First Bluebird Nests and Egg Laying
(2007)
From: Birdwatcher [mailto:spraydm"at"earthlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 12:09 PM
Subject: early bluebird nests in Virginia
I belong to a birding e-mail list for Virginia. I thought I would share a snippet from a message about interesting/odd behavior for bluebirds, below.
While the early part of the winter has been unusually warm, it has been very cold for the past few weeks. Are the weather extremes confusing the birds?
"Yesterday I made a 5 mile hike around Rt 639 on top of Compton Mt here in Buchanan County. I stopped at one of the 25 nest boxes I monitor just to check it out. I was really surprised to find a complete bluebird nest inside. The box was empty three weeks ago.
I then checked out the remaining boxes and found one on my property that has a half completed nest. If the bluebirds actually attempt to nest this early, I don't see how they could possibly survive. We usually don't have nesting attempts until the last week of March or the first week of April. The temperatures recently have been down as low as 1 above with several mornings at 8 and 9."
Donna, VA
From: danhan7"at"sbcglobal.net [mailto:danhan7"at"sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2007 1:02 AM
Subject: HOSP Surprise
February 17, 2007
We had a rare freeze last night in Houston, Texas with temperatures down to
28 degrees. This afternoon I set my table saw up on my driveway and was making entrance blocks for installing on my Bluebird boxes, when all of sudden, I became aware of this unmistakable, faint sound of baby house sparrows peeping in a nest. A quick look spotted a male HOSP clinging to the side of my neighbor's house where he had a nest in the gable vent. I am thinking that I have several weeks to get my trail ready for Bluebirds and here this HOSP already has babies. He certainly is competitive.
Dan Hanan
Subject: Bluebird nesting has started
From: <danhan7"at"sbcglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:56:09 -0600
The nesting season in cavities is presently well under way in Bastrop
County, Texas. As of 3-9-2007, there were four completed plus five
partially completed Bluebird nests on my trail of 30 nestboxes; one nest
even had the first egg of the year. Also, there were two additional
completed nests: a Carolina Wren and a Carolina Chickadee. There were no
claim straws in any of the boxes.
Dan Hanan
35 miles SE of Austin, TX
From: Duane Rice [mailto:drbirdsong4"at"hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 8:53 PM
Subject: Busy Busy Bluebirds
B-listers,
Just had to tell ya.
After checking the boxes on the trail just a few days ago,(well, it seems like just a few days) and not finding much to get excited about, I was thrilled and amazed, when I checked them again today, to find so many nests.(one with five eggs!) And I didn't even get to all of them today!
I must admit, I was beginning to wonder when they were going to "get busy".
The answer is always the same.
When they're good and ready.
Will I ever learn?
DR
From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 7:17 AM
Subject: RE: Where did all the EABL's go?
My first egg this year was laid on the 24th. Two years ago, it was laid on the 30th, (my birthday). This is going into my tenth season and it is the only two times they have been this late for me.
I have had them lay a clutch the last week in February. Most times, it is the first week in March the first egg is laid.
It was hard to stay away from the boxes that had completed their nests to see which would be the first to lay an egg.
Ten years into this and it is just as exciting as the first!
Evelyn, Delhi, LA
From: Dottie [mailto:yumyumkatts"at"voyager.net]
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 1:48 PM
Subject: Three BB Eggs
I checked my BB box by my house and I have three BB eggs. This is early for me. I can hardly wait to check my other boxes.
Dottie, Hickory Hollow
Brown County, Indiana
From: happywebl"at"comcast.net [mailto:happywebl"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 3:33 PM
Subject: First egg
Today the male BB fought off another male -- took him to the ground! Those sweet little guys can be really tough when necessary.
I decided to check the nestboxes, and discovered the first egg, in the second nest that the pair built. I also checked the first nest, which contains quite a few feathers, and there were no eggs, but the feathers have been rearranged since I checked two days ago. No, I don't usually check more than once a week, but the attack this morning made me curious!
We obviously need more nestboxes in our neighborhood, so I'll work on that.
Also, my cymbidium orchids finally opened their buds, and the roses are beginning to bloom. I think it's finally really spring!
Barbara in Cloverdale, CA
From: bobanna [mailto:bobanna2"at"earthlink.net]
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 9:41 AM
Subject: New Babies!!
Hi Y’all,
3 babies hatched yesterday in the box in my backyard. This is the pair that has been coming here for the last 2 years. She laid 5 eggs but so far only 3 have hatched. This has been the norm for this pair so I don’t expect the others to hatch. We will have cooler weather here also but nothing so low as to threaten the babies, thank goodness.
It never ceases to amaze me how tiny they are when they first come out of the egg and that something so small will be soaring in the sky in a month. J
Anna in Tampa
-----Original Message-----
From: happywebl"at"comcast.net [mailto:happywebl"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 12:00 PM
Subject: hatched
Our first clutch of the season hatched yesterday. I'm so glad it didn't happen a couple of days ago when the weather was cold and wet, since that's how we lost a nest of chicks one spring.
It's in the 70's and sunny during the day now, and supposed to remain this way for the next week, at least, so there should be plenty of insects for the babies to eat. Things are working out (so far).
Barbara in Cloverdale, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn Williams [mailto:glenwill"at"chilitech.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 12:06 PM
Subject: Re: I have same problem in PA
My blues never left this winter! I fed mealworms every other day. The box closest to the house has had a finished nest for the last 2 weeks and mother blue is often perched in that box with just her head poking out. Last year the 1st egg was laid on 4/15 this year no eggs as of last evening.
Best regards,
Glenn
N. Central PA
-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn Williams [mailto:glenwill"at"chilitech.net]
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 7:42 PM
Subject: 1st egg of 2007!!!!!
April 25, 2007 nesting season has begun in N. Central Pennsylvania!
After 24 years of supplying housing for my EABLs that 1st egg of the season is still a THRILL!
Best regards,
Glenn
N. Central PA
From: wensuz"at"isp.com [mailto:wensuz"at"isp.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2007 12:47 PM
Subject: Re: 1st egg of 2007!!!!!
Hi Glenn, and all; I was just going to post my first egg of the season news also, so I may as well send a reply to Glenn's post announcing mine. Thursday, April 26th, after 5 days post nest completion, the female EABL finally started her brood! I know what you mean Glenn, as I'm sure we all do, no matter how many years we've been seeing those little blue eggs, the first one of the season is always a cause for celebration, and awe-inspiring at the same time!:) I was also graced with the presence of a beautiful male Baltimore Oriole who ate from my Suet feeder this morning. I'm guessing they are among the blackbird family, they share much similarities in appearance. ....
-Wendy-N Central OH
From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net]
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 5:18 PM
Subject: First egg FINALLY in NE CT
http://www.sialis.org/birthday.htm
Last year my first egg was 4/10. It's just been too cold and rainy I guess. But it's supposed to warm up shortly. ...
Bet from CT
From: JBrindo"at"aol.com [mailto:JBrindo"at"aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2007 8:43 AM
Subject: 2006/2007 egg counts
Found my first BB egg on trail yesterday out of 60 boxes. Last year on 4-28-06, I had 47 BB eggs at this time. The late Eastern snow has made a huge impact. Jay - Northeastern Ohio
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