NESTING TIMETABLE

Also see Eggs, Infertile Eggs, and Nests

Let's assume it takes four days to build a bluebird nest. Then she begins laying a clutch of four eggs right away. That's four more days. Incubation may take 11 days. Nestling time, let's say, 17 days. 4 + 4 + 11 + 17 = 36 days start to finish.....here at our Joplin, (sw) Missouri latitude. Usually there seems to be a delay in egg laying start, and 18 days is often the time in the nest, so up to 40 days would not be stretching it either. So, 36 to 40 days... Good birding, Larry H. Joplin Mo.

From: Bruce Burdett [mailto:blueburd"at"tds.net]
Sent: Friday, May 21, 2004 1:23 PM
Subject: 0,3,5,8,10,13,16, + days.

The best clear, closeup photographs I've seen of Bluebird chicks at various ages are in Dorene Scriven's book "Bluebird Trails," on pages 94 through 98. Days 8, 10, 13, and 16 show the birds in the palm of the photographer's hand, or possibly an assistant's hand. Photos are by Dick Peterson himself. These photos are a good quick reference for anyone interested in knowing the age of chicks in his boxes. Bruce Burdett SW NH

From: "Glenn Williams"
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 11:01 AM
Subject: Re: Day 6 pictures AMAZING!! Enjoy!!

... I need to ask you for some advice. At what day in development, in your valued opinion, do you feel I would be taking a risk of causing an early fledging when I open the box front for the daily photo???

From: "Bruce Burdett"
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 3:11 PM
Subject: Re: Day 6 pictures AMAZING!! Enjoy!!

Glenn, The number of days I see most often in my books is 14. After 14 days, most experienced Bluebirders advise against opening the > box for fear of causing "premature fledging," that is, fledging before the young birds are sufficiently feathered to permit their first flight up into the trees. I have even seen a few who would put the number at 12 or 13. If a young bird fledges before it can really fly on an upward trajectory, chances are that it will end up on the ground, or too low to be safe from predation. It is my experience that normal fledging takes place between the 16th and the 21st day, the 18th being about the average. The exact day will vary with the environmental conditions around the nestbox: wind, weather, temperature, dampness, stress, etc.I hope that others will chime in here with their own opinions on the matter. > > Bruce Burdett, SW N

From: Robert Barnett [mailto:bobbarnett"at"att.net]
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 12:41 AM
Subject: New Member. A question!

While I have not maintained a bluebird trail recently, I earlier had 4-7 boxes for nearly 10 years in a rural location; I was not able to accurately estimate the time required for bluebird chicks to fledge (meaning to actually leave the box). I believe it is about 14-16 days. Is there a concensus opinion on this interval? Thanks for an opinion, and even more for a source citation on the issue!

Robert Barnett
Suburban Birmingham, AL...

From: Bruce Burdett [mailto:blueburd"at"tds.net]
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 9:25 AM
Re: About 18, maybe, more or less.

Robert, et al, The books which I consult, and I now have 7, suggest that Bluebird chicks leave the nest at an average age of 18 days. Some say a little earlier, and some say a little later, but 18 seems to be about the average. I hope that others will contribute other opinions. Glenn Williams' chicks certainly seem to be about on schedule for 18 days, though weather conditions can either slow the process or speed it up. Bruce Burdett, SW NH

From: ke4fej1 [mailto:ke4fej1"at"email.msn.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 11:26 AM
Re: About 18, maybe, more or less.

Hi All, Down here in So FL... I find out of our 350 plus nestling so far this year, that they almost always fledge by day 18. I only remember listing fledging at day 20. We did have some bad weather going on then, but I think possibly the Monitor did not have the right hatch date down. That long fledging seems so unusual. Eighteen day count is used in our breeding formula, and seems to be true, but I also am seeing that nests are being reported as to hatching in 12 days and fledging in 16 many many more times right now. I did not see that last year. ... Christy Sarasota, FL

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 8:00 AM
RE: New Member. A question!

It is 16 to 21 days. Mine average 17 days. You can go to www.labayoubluebirdsociety.org and click on the "Information And Education" section and see the Nesting Schedule for EABL and it gives all kinds of good information. It is taken from Bird Watchers Digest. Evelyn Cooper Delhi, LA

From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [mailto:txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 10:41 AM
Subject: cowbird growth and bluebird fledge times Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas

Good answers everyone for the "new Member" questions on fledge times! Bluebirds are three different species and they nest in MANY different parts of the country and they have young in the boxes from February till Sept. somewhere. Day length and available insects determine the amount of growth of these young birds because the more hours they are fed the quicker they can mature. Optimal heat conditions for these baby birds will mean that they put more of the food into body growth and not into panting or shivering. The babies are cold blooded for the first days so it also depends on the female and her brooding the young to help keep the young birds at an optimum temperature early in their lives so that they can digest the food correctly or most efficiently. Weather sometimes plays a role on fledge times when the young seem to leave the nest just before a bad storm and others seem to wait a day or two for it to quit raining. I always felt that if the birds had left the nest before day 15 that something scared the adults into calling the young from the nestbox or something actually caught the baby birds out of the box. It seems strange to me when the far northern nestbox monitors report later fledge dates than some of the southern nestbox monitors when our hours of day light along the gulf coast states are less than say New York. So it makes sense that temperature plays a bigger role in growth rates than hours of daylight. Maybe Cornell will do temperature studies on the young birds when they finish with the incubation temperature study on eggs. In other words we really don't know why some of these birds fledge when they do! ....

From: Haleya Priest [mailto:mablue"at"gis.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 8:03 PM
Subject: Re: bluebird eggs hatching time

Haleya Priest Amherst MA
     Hi Karen, I usually count day one as the next day after the last egg – ie that is 24 hrs worth of incubating. So today by my count is 19 days. They can take this long. I'd give it a few more days – it has been hot, etc  so she might not be sitting on them as much. I hope to hear good news tomorrow!!!!!! I definitely wouldn't give up yet. :-) H

From: Dottie Roseboom [mailto:rosedot"at"mtco.com] Sent: Friday, July 23, 2004 12:21 AM To: allengang7"at"comcast.net; Bluebird-L Subject: Re: bluebird eggs hatching time Hi Karen, If the female is waiting, I would too. (hard to wait, isn't it, when we really want to see those cute little faces?) Do you think that the female actually started incubating as soon as the last egg was laid? Some blues will take several days "off", after the eggs are laid, while other females start incubating the night before the last egg is laid. Last year, a friend had bluebird eggs to take 21 days to hatch. Maybe an unusual start, but the nestlings developed normally. Dottie Roseboom Peoria IL (central - zone 5)

From: DottyRogers"at"netscape.net [mailto:DottyRogers"at"netscape.net]
Sent: Friday, July 23, 2004 11:13 AM
RE: bluebird eggs hatching time

Hi Karen: We've experienced this a good couple of times -- and with both 1st & 2nd broods. If the eggs are non-viable, she'll give up in abit & leave of her own accord. We've never done anything except clean the box when she's finished, whichever way it goes. Sterile eggs do seem to be more common with 2nd and 3rd clutches? Getting toward the end of breeding season. Best of luck, Dot; NE MAss

From: Dottie Roseboom [mailto:rosedot"at"mtco.com]
Sent: Friday, July 23, 2004 2:39 PM
Subject: Not hatching

Dot, Did you by chance, open the eggs before you disposed of the nests? Sorry, if this sounds morbid, but if nestlings were being formed, you would know that the parents were not sterile. If no development had occurred, perhaps one of the parents could be sterile, or the eggs froze before she began incubation. (In case of freezing temps, I remember reading about using a Styrofoam sheet inside the nestbox - to cover eggs over night) I was also thinking that if embryos were present, that to lose an entire nest, might signify that a predator (house sparrow, snake, raccoon, etc) had interfered at some point with the mother's ability to keep the eggs warm. Hopefully, losing an entire clutch of eggs does not occur very often. I think that the proposed egg study may give us some good data on how & why this happens. Dottie Roseboom Peoria IL (central - zone 5)

From: BKeane64"at"aol.com [mailto:BKeane64"at"aol.com]
Sent: Friday, August 06, 2004 9:22 PM
Subject: Re: Third nesting

Hi All ,

My concern today is . My blue birds finished hatching on July 26th . So that makes the four of them 12 days old today . This is the last day I plan on opening the box and checking in on them . Which I did . One was looking right at me when I opened the door . I took several photos while the dad yelled at me . I quickly close the door and left the area .
I live in Gales Ferry , CT . It it very chilly tonite and will be in the 72 range for the next several days . But its about 50 tonite . Does the mom still go into the nest with the babies .

...

B Keane
Gales Ferry , CT

From: Haleya Priest [mailto:mablue"at"gis.net]
Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2004 12:08 AM
Subject: Re: Third nesting

Haleya Priest
No – after 7 days they don't brood at night. But not to worry. I think they'll be just fine. They are covered in some of the best feathers around! There very own down comforters. :-) H

My bluebirds seem to operate on a rule of 17. 

17 days from first egg laid to hatching (regardless of number of eggs laid)
17 days from hatching to fledging

For this brood, egg laying started on 7/4

The babies hatched on 7/20 and 7/21

They fledged 8/6 and 8/7

I think that Haleya mentioned that 17 is the most common number for her also.

Pam in Harford County Maryland

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2004 12:16 PM
Subject: RE: Third nesting bluebirds fledged - rule of 17
The majority of mine do 17 also.
Evelyn

From: Lawrence Herbert
To: BLUEBIRD
Subject: watched EABL fledge

Mark and I checked our bluebird houses at the Southeast Kansas Nat. Ctr., Cherokee County, Kansas. As we arrived at Box #02 they were fledging. We had the opportunity to watch two of them make their maiden voyage. We waited for a half an hour and there was no further activity so I decided to approach the box to see if they were all gone. The parents scolded me big time! So we left without further disturbing at least one more critter within. According to my records the four were fledging at Day 18. Good birding, Larry H. Joplin MO.

From: Dottie Roseboom [mailto:rosedot"at"mtco.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 11:09 PM
e: watched EABL fledge

Congratulations! It's always fun to see the babies take the maiden voyage. This year, all of my bluebirds fledged on Day 18. Dottie Roseboom Peoria IL (central - zone 5) NABS member

From: David Middleton Edelen II [mailto:k98"at"bellsouth.net]
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2005 7:57 AM
Subject: 4 eggs now

Hello all,
I checked my BB box yesterday and there are now four eggs now. I wonder if she will lay anymore? Now I must go to that site or link that has a chart telling how long until hatching and then how long until they leave the nest.
Dave
Millbrook, Al.

That chart is easily found at www.labayoubluebirdsociety.org and click on
the left side on "Education and Information". There is a chart put out by
Bird Watchers Digest. You can print it out.

Evelyn Cooper

From: Trish Culpepper [mailto:trishkcully"at"earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 11:27 AM
Subject: Question about EABL and first nest of the Spring...

Trish Culpepper - Frankston, TX

I posted about a week or so ago that momma and papa EABL built a nest in one of our BB houses. I've been checking almost every day and so far no eggs have been laid. Seems to me, this is a fairly early nest building compared to last year. My question....is it unusual for EABL to wait a week or so to lay an egg in a new nest. I've also wondered if maybe they have abandoned the nest . That particular box is very close to an established Mockingbird area, so perhaps they chased the BBs off ???

Trish,

I'd give them time, as this has happened to me in the past. Sometimes the weather cools off, and they wait for the egg laying to begin. You may also be correct about the mockingbird problem. If this is the case, they may eventually relocate and build a nest in another one of your nestboxes. I've also had this situation! But, it's too soon to give up on the current nest.

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

From: mrtony8 [mailto:philip.berry"at"mchsi.com]
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 12:17 PM
Subject: Re: Question about EABL and first nest of the Spring...

they often do so on my trail. i have 25 completed, empty nests right now. they get the building process out of the way early and then wait until ???? before laying eggs. Speculation runs rampant, but it may be that the food source they need is not available right now. My back yard bb's are not even excited over free mealworms. In any event, it is not unusual for a doen boxes or so to start incubation on the same day, and we will have all those boxes then fledge on the same or near the same day. Who knows why?
Phil Berry
Gulf Breeze, Florida

It was a beautiful day yesterday, all day long we had SUNSHINE! I saw the bluebirds on the patio in the morning, but haven't seen them since. Dang! I was sure they were waiting for sunshine to complete one of the nests that they started weeks ago.

My question: has anyone ever had bluebirds nest a month late? I keep having the feeling that they are nesting elsewhere in the neighborhood, but they have been spending most of every day here.

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

From: bluebirdsnbirdfeeders"at"gmail.com [mailto:bluebirdsnbirdfeeders"at"gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2006 7:27 AM
Subject: Re: I have a nest on my trail - How long for eggs?

I have the same thing happening. The Bluebirds built a nest about a week ago. I think they might not be laying eggs due to the fact that there are tree swallows wanting the box also. I put up another box and the tree swallows took it. So, I hoping that the Bluebirds will lay their eggs soon.
I am still wondering though why the Bluebirds are delaying? They have claimed the box for about a month already.

Daniel from
...
Ephrata, PA 17522

From: denisefarmer"at"comcast.net [mailto:denisefarmer"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2006 8:03 PM
Subject: RE: I have a nest on my trail - How long for eggs?

Daniel,

I am wondering if it is due to our cold weather still. It is still getting quite chilly here at night and we are barely getting into the 60's during the day. Plus, without rain (we are already 4" short for the year) there may not be enough bugs to eat for them to start nesting

Denise

From: bluebirdsnbirdfeeders"at"gmail.com [mailto:bluebirdsnbirdfeeders"at"gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 8:26 AM
Subject: Re: I have a nest on my trail - How long for eggs?

Hello Denise,

We haven't been having that cold of weather. Mid 50's at night & 70's in the day. I guess bugs could be a factor although we do have things planted in our garden and they are nesting right by the garden. And we always have plenty of bugs in the garden... Your idea of lack of rain seems to hold some water. I guess I'll just wait and see....
Daniel Smoker
Ephrata, PA 17522

This has been a crazy, delayed nesting season this year. I have had partial nests in both of the nestboxes in my garden, which have been almost completed as of last weekend. We still see the male fighting off other males, and I suspect we've had a changing of the guard, since the current male is more colorful than the one I first saw hanging around. He continues to peck at the windows at dawn, however!

Another new problem to me is a scrub jay sitting on the nestboxes. I've never had a jay in my yard other years, and this one scares off the bluebirds. The female was entering the one nestbox this morning with a beakful of grass, and shortly after that the jay landed on the box. The bluebirds flew off.

Last evening I went to my neighbors' home to ask about their nestbox, which was taken by TRES last year. They reported they have seen a pair of bluebirds perched on the box and looking into it. My neighbor said he looked in it this weekend and there was a "piece of straw" in the box! While I was there, a pair appeared and one entered the box!

Don't know if we suddenly have an increase in the population, or one very indecisive pair building all over the neighborhood.

The jay concerns me. I do have a wooden predator guard on the front of both nestboxes, and I keep an eye on the depth of the nest. Last year we lost eggs to an avian predator, which I believe was a Starling that was here eating the plums in the preserve. I saw him on the nestbox. Does a Scrub Jay have the same reach capabilities as the Starling?

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

From: BowmanMail"at"aol.com [mailto:BowmanMail"at"aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 4:39 PM
Subject: Re: Nesting delays

Generally, how long does it take cavity nesting birds to build a nest? And then how long until the first egg is laid? I can find info about number of days birds incubate and number of days to fledge but nothing on the number of days to build a nest.

Nancy Bowman
Central New Jersey

From: Lynn Emerich [mailto:lemerich"at"epix.net]
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 5:14 PM
Subject: Re: Nesting delays

I don't think there is a set time limit. Bluebirds in my back yard box took well over two weeks to build the nest. The worked a short time each day. To me it looked finished, but evidently they didn't think so. I was at least another week before they laid the first egg. Now at 5 eggs and setting for a few days. Last year they were much earlier, laid 5 eggs twice, which all disappeared. Then the blues disappeared.
I think much has to do with the weather, which may limit feeding for them.

Lynn near Bernville PA.

From: Mary Clare [mailto:maryclare"at"cox.net]
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 11:43 PM
Subject: Ready to leave nest?

I have heard tiny cheeps from the bluebird box.
The parents are bringing in mealworms and insects they catch.

How long will it usually take from this stage until they are ready
to leave the nest?

The box is too high in a tree for us to look inside.

Thanks-
Mary Clare
Escondido, CA

From: lviolett [mailto:lviolett"at"earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 1:14 AM
Subject: Re: Ready to leave nest?

Hard to say when your chicks will fledge.

Nestlings can't eat mealworms for the first few days, they eat tiny soft insects and spiders. At this stage their tiny peeps are similar to the tiny sounds made by Cedar Waxwings. As the chicks get older, their peeps become stronger and their fecal sacks become larger.

If you know when parents started taking mealworms to the box, it will be about 16 to 18 days later.

You need to purchase a copy of the Bluebird Monitor's Guide. Amazon.com has copies for great prices.

Good luck!!!!

Linda Violett
Yorba Linda, Calif.

> What do I do? According to my log, the bluebird pair had a completed nest on
> April 9, and a partial nest in the second nest box in my yard. (The nestboxes
> are too close for two pair, but they sometimes change boxes for the second or
> third clutch.)
>
> They are here daily, chasing other birds, feeding, and the male pecking at his
> reflection in the window. Occasionally I see the female carry in another blade
> of grass to the one box. Sometimes I see them sitting on the second box, too.
>
> Are they serious about breeding, or just practicing? I've never had this happen
> before -- never had two completed nests and never had such a long lag between
> nest completion and egg laying. I don't want to remove the nest/nests if there
> is still hope for eggs, but there are other pairs around and they may take one
> of the boxes and actually breed if it is empty.
>
> I've had bluebirds nesting for over a dozen years, and this is a first! Could
> it be our weird weather?
>
> Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

Hi Barbara,
I have a pair in Georgia that finally just started incubating after building and abandoning 3 different nests for no apparent reason (no HOSP, wrens etc). Here in northern VA a pair is just now laying (at 4 eggs today). They may have nested somewhere else but they've been seen daily at this box since late March. The weather has been mild if slightly rainy in both locations.

Have the eggs been in the nest since April 9?

Rob Barron

Hi Rob, and List,

The two nests have been complete, but there have never been any eggs. Even checked this AM and still not a one. Both nests have been complete for over and month, and the pair still visit both nestboxes and sometimes add another piece of grass. They chase other birds away, and there are other WEBL pairs in the area still looking.

I'm blaming the weather, but I'm really perplexed. How long do I leave the empty nests there?

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

That sure is strange. I'm no expert, but I'd leave the nests there as long as the pair is hanging around.

It probably depends on a variety of factors: weather and day length (stimulating hormones etc.), food availability (if they sense there is enough for babies that need to be fed every 15-30 minutes, also whether searching for food takes them away from nest building – TRES may abandon nests for days and fly 20 miles away looking for food), availability of nesting material, competition (e.g., harassment), and experience (what I assume are older birds that show up early in the season seem to build “better” nests fairly quickly), whether both male and female build the nest (enables HOSP to build one fast), species (including fussiness. E.g., TRES only build during the morning), whether they have to excavate their own cavity (puny chickadees actually can!), synchronicity (whether nearby pairs lay eggs around the same time, perhaps so they can migrate together), and or course what type of nest they make (e.g., HOSP filling with trash is easier).

Black-capped chickadee: Excavation: Both the male and female are involved in excavation, which can take 7-10 days.

Nest construction: 3-4 days up to 2 weeks. Only the female builds the nest, which is fairly complex, starting with coarse material like moss, pine needles, or strips of bark as a foundation. Then it is lined with softer material such as animal fur/wool/hair (rabbit, deer, dog), downy plant fibers (e.g., cattails), spider webs, insect cocoons or feathers. Cup is about 1" deep. Both chickadees and titmice will use dog/animal fur offered in a suet cage.

Egg laying: Mid-April to early July. Usually 1-2 days after nest construction.

Eastern Bluebird (in CT) Nest building 2-6 days. Egg laying: 5-7 days. Usually laying one per day, for a total of 4-7 eggs. Often start egg laying a few days after nest is completed. Egg laying can be delayed (sometimes for a week or two - 3 weeks is not unheard of) in cold weather, for young parents, or in cases where food is scarce.

Tree Swallows: Nest building begins in April-early May. It can take 2-4 weeks, and is done only by the female, and usually only during the morning. May be quite a gap for egg laying, but it is usually done synchronously with neighbors – i.e., neighbors lay within 7-10 days of each other (sometimes just 1-2 days apart!)

Bet from CT

Hi Barbara,
We're also in California and it has been weird. I'm just getting eggs this
last week, some of the nests have been active at least since April. I did
remove one nest that appeared inactive and by the next week they had built
another one so I think you're okay either way.
Erin
Riverside, CA

Finally! My husband checked both nestboxes just now, and there is an egg in box #1. I checked yesterday, and both boxes had complete nests, but no eggs.

According to my log, nestbuilding started April 1. By April 9, the nest in box #1 was complete, with a well-formed cup. By April 20, both nests appeared complete, but the female was still in and out of both boxes carrying grass.

Very strange situation, as I saw the female exit box #2 this morning. Guess she's really indecisive, or very territorial. I had assumed they were nesting in a cavity in the preserve, since I have observed them mating the past few days and there were no eggs in the nests here. I'm pleased that they chose a box, but really perplexed by the lag in the nesting process.

The preserve has several varieties of woodpeckers and a pair of crows that nest there every year, as well as several feral cats, so it is probably not the safest place. On the other hand, it would be cooler for them in the trees. It isn't really too hot here yet, but it won't be long before the temperatures really rise. I will insulate the box when it does heat up.

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

From: lviolett [mailto:lviolett"at"earthlink.net]
Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2006 3:09 PM
Subject: Re: Egg Laying w/Nestlings

This morning another checkup was made at the box where a new clutch of Bluebird eggs was being laid before the previous Bluebird clutch had fledged yesterday. Yes, another egg was laid today.

Has anyone else ever witnessed (or heard of) new Bluebird eggs being laid in a box alongside chicks approaching their fledge date? This was a first for me.

Linda Violett
Yorba Linda, Calif.

I have never heard of that, but I did see my backyard female start another nest
four days before her present brood fledged and it was finished and she started
laying the day after they fledged.

Evelyn

Eastern bluebird timetable (typical)

Egg laying: 5-7 days. Usually laying one per day, for a total of 4-7 eggs. Often start egg laying a
few days after nest is completed. Egg laying can be delayed (sometimes for a week or two - 3 weeks
is not unheard of) in cold weather, for young parents, or in cases where food is scarce.
In Connecticut, the first egg is generally laid in April.

Incubation: 12-14 days. Doesn't start until all eggs are laid. They may wait about a week if weather
is still cold. When incubating the mother spends a lot of time on the nest. However, during hot
weather she may be in and out a lot.

Fledging: 16-21 days, typically 17-18. When they are first born, they look "a bit like hairy
shrimp." Insect availability may speed up or delay fledging. Once they leave the nest, they do not
return to it. When the babies are 28 days old, they can fly well. They can feed themselves by Day
30.

Bet from CT

From: bridget mcgann [mailto:lilbmcg"at"gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 12:12 PM
Subject: Bluebird season schedule

Hey all,

I am rather new at all this and I am not familiar with the frequency/timing of nesting habits for bluebirds. I was told they can next up to 2-3 times a season...I had some boxes up this season and got 1 pair of TRES but nothing else and I think I sort of assumed it was too late now for bluebitds but I recently read that someone saw some bluebirds checking out their box. I am wondering if there is a timeframe for, you know, the "next round" that I can look for. My geographic location is northern Indiana, just N/E of South Bend, near the MI border. I *think* someone may have posted a link to a website that had some info on this but I am not sure....Any info would be appreciated! :)

Bridget McGann
Granger, IN

From: mrtony8 [mailto:philip.berry"at"mchsi.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 5:13 PM
Subject: Re: Bluebird season schedule

they will indeed do three broods per year. i live in NW FLorida, and we are well into the third brood now. You may be a month or so behind, with two months to go they have plenty of time.
Phil Berry
Gulf Breeze, Florida

From: KimMarie Markel [mailto:auroramn"at"verizon.net]
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 5:58 PM
Subject: Re: Bluebird season schedule

Here in my small section of Western NY it's been a tough season for Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows. A cold snap and House Wren harrassment (where there shouldn't be any) resulted in 3 TRES and 1 EABL nesting failures (I only have 6 boxes up at this time). But a week and a half ago we had a male EABL show up - this past weekend he was joined by a female. I'm hopeful that they will settle on a box soon.

I had the same thing happen last year, a "bachelor male" showed up in early June (it appeared that he "bonded" to this one particular box), finally after 3 weeks, he attracted a female in late June and they successfully raised one brood of young that fledged. Also last year we had a pair that raised 3 broods! The last nesting for them was started in late July. So there is still time for nesting activity depending on where you are.

kimmarie :)
Buffalo/Varysburg, Western NY

I have 4 lines going. My A-line with 12 nestboxes became active all at once fledging a lot of bluebirds within a short period of time. The other 3 lines were slow to start but each has fledged Western Bluebirds. As the bluebirds finish their first brood, many of the boxes are taken over by Tree Swallows. At this time, Literally all of the A-line boxes have been active, but only one remains so, with a Tree Swallow nest. I now have only one Western Bluebird nest with eggs.
Oddly enough, the other lines are going full tilt. It just goes to show you that you can't predict which boxes will be used or when they'll be needed. I wouldn't be afraid to put up boxes now. Whether they get used all depends on the cavity nesting population's thirst for housing in your area in June.

Mike on a trail in Milpitas

Hello everyone.....I'm a newbie here, and I have a question.
My family and I recently put up a bluebird box on our property and within a week we had a male perching on top of it frequently, and then after two weeks there was a pair....and then the next thing we know they build a nest......hoooray....beginners luck.......but it's been just over a week and we have not seen the female, and there are no eggs in the nest......the male still frequents our yard and perches nearby, but
no sign of the female. I've read that the female may have been killed,
or that she has selected another location, or that she will return and then start laying eggs. My question is: what do we do now??? how long do we wait to clear out the nest????......and should we do anything differently????
thanks in advance for any advice!!!!

VERN-O
Upstate, NY

For the first brood, the pair in my yard took a few weeks to perfect the nest and finally start laying eggs. They worked on nests in two boxes the second time, and finally settled on one.

IF the female is gone, perhaps the male is trying to attract another female to the nest. I suggest you wait a while, I don't think it hurts to leave a clean unused nest in the box. It's the used, dirty ones that have to be cleaned out.

Donna

I agree with Donna. I live a lot of my life in upstate NY (oneida and Schoarie conties). It wasn't at all for first inexperienced pairs to build their first nest into mid July (probably because their parents, aunts and uncles claimed all the existing nest boxes). I'd give it a while and see if the female comes back or the male finds a new mate.
An unused nest will give them a jump start. Just my opinion; Bluebirds don't all behave by the rules in the books.

Rob Barron
Warrenton, Virginia

From: JBrindo"at"aol.com [mailto:JBrindo"at"aol.com]
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 11:31 AM
Subject: my curiosity leads me to ask

Last evening as I was walking my BB trail up here in beautiful northeastern Ohio. I looked up and noticed the moon in the low eastern sky. For no other reason then appeasing my inquisitive curiosity, and the privilege of connecting with people like all of you with your tremendous resource of knowledge and experience, has anyone ever read or heard of how the moon phase affects BB egg laying?
Thank you! Jay

Hey Jay,

As far as I know, the moon is a valuable orientation point for true migratory birds, which most people don't consider Bluebirds to be. I believe their egg laying is more related to photoperiod signaling correct warmth, availability of insect food etc. Many northern Bluebirds seem to push it and suffer low reproduction succes from hypothermia, lack of insect food etc. in their first nesting attempt.
Until we can speak Bluebird, we'll never know for sure.

It's a romantic notion though, and yes, the moon was incredible last night.

Thanks,
Rob Barron
Warrenton, Virginia

From: doogelbery"at"aol.com [mailto:doogelbery"at"aol.com]
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 12:25 AM
Subject: Re: Blue birds building nest in Beltsville, Maryland (near DC)

I am a novice, with only one Blue bird box on the back of the mailbox and another one around back that seems to attract HOSP, so I use that one for trapping.
I had Tree Swallows that just fledged a couple weeks ago and I cleaned the box.
This weekend I have a nice looking pair of Blue Birds building a nest in the box.
I guess the end of July is not too late for them this far north to go for it?
Doug

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
I was reading a report last month from New Mexico dated a couple of years ago where bluebirds began nest building in Oct. Every expert told the people the birds were just "practicing" for the next year.

On Thanksgiving week these birds "practice nest" fledged young bluebirds. I guess they went on to "real" nest building the next spring! KK

From: Autumn L. Kruer [mailto:autumnk"at"iglou.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 10:12 AM
Subject: RE: BB Numbers

I usually get my first nest fledging around the second week of May and I’ve had them build new nests and fledge as late as mid-late August. I’ve noticed the last nest usually contains a lot of dogwood seeds when I clean it out.

Autumn in Kentucky

On Mon 24 Jul 2006 at 00:25, "Doug" <doogelbery"at"aol.com> wrote, in part:
> ... I have a nice looking pair of Blue Birds building a nest in the
> box. I guess the end of July is not too late for them this far north
> to go for it?

Not late at all, Doug. I'm just a few miles south of you and often see third nestings about now. Finish the clutch in the first week of August, incubate for two weeks, feed nestlings for three weeks and fledge around the middle of September while it's still warm during the day and comfortable at night. I haven't seen a third nesting fail due to cold weather.

Enjoy!

R J 'Tree' Greenwood
Catlett VA

From: Lynn Ward [mailto:lWard"at"pmai.org]
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 4:32 PM
Subject: RE: BB Numbers

I had bluebirds fledge Labor Day weekend last year...that's about as late as it ever happens here in the north.

Lynn Ward
Parma, Michigan

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