Last or Late Broods

From: "Randy Jones" randyj"at"enter.net
To: jfo1"at"psu.edu, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Question re New Nesting
Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 07:46:30 -0400

SEE BELOW IN CAPS.
Randy Jones
Lehigh County Coordinator
Bluebird Society of PA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jan Oakes" jfo1"at"psu.edu

Anyway, would somebody please let me know if it is reasonable to
expect the
adult Eastern Blue Birds to return to start a second family?

SINCE THE TIME FROM THE BEGINNING OF NEST-BUILDING TO FLEDGING IS ABOUT 30 DAYS, AND ENABLING FLEDGLINGS TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY TAKES ABOUT ANOTHER MONTH, IT'S CLOSE TO THE TIME WHEN IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.

GET YOUR BOXES READY (CLEANED OUT AND WASHED DOWN WITH MILD CLOROX SOLUTION), AND SIT BACK AND HOPE!

Jan Oakes
State College, PA

Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 09:48:40 -0400
From: Lisa Bennett lisab"at"superdups.com
To: "BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Good News!

Just some Good News!

The baby blue I assumed fledged prematurely apparently made it! I saw him yesterday with the entire family bathing in the birdbath-all five two males and three females. Who knew that in two weeks all of these birds would survive and begin to drop feed. Although they are still so gray and stick together. Yesterday dad and mom were on the box. I checked this morning and there is a full nest constructed. When did they have time? Isn't this too quick after fledglings? Or is this a nest for next year, roosting? I guess I'll just see what happens. What do you think a second clutch? Any input from anyone in the North East would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again, Lisa (Salem New Hampshire)

Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 11:53:11 EDT
From: "Rwatts" rwatts"at"mymailstation.com
To: bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re:Good News!

What do you think a second clutch? Any input from anyone in the North East would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again, Lisa (Salem New Hampshire)

Hi, Lisa,

I'm in Wilton, so not all that far from you--I've had them renest in mid-July, so there's hope. ATM I have a pair with a second nesting near the house here--completed sometime on/near the 4th, either 3-4 eggs (not sure because Mrs. is a very tight-sitter!)

It's a good thing she is, too, because we're *crawling* with HOuse WRens!! At least two adult pairs and the fledglings of the first nesting, swearing at each other and anyone else. I have a wren box down near the swamp that they always use, but since the first fledging they've ignored that one and are stuffing every box in sight with twigs, no matter *how* far out from the wood-line it is. As I say, Mrs. EABL sits very tight, and Mr. spends most of his time on one of the paired boxes, or at the next pair, in sight of his box. Good thing.

The pair at the far end of the field lost their first hatch within the first day or so during the cold, wet period, but successfuly fledged 4 on second try. They have not started another nest but I'm fighting HOWR up that end as well. I *think* the EABL had begun a nest before the HOWR took over, but haven't seen another try.

No HOWR in the back hayfield; that EABL pair fledged 3 just before we began haying last week, and I saw/heard the fledglings while we were working. They have not re-nested, but they were late with that nesting--they, also, lost their first hatch to
weather, and were a week or so later getting going on this one. So perhaps too late now.

The EABL pair next to the neighbors' garden are within 5-6 days of fledging their second clutch of 4. Nearby is a very late TREe Swallow nest with *one* nestling, who appears full to repletion! Always sleepy looking but appears healthy.

Rhonda Watts
Wilton, N.H.
"Are you marching 22/9/02? Visit http://www.march-info.org
for details. A fair country worth fighting for!"

From: Lynn Ward lWard"at"pmai.org
To: "'bluebirds and cavity-nesting birds'" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Latest date for EABL nesting
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 08:43:06 -0400

To all of you in the Great Lakes region,

What is the latest date that you have had an EABL lay an egg? I have an EABL pair who are still feeding fledglings one month after fledging and wondering if there's still time for a second nesting.

Thanks in advance for the info,

Lynn Ward
Parma, MI

Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 09:20:40 -0400
To: lWard"at"pmai.org,
"'bluebirds and cavity-nesting birds'" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
From: Barb DeLong delong24"at"msu.edu
Subject: Re: Latest date for EABL nesting

Lynn:

I finally got my first nesting (had a pair of blues come to my mealie feeder, but they were feeding babies at someone else's house) and the eggs hatched last Friday the 5th of July. I vaguely remember having a second nesting this late last year and thought we may have time for a 3rd, but didn't.

Barb DeLong
Eaton Rapids, MI

At 08:43 AM 7/15/2002 -0400, Lynn Ward wrote:
To all of you in the Great Lakes region,

What is the latest date that you have had an EABL lay an egg? I have

...

From: EHDerry"at"aol.com
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 12:51:56 EDT
Subject: Re: Latest date for EABL nesting
To: lWard"at"pmai.org, Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu

Lynn: We have a pair of EABLs who had a failed nesting (she had 5 eggs, none of which hatched - heat?). I removed the eggs about 10 days ago after she
had sat on them for 21 days. She immediately began building a new nest in the adjacent box. As of yesterday she had 4 eggs and had not yet begun incubating. I haven't checked the status today. We hope this one will be successful!

We are located at the west end of Lake Ontario.

Judy
Lockport, NY (Western)
43.18 N., -078.65 W.

Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 17:59:12 -0500
To: lWard"at"pmai.org, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
From: jwick"at"mail.tds.net (Ann E S Wick)
Subject: Re: Latest date for EABL nesting-Midwest/S. WI

Hi Lynn and BluebirdLers........

Lynn asked:

What is the latest date that you have had an EABL lay an egg? I have
an EABL pair who are still feeding fledglings one month after fledging
and wondering if there's still time for a second nesting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just took a quick look at my nestbox record sheets for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 on my trails here in rural, southern Wisconsin (20 miles w. of Madison.)

Here's what I found:

1999: Last EABL egg was laid August 10th, nestlings successfully fledged 9/9 (The last large numbers of nestlings in most of my nestboxes that year had all fledged by the end of the second week of August, 1999.)

2000: Last EABL egg was laid July 30th. Those nestlings fledged successfully August 28th, 2000. (The last substantial numbers of nestlings had fledged by the end of the first week in August that year.)

2001: The last EABL egg was laid on August 2nd with those young fledging September 1st on my parents' 59th wedding anniversary!!! However, I had substantial numbers of nesting pairs with active nests in mid to late August...........20 or more of approximately 45 nesting pairs!!!

2002: As of July 10th, I have only 7 nestboxes with cups formed, no eggs and 3 more boxes with what appear to be nest starts.

That's what's happening on my trails..........

Ann Wick
Black Earth, WITo all of you in the Great Lakes region,

From: "Mary Beth Roen" mbroen"at"hotmail.com
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Third nesting!
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 19:18:24 -0500

Hi everyone!

2002 has been the strangest year ever for my blue bird trail here in western Wisconsin. First I had a nest failure in April due to 2 snowstorms after eggs were laid. Now I have my first ever third nesting in a nest box in my front yard. The second nestlings fledged about July 22-24. on July 29 there was a completed nest, and today there is one egg in the nest. I wonder if a nestling from such a late date in Western Wisconsin can make it to migration? Time will tell how many eggs the female will lay and how successful the fledging is.

Mary Roen, River Falls, WI

From: SHERRY KANARAS [mailto:basketcasesherry"at"verizon.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 10:10 AM
Subject: Success at Last!

Hello Bluebird friends,

I have been holding my breath for almost three weeks now--after TWO failed attempts to have a successful brood of EABL, 'my' pair has finally hatched five healthy babies in a box on my deck just this morning!!!! I was afraid to get my hopes up three weeks ago when the pair showed up again and started completing one of their nests from earlier in the season. I even thought it was a little too late maybe, and when she began laying eggs, I became neurotically overprotective. I moved my entire office down to the kitchen table where I could keep watch out of the corner of my eye to protect them from HOSP, (which means my family eating dinner wherever they could find a seat!) and this morning when I came out to feed the mommy mealworms, I was blessed to open the box and see the newest babies I have EVER seen in person. I quickly told them how happy I was to see them, and congratulated mommy bird, and got right out of the way to come inside and cry! My son asked if this means that they get their kitchen table back, but I had to tell him that I am not going to be finished guarding them until they successfully fledge. I know I probably sound completely insane, but this is so exciting after the difficult season that we have had, and I had to share my good news with people who will UNDERSTAND! My thanks to everyone who has offered advice over the past few months, I and my BB family truly appreciate you! I will try to take pictures w/my digital camera in a few days. Blessings to you all,

Sherry Kanaras
Perryville, MD
Cecil County

Hello everyone,

I have five BB babies getting ready to fledge from a 3rd brood. It's awfully late in the season. This is a first for me--will they have any special needs that I can help with? The nights are getting pretty chilly; last evening it was 58 out. I am providing lots of meal worms, of course, but I would appreciate any recommendations of other items that they may need. The parents are really trying to coax them out of the box! They actually sit in front of the hole dangling a meal worm out of their mouth, making the babies pop their heads out of the box to get it. It is fascinating!
Thanks for any advice.
Sherry Kanaras
Perryville, Maryland

Some of you asked that I update on my third brood when and if they fledged.
Here ya go!

My third brood of 4 baby bluebirds fledged on Saturday morning! It was wonderful to find them in the trees by following their calls (begging for
food) and to watch all four throughout the day :) One little "girl" got stuck on the pole barn roof :( just as Tony got up to get the ladder (he thought he'd have to rescue her - it was just before sunset and the family was gathering to roost) she managed to get a toe hold, balanced herself and finally flew off into the black cherry trees to join her siblings.

Sadly, the last time I saw the entire family again was on Sunday morning :( - they have flown off into heavier tree foliage - back into the area where these parents raised their first brood (in a natural cavity). We cleaned out their box and found 7 black cherry pits!, 1 dead mealworm, and 2 small grasshopper carcasses. This final brood was a messy bunch, or maybe the parents were just too tired/exhausted to keep cleaning up after them - I really have to take this box down and scrub it out thoroughly :)
I was feeling quite sad and melancholy on Sunday afternoon, evening and Monday morning, with all the chaos that is going on in the world around us, seeing and hearing the bluebirds helped lift my spirits and reminded me that there is hope and life does go on - the backyard was too quiet, the silence reminded me that the season is over and I may not see them again until next year.

Four juveniles came in to feast on mealworms and play in the birdbath on Labor Day. And an added bonus! A couple hours before sunset on Labor Day the front yard pair also returned for a visit. The male sat on "his" box for awhile (this was the bachelor male that stayed tough and sang his heart out for a mate over a 3 week period in May). The adult female perched nearby on a sapling Maple and they had two juveniles (one male, one female) with them. It will be interesting to see if any of them stay through the winter.

...

kimmarie :)
Buffalo/Varysburg, Western NY

From: KCBSP"at"aol.com [mailto:KCBSP"at"aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 11:45 PM
Subject: Re: Sept. fledglings

Sherry,

They should be just fine .  It's warm even though it was 58 degrees; the spring is much colder.  Just sit back and enjoy.   The birds have been doing this for a long time.  You are a good monitor!

Kathy Clark, New Cumberland, PA

From: Pamela Ford [mailto:jpford"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 11:46 PM
Subject: questions re: first egg laid today

I have a question for bluebirders in my general area. (I’m in Maryland) My backyard female just laid the first egg of her third nesting today. And, while I have had many third nestings, I’ve not seen a first egg laid this late. I’m curious as to the experience of others in this region. This pair has fledged 8 so far this year (5 eggs started April 8, 3 fledged May 16 for the first nesting – 5 eggs started June 2, 5 fledged July 8 for the second nesting)

Here is the list of my trail and backyard latest first egg dates by year.

2000 7/10
2001 7/11
2002 7/1
2003 7/1
2004 7/6
2005 7/8
2006 7/28

Looking forward to your comments.

Pam in Harford County Maryland

[Note from webmaster: Also see related posts under Timetable]

From: Diane Seward [mailto:trina65"at"verizon.net]
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 8:30 AM
Subject: Re: [MdBluebird] questions re: first egg laid today

Pam,

I distinctly remember a clutch of nestlings that fledged in late August six or seven years ago. But I did not keep a record, or even know, of the first egg date, because the nest was in a neighbor's box, and I discovered the nestlings to my great surprise in mid-August. The latest first-egg date on my suburban trail this year was July 13.

Diane Seward
Potomac, Maryland

From: denisefarmer"at"comcast.net [mailto:denisefarmer"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 12:02 PM
Subject: RE: questions re: first egg laid today

Pam,

My nest boxes in Columbia (for me a second nesting, but for all I know could be the pairs third nesting) had the first eggs laid July 14th and should hatch on Monday. Since this is my first year, that is all the records I have so not much help. I know the momma bird is active at both nests so things seem to be going well. I have never seen the dads as of yet.

Denise

Hi!

I have a late nesting this year, too. I monitored my trail on July 22rd and there was a box with a completed nest in it. A week later there were 4 EABL eggs in it, for a third nesting in this box. If the first egg was laid the next day, they are due to hatch August 9th. We had some very hot weather for a long time during this incubation time, so later this week, I will find out if the eggs hatch or not.

Mary Roen, River Falls, WI

This morning the female was not going in and out of the nestbox to feed. I checked the the box and found the babies fledged sometime early this morning. This was my second successful nesting this season (and my first season to have a nestbox) and both nestings ended w/ single parents. This second nesting fledged two girls and a boy! I'm a little sad to see them go, knowing this is the last nesting for me this year. Oh, well, gotta go out and clean out the nestbox.

Cindy Groene
South Lyon, MI

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