Number of Broods per Year (Part 2)

From: Tina Wertz [mailto:tinawertz"at"bellsouth.net]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 7:53 AM
Subject: 4th Brood

I had a pair of bluebird that just fledged their 3rd brood 8 days ago.
In the beginning the female was participating in the feeding process of the young. These last few days, only the male bluebird has shown up with the babies to feed them, and the female will show up by herself to feed and then she is off. Is there a possibility that she is starting another nest cycle? Do bluebird have 4 broods?

Just out of curiosity, how long do the fledglings stay with the parents?
And how long before they molt into their adult plumage?

Tina Wertz
Woodstock, Ga.

They most certainly do have four broods. If you are still seeing her, then all is well. It certainly sounds like she is busying herself with something.
This is rather late, but she could already have a nest built with eggs in it. I had an egg in #9 yesterday. That will put them the last of August or first of September fledging, the latest ever for me.

Evelyn Cooper
Delhi, LA

From: bookfanaticef-bluebird"at"yahoo.com [mailto:bookfanaticef-bluebird"at"yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 1:21 PM
Subject: Re: 4th Brood

Many of the bluebirds nesting in the boxes I check are color-banded, but so far I don't think I have any completely confirmed records of a 4th nesting. At least, not where in all the previous nestings the same exact pair was successful in raising a nest to fledging, then independence. Three broods by the same pair is not unknown, though.

I do have some records of what I believe is the same pair making 4 nest *attempts*. In some cases, one or both of the pair was unbanded, so there is not 100% certainty that it was the same exact bird for each nesting, as it could have been a different unbanded bird for a subsequent nesting, but it is likely (at least in some cases) that it was the same bird, based on some behavioral quirks.

IN the pairs making a possible 4th nest attempt, at least one, sometimes a 2nd, nest was often lost early, usually before the eggs even hatched, or sometimes before the chicks were very old. IN other cases, where they actually probably fledged nestlings successfully, I don't think those kids survived to reach an age of independence, and may not have even lived long beyond leaving the nest. I saw one pair with 2 eggs in their box less than a week after the previous kids fledged, and the male, who should have been off feeding & leading the kids around, was guarding the box and his mate with no sight or sound of begging fledges anywhere around on that or any other, later occasion (I often don't see the fledglings--if at all--till almost a month after they left the nest, when they're nearing independence, and becoming more conspicuous in their behavior, but I never saw this pair's kids, so I don't know think they made it, tho! ugh they could have).

Also, habitat and resources, especially of food, make a difference in how many broods the birds have. The area where my boxes are in is considered xeric (dry/arid) pine sandhill, and so is not as productive as other, wetter, areas may be. Though such areas exist around the sandhill, near the boxes, it is oak hammock with a dense canopy, and the bluebirds don't enter beyond the very edge. IN areas where there is less food, birds might raise fewer broods.

And of course, some of "my" bluebird pairs may have had more successful nests than I know of because I only know when they nest in the boxes. If they find a natural cavity somewhere, I will likely never know about it.

So if your bluebirds have managed to start a 4th brood, with all their previous broods successfully fledged, then they are lucky birds--and lucky you, who get to watch them! :)
Elizabeth F
Gainesville, FL

Have any banders on here ever banded a pair with four broods in a season?

Kathy Clark, New Cumberland, PA

From: Dottie, Hickory Hollow, Brown County, Indiana [mailto:yumyumkatts"at"voyager.net]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 12:05 PM
To: Bluebird L
Subject: 4th BB Broods

A couple of 4th BB broods was reported in my area last year but, unfortunately, I was not one of them.

Dottie, Hickory Hollow
Brown County, Indiana

Tina and Bluebirdsters:

Here along the Kansas /Missouri latitude where I have studied EABL I have only had 4th brood attempts. Several times over the years a 4th clutch has been deposited only to be abandoned.

The weather would have been ok and insects were plentiful IMO.
Of course I have no way of knowing if something didn't happen to the female.

They just seem to "run out of energy" or the "nesting urge" and go on to the next phase of life I guess.

I don't band anymore, but when I did, I had no successful 4th broods.

Good birding, Larry H. Joplin MO.

Then again, there is also the possibility that something happened to the female parent and that the one now feeding is a "helper."

From: Bill Whittaker [mailto:bwhittaker"at"natureskeepers.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:13 AM
Subject: 4th brood

We have a pair of bluebirds that are just starting their 4th brood (1st egg expected today) after successfully fledging 5 from the first brood on Apr 26, 5 from the second brood on June 11, and 6 from the third brood just fledged on the 23rd. While our BB's are not banded (we keep hoping we will find a bander) they are under daily observation so we are 95% certain they are the same pair. Four broods are not uncommon here. In fact, since we put up our first BB nest boxes 4 years ago, we have had 4 broods the first year, 5 broods the second year, and 6 broods last year (1 nest attempt failed). I agree with Elizabeth, it is all about available nutrition.

W. J. Whittaker
...
Delaware, OH 43015

"our" bluebirds have just started a third nesting, which is a first for us in five years.

in addition, both broods last year and this have had five eggs, all of which apparently fledged successfully.

I realize this is standard for points south of here but does seem somewhat unusual in north central NJ!

And a strange season for me, also. This is the first time ever, in more than a dozen years of being a bluebird landlord, that we have not had a third nesting. Also, since the second week in July we have barely even seen bluebirds in the area. This too is very strange. I don't know if it was the extreme heat, or not, but I haven't seen or heard a bluebird in ages.
Very depressing!

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

I had two clutches of third nestings this year after not having any third
nestings last year and only one third nesting the year before. One clutch
is yet to fledge next week and then that will finish the BB season for me. ...

Dottie, Hickory Hollow
Brown County, Indiana

From: autumnk"at"iglou.com [mailto:autumnk"at"iglou.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2005 7:02 PM
Subject: A good bluebirding year

My third nesting of bluebirds fledged last week without incident, and I'm happy to report that a total of 12 new bluebirds flew from their boxes on my land this year. I pissed around and didn't clean out the
nest until today, knowing it would be the last. Like last year, the
third has some dogwood berry seeds drop out of it. Again, this third nesting group (like the second) has taken to the willows around the
spring right next to the house and sycamore behind the house. I think
the woods just has too many crows, hawks and other predators this late in the summer and mom and dad bluebird have figured the yard area is
much safer. I can hear them calling back and forth when I'm sitting on
the porch.

Autumn in Kentucky

From: KimMarie Markel [mailto:auroramn"at"verizon.net]
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 10:27 PM
Subject: Late Third Brood Hatched August 18

While it is the end of the nesting season for so many birds and birders, my backyard pair has amazed me once again. I was going to tell all of you about this sooner, but wanted to wait and see if they hatched.

Rewind back to April 2005:
This pair originally showed up, started building a nest in one of the backyard boxes (there are 3 boxes, each are 15 feet apart), they left the backyard, abandoning the nest (no eggs) shortly after the TRES showed up, ended up nesting and raising their first brood in a natural cavity (I have a good idea where, one of the neighbors saw them daily).

The pair continued to come back for mealworms to feed their hatchlings (some times 10 trips in 20 minutes), then they brought four fledglings to the backyard in May. In early June, they again built a nest in one of the "tripled" boxes, laid, hatched and fledged 5 BBs (from this second brood, 3 continue to stay in the backyard along with one juvie male from the first brood - 2 BB first brood fledges are still seen by neighbors closer to where they originally hatched).

Then 3 -3 1/2 weeks ago, the female started building a third nest in a box right next to the one previously used, she laid four eggs over a six day period. I confess, I didn't think that any would hatch, but once again I am shown evidence of why I should "never say never". As of today (and I think or maybe 2 hatched yesterday), all 4 eggs have hatched and both parents are feeding them.

This is my first experience with a third brood, and a very late one at that.
I don't know how they will do in the coming weeks (I'm optimistically pessimistic), but this has been a strange summer for us in Western NY (the hottest one in 134 years). Only time will tell, but this pair has proven over the season that they are wonderful parents and we'll do whatever we can to give a helping hand to our "blue neighbors".

"My" nesting season isn't over just yet :-)

kimmarie :)
Buffalo/Varysburg, Western NY

I've also had a late nesting here in central NJ. This is the first time we've had three broods. The first two had five nestlings each and the third has four scheduled to leave in late August..

Werner Lebanon NJ

KimMarie, thanks for your report on the late hatching. What zone are you there in Buffalo? We are zone 6b here in northeastern Maryland.

I just received a report from one of the monitors of the trail I help Paul Kilduff monitor at Oregon Ridge in northern Maryland. There is a new EABL nesting with four eggs that were first laid sometime between August 8 - 11.
This means they should hatch between Aug 25 and 28 and will not fledge until as late as September 14!

I am wondering if the parents will stick with this late nesting as I know that hormone levels drop sharply at this time of year and there is less interest in nesting and raising young. However, it is still a buggy time of year in mid-September in this area and first frost is not usually until late October.

Has anyone else in this general area seen a nesting so late in the season?

Pam in Harford County Maryland

From: Maria Pino [mailto:mfpino"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2005 6:06 PM
Subject: Re: late hatching in NY

I have also had a late nesting. I live in southeastern MA. There are 4 babies approximately 12 days old.

Maria Pino
Norton, MA

From: roy pischer [mailto:tlp4456"at"msn.com]
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2005 6:46 PM
Subject: Re: A really late brood in Maryland

Two of my nest boxes that had four eggs were scheduled to fledge this week.
I checked today, and sure enough, both boxes were empty. One lone egg remained in each box. I have a nest box on our dry creek, that had 2 eggs in it, and one just hatched this week. He's getting very fuzzy, but still very little. The pair that nested in the box in our back yard only fledged two broods and didn't even attempt to rebuild a nest for the 3rd time. It could be the drought. We've been lucky on our farm though, this week we had
3 days of steady rain. My wonderful husband had to take off work today to mow our lawn and my mother's lawn. Suddenly, it's a jungle here! I plan to feed mealworms all winter and put out more nest boxes next spring.
Wonderful hubby bought a 22 to take care of maruading starlings. The Van Ert Trap is still my choice for the evil HOSP.

Trudy Pischer
Willard, MO

From: Bill Whittaker [mailto:bwhittaker"at"natureskeepers.com]
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2005 10:35 PM
Subject: Re: Late hatching

We have a late hatching in central Ohio, however, it is a 4th brood of 3 eggs the last of which hatched the 19th. Late hatchings have been common here the past 4 years

Bill

W. J. Whittaker
4651 Marysville Road
Delaware, OH 43015

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

From: denisefarmer"at"comcast.net [mailto:denisefarmer"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 10:34 PM
Subject: Second nesting?

Hi All,

My BB parents have had an empty box for almost two weeks now and no sign of another nesting. Do you think they will still attempt a second nest or have they moved on? Four babies fledged from this box two weeks ago Friday and I thought they would have started a second nest by now :(

It has been three weeks and a few days since my BB's hatched at work from the butterfly box (which I replaced same day of fledging) and no new nests there either. I thought they might go to the other nest box that was 15 feet away if they didn't like the new box put up in place of the butterfly box but no luck.

Any ideas why neither of my parents have not started a second nest? I guess it is possible they went elsewhere :(

Denise
Parkville, MD

Denise,
Last year I had about 3 weeks between nestings. Just when I had given
up hope they returned. Maybe yours found another nest site or maybe
they'll be back tomorrow. To me, that's the beauty, you just never know.
Phil
Honeoye Falls, NY

I have had my trail for 18 years, and only a couple of times have I had a third brood, so I would say the answer to your question, is for the most part, you will only have 2 broods per season.

Mary Roen, River Falls, WI

From: markmele"at"att.net [mailto:markmele"at"att.net]
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 2:26 PM
Subject: Ready for 3rd brood

All;

Our 4 babies fledged Monday morning and are doing fine. They have been staying close to mom and dad and learning to fly with short 20 yard bursts at low-level. Fun to watch them flap their wings at high speed while only propelling forward at a snails pace. This is the second brood by the same pair that gave us 3 babies from another house in our yard earlier in the season. I mention this because yesterday I cleaned out the recently vacated house plus a house that was abandoned by TRES, and today the same pair of BBs started building in the abandoned TRES house. If they are successful, this would mean 3 broods in 3 different houses by the same pair in the same season. This gets better every year!

Mark - Hillsborough, NJ

Barb wrote: My babies have fledged. Is there time for Mom to lay another batch
in So. IL?

Yes, I have had them nest as late as the last part of August.

Maynard Sumner
Flint, MI

From: emcooper"at"bayou.com [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 5:39 AM
Subject: Re: Heat Shields Up/4th Nesting Cycle

When checking my trail three days ago, I went to #25 to remove the heat shield as she had completed her third cycle with a total of 14 babies. To my utter amazement, I found a complete nest in it. I never ever thought I would see that in my part of the country. I checked it again yesterday and there was a tiny blue egg in it. ....

Anyway, even though I put the solar screen on the box, I plan to take something else to put on top of the roof for added shade today. I have another box with 4 eggs on the third cycle going.

It is supposed to get to 101* today and tomorrow here. It was 99* yesterday. The thermometer in the box said 95*.

....Evelyn, Dehli LA

[subsequent post] To try to help you understand what I meant by a "complete nest", in the latter part of the last nesting cycle and in early fall, I along with many others sometimes see partial nests built. Also, many report the pair going and out of the boxes like they are checking them in the spring.

It is most unusual for me to have a completed nest in this box that has had 3 complete cycles in it. This means a fourth cycle in it and I've never had that happen. It has three eggs as of today. I checked it at 8:20 and the thermometer in it read 100*. I wonder what it got in the hottest part of the day. I will check it tomorrow. I was not able to check it intil just now.

Hubby put a wide piece of styrofoam on top of the box over the solar screen yesterday. We'll see if it helps any.

Our nestbox workshop in Many, LA and our trip to check out Hodges Gardens Bluebird Trail today was a huge success. Wow! to have 24 ladies make nestboxes in the heat (outside in a garage) was something! We tried to get through early this morning. We've been invited back to participate in a Master Gardner's seminar in October.

From: happywebl "at"comcast.net [mailto:happywebl "at"comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2007 9:51 AM
Subject: building second nest

The last couple of days we have seen the adult bluebird pair carrying grass to the second nestbox in our yard. They are feeding the chicks, of course, who are about one week out of the nest now. One of the chicks ventured into our yard alone last evening when we were on the porch with neighbors!

It's interesting to me that they change nestboxes sometimes. At my previous home they ALWAYS used the same nestbox, but here they move back and forth from one to the other.

The Acorn Woodpeckers are still feeding chicks in their natural cavity. Gotta love spring!

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

BEST OF BLUEBIRD_L CLASSIFIEDS HOME | Audubon Society of Omaha | The Bluebird Box | Bluebird FAQs | Search | Contact me

All material was originally posted on the Bluebird_L or Bluebird mailing list, and has been reposted here with slight modifications to make the posts more readable in an HTML format.  In cases in which quoted material has been deleted to save space, this is indicated by an ellipsis (...)

For more information about Bluebird_L, check out http://www.cit.corn.edu/cit-pubs/email/using-lists/index.htm. If you wish to contact the author of a post, you will need to edit the e-mail address, replacing "at" with the "at" symbol (above the number 2 on your keyboard). (This change was made to discourage spammers.)

If you are the author of a posting and would like to see a particular post (or posts) removed from these web pages, please contact me with the web page address, title of post, and date and time of the post(s), and I will remove whatever material you like.  If you have a different opinion from one posted here, you need not contact me, as often I will have a different opinion too. The intent is to try and provide both sides to the issues facing bluebirders, and to do so in an impartial and objective manner.

If you have problems, encounter broken links (unless they are within an e-mail thread, as I do not maintain those links), or have suggestions on how the site can be improved to make it more useful, please contact the Best of Bluebird-L Classifieds webmaster. 

Website design by Chimalis