after no matter how territorial we may be!! ;D
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Post by Bill on Apr 15, 2013 21:51:59 GMT -5
Well 'my' pair has finished nest building and I believe the female is in the process of laying her eggs. Some pics of the construction... If she would have been just a scooch to the left in this shot it would be perfect! The male did carry in some nesting material at first, I think he was just trying to seal the deal. He was the first male I've ever seen bring anything for the nest. Mostly though he just stood guard and watched her work. LOL Once in awhile he checked to make sure she was doing it right. Hopefully everything goes well and I can report back at a later date.
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Post by Dutch on Apr 16, 2013 4:56:09 GMT -5
Those are some pretty incredible shots. Thank you for posting them.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 6:25:47 GMT -5
Are you kidding me with those photos?!?! Amazing! Holy smokes! Just awesome.
Up here in NEPA I have not seen any at mine yet. I do have a cam on them and maybe ill check that tonight...
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Post by galthatfishes on Apr 16, 2013 6:42:22 GMT -5
WOW! Those are some really good photos!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 17:32:22 GMT -5
Outstanding pics there Eye!!
I had a few BB's ck my new boxes out but looks like none favored for nesting this season.
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Post by GlennD on Apr 18, 2013 14:55:22 GMT -5
BULLETIN! Lowe's has cedar Bluebird boxes for $9.97! Virtually the same as pictured in the first post..
I bought a couple them the other day.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2013 20:25:18 GMT -5
Well, it looks like we have House Wren in our boxes. She was loading up both boxes tonight! Ever see that? The box on the left has far more nest material in it, but she was in and out of both boxes:
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Post by Dutch on May 6, 2013 20:45:18 GMT -5
Yer gonna wear her out with 2 boxes. LOL
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2013 20:03:44 GMT -5
Bad lighting... but apparently we have the fattest Tree Swallows around fighting over the right-hand box... look at this fatso! the Wrens have quite the jumble going on in the left-hand box.
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Post by Bill on May 24, 2013 22:50:04 GMT -5
Well brood #1 flew the coop this past week. This is the last of the young ones to leave the box, of all the fledglings I've watched fly out for the first time over the years this one was hands down the best flyer, looked like he had been doing it since he hatched. Well I'll get the box cleaned out this weekend and see if they'll be back for brood #2. If they don't it'll be a first.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2013 8:02:44 GMT -5
Sweet!
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Post by Dutch on May 27, 2013 6:09:14 GMT -5
How long does it take from egg laying to fledging?
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2013 20:36:05 GMT -5
Outstanding pics Eye!
I ended-up with a nest being built...but they then vacated. Hopefully next Spring I will be more successful.
I will post-up pics of nest for any input you all may have.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2013 8:49:46 GMT -5
They are nice pictures!
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2013 15:44:25 GMT -5
Been busy at work but finally got a chance to ck my BB box. Looks like I a got me my first brood!! Seems late but i could see their lil mouths reachin up as i carefully inpected!! The nest almost entirely fills the box.
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Post by Bill on Jun 1, 2013 7:31:03 GMT -5
How long does it take from egg laying to fledging? Incubation of the eggs is about two weeks, give or take a few days. Takes them from fifteen to twenty one days to leave the nest. This first batch left the box at eighteen days.
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Post by Bill on Jun 1, 2013 7:32:37 GMT -5
That looks like a wren nest Loggy, they often use small twigs. Bluebird nests are mostly fine grass.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2013 7:54:33 GMT -5
Could be. There were some blue fethares mixed in the nest. i found this pic on the net of a BB nest. sorta resembles mine plus found some other pics that were similar. Just haven't been around enuff to observe the boxes traffic.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2013 20:32:52 GMT -5
So no biggie on opening them up and taking a peek? I'm positive both the wrens and swallows have had success. Both swallow parents are in and out and I imagine it's close or past hatch time. The wrens are more low profile.
Just don't want to mess it up and take a peek... still have the cam on the boxes.
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Post by Bill on Jun 6, 2013 18:18:31 GMT -5
Well the female is nest building again, she'll probably be sitting on another clutch of eggs by next week.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2013 9:45:17 GMT -5
The House Wren fledglings were making a racket yesterday... got about as close as I could until the neighboring Tree Swallow almost took my head off... they must be about ready to leave now too.
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