Widows and Widowers of the Nestbox

From: "College Town" collegetown"at"I-55.com
To: "Blue Birds" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Mommy is definitely missing!!!
Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2002 08:39:15 -0500

Hi. Well, I have been watching and there is still no sign of the female bb. It has been 2 full days. I watched yesterday evening and got up around 5:30 this morning to see if I would see her. No sign.

Meanwhile, daddy is working overtime. I have started giving him extra mealworms. Bless his heart, he goes straight from the dish to the nestbox. He use to pick them up and perch somewhere for a few minutes and then bring the mealworms to the babies. He's got 4 mouths to feed.

I am sad about the mother. I do not know what could have happened to her. I do know that there has been a couple of blue jays that have been found dead with the West Nile Virus. One of them was found about 2 miles from here. The health unit is asking everyone to report any dead birds. I told my maintenance man at work today to let me know if he finds any and he said he saw a dead black bird in my parking lot yesterday.

I was happy to read in the Blue Bird Monitor's Guide that it is the male that finds suitable nestingboxes and then tries to encourage the female. Perhaps, he will bring his new bride back here.

Take Care!!!

Kim
Hammond, LA

From: i2luvbirds"at"fuse.net
To: Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: EABL male widower story to share
Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 0:31:29 -0400

My pair of Blues had a second brood, 3 of 5 eggs hatched. Mama Blue disappeared sometime between Saturday (June 29th) and Sunday morning (June 30th), with June 30th being day 15. I'm presuming the worse, as I have not read anything about females abandoning their young.

Papa has been a real trooper; calling continuously for her since then and being a great provider for his 3 nestlings. A new female did show up today...I can tell she is new by her looks. Plus, when she came to the mealworm feeder with him, she did not eat, she totally ignored the feeder and only ate worms that had fallen to the ground.

They had 5 fledge from their first brood and I was hoping some would help Papa feed these guys...but they have not. I have had many occasions over the years where the first or second broods help feed the second or third broods...even take out fecal sacs.

Today, day 17, 2 of the 3 fledged by 7:00 PM. Unfortunately, I had to leave shortly after 7:00 PM and did not get back until well after dark, so I hope #3 fledged safely.

Just wanted to share the story of this dedicated Papa Blue!

Happy Bluebirding,
Edie Lotz
Milford, Ohio (Clermont County)

Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 10:46:16 -0400
To: Bluebird-L Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu
From: Haleya Priest mablue"at"gis.net
Subject: ? about dead mates

Haleya Priest Amherst MA
I am saddened to report the apparent loss of my Mr Bluebird in my yard...... He just never "came home". We've been doing this thing for 4 nesting seasons.... Anyway, Mrs is still incubating. It  has been nearly 24 hrs since I noticed him gone. Will she stay??? I know that if the eggs are hatched there is a good chance a female can raise them single handedly, but didn't know if they were still in egg stage if they'll stay.

I'm on digest so please make sure to send responses directly to me... Thanks, H

Haleya Priest mablue"at"gis.net
The online Bluebird Reference Guide: http://birds.cornell.edu/bluebirds/
Mazzzchusetts Bluebird Association: http://herper.tripod.com/mbahome.html
Cornell's Birdhouse Network: http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/
North American Bluebird Society: http://nabluebirdsociety.org/ 

From: "Paula Ziebarth" PaulaZ"at"columbus.rr.com
To: mablue"at"gis.net, "Bluebird L - List" Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: ? about dead mates
Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 12:31:48 -0400

Paula Ziebarth - Powell, Ohio

I would certainly expect her to stay. She has a vested interest in her eggs and nest. I would suggest supplementing her diet with mealworms if you are not already doing so just to help out. Without papa dropping by to feed her on the nest, the mealworms would be a welcome help.

Sorry to hear about papa. Even with our best efforts, we are bound to lose a few...

----- Original Message -----
From: "Haleya Priest" mablue"at"gis.net
To: "Bluebird-L" Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2002 10:46 AM
Subject: ? about dead mates

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Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 17:45:53 -0400
From: "Pat Haught" PAHaught"at"mail.wvu.edu
To: Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu, mablue"at"gis.net
Subject: Re: ? about dead mates

Hi Haleya and All, We had a pair that raised one brood and had started another. Papa Bluebird disappeared sometime why mom was incubating the eggs. Four chicks hatched on July 4. We lost one of them but don't know why. We found it dead about 20 feet from the box. Anyway, three chicks fledged this week. We've been supplementing her with meal worms, bird treat, and bird grub. She comes in and takes what we put out to the chicks and then sits and stares at us as if asking, "Hey, you guys, I need some more food." This particular nest box is only about 25 feet from our back porch. So, I think that your female will stay with the nest. Pat in WV

Haleya Priest mablue"at"gis.net 07/26/02 11:04 AM
Haleya Priest Amherst MA
I am saddened to report the apparent loss of my Mr Bluebird

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Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 18:50:40 -0800 (PST)
From: Nancy Johnson harrybgtest"at"yahoo.com
Subject: Male missing since Fri. 1st egg day--can female do it alone?
To: Bluebird List Cornell bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu

Nancy in Gainesville, FL
Hi All,

The male EABL that has been coming regularly for mealworms since March 8th hasn't been seen since Fri., when the female laid her first egg. She has come to the porch railing tray for mealworms alone each day and now has 4 eggs. Her nestbox is about 40' away, in sight of the tray.

How many mealworms (large) does she need per day? I've been putting out a dozen 2-3 times a day, but can't watch to see if any other bird is eating them. Once she starts incubating the eggs, should I put mealworms directly into the nestbox with her? We expect temps around freezing tonight in Gainesville, Florida but that should be the last freeze for the year.

If she doesn't find another mate to help her and these eggs hatch, can she do it alone if I can keep her supplied with mealworms? Thanks in advance for your advice.

Nancy

Nancy JohnsonBRGainesville, FL (North Central FL ~3 mi W of I-75)

From: hubertrap"at"webtv.net (Joe Huber)
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 23:32:47 -0500 (EST)
To: harrybgtest"at"yahoo.com, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Male missing since Fri. 1st egg day--can female do it alone?

Hello Nancy and all, Yes the female can do it alone especially if no other problems develop. Being in Florida she may have a better chance since warmer weather will give her more time to spend out side the box gathering food. The cold tonight shouldn't hurt anything since incubation hasn't started. I've heard of cases with a missing mate where another bird showed up to help out. Maybe that will happen. Best of Luck. Joe Huber, Venice Fl.

Charter member NABS, Charter member OBS, Life member OBS Joe Huber
hubertrap"at"webtv.net 

http://community.webtv.net/hubertrap/HOUSESPARROWCONTROL 

http://community.webtv.net/hubertrap/RoostingBluebirds

27.1171494 N Lo -82.4124222 W
He who ask a question is stupid for five minutes, He who never ask a question remains stupid forever, Chinese Proverb.

Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 18:50:40 -0800 (PST)
From: Nancy Johnson harrybgtest"at"yahoo.com
Subject: Male missing since Fri. 1st egg day--can female do it alone?
To: Bluebird List Cornell bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu

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From: "judymellin" judymellin"at"netzero.net
To: "BLUEBIRD-L" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Male missing since Fri. 1st egg day--can female do it alone?
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 06:50:17 -0800

Unfortunately, there are many, many factors at play here. During incubation, the female will have to leave to feed herself which many females in mated pairs will do but she may have to go more frequently, leaving the eggs untended. You probably will not have to worry about an extreme cold snap so that should allow the female to keep the eggs warm even if she leaves for feeding periods. However, the nest is more open to predation while she is away.

The "real" problems would occur after the eggs hatch. The young grow so rapidly that they are constantly howling for food. The female would have to be doing nothing but constantly flying in and out to keep up with their demands so she will be very stressed. Again, the young would be exposed to predators while she was gone.

One thing that is hard for us to accept but is the way of birds: birds will save themselves at the expense of the young. If she finds that she cannot keep up with the demands of the young, she will abandon them. Birds have always done, and will always do, this. This is the time of year when we want to become parents to the young but that is not possible. It breaks our hearts to find abandoned eggs or dead hatchlings but it will happen.

It is hard to let the birds "do their own thing" but, in my opinion, we really have to let them alone. Those of us with distant trails have a far different relationship with "our" birds than do those with back yard boxes. We cannot feed or check the birds every day but most of us have excellent success rates.

I would like to see us monitor without trying to affect the nestings. I know this is another controversial point (and there are so many of those!) but those of us with distant trails know it can work. I have nine boxes and have been monitoring for 13 years. In all that time, I have found one dead adult (no explanation as to what happened as he was in the box, clutching nesting material and in perfect outward appearance), two nests of young lost to cold weather (usually when it gets very cold and rainy for Memorial Day weekend) and three nests lost to heat (usually at the same time of year).

So try to enjoy what you are seeing and accept the problems as nature's way.

Judy Mellin
NE IL.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nancy Johnson" harrybgtest"at"yahoo.com
To: "Bluebird List Cornell" bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 6:50 PM
Subject: Male missing since Fri. 1st egg day--can female do it alone?

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Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 06:48:16 -0800 (PST)
From: Nancy Johnson harrybgtest"at"yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Male missing since Fri. 1st egg day--4 eggs as of Mon
To: The Doctor sytyf"at"yahoo.com,
Bluebird List Cornell bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu

Nancy Johnson Gainesville, FL

Thanks for all your responses. It's good to know that she at least has a chance of success. She had laid an egg each morning since he disappeared. I check the nest in the early evening before dark.

The timing of his disappearance on the day the first egg was laid means she will have to raise the young alone for the longest possible period (unless another mate or helper appears). She came for Mealworms this morning, once the sun was up, about 1/2 hr after I put them out and did my usual whistle. She is more hesitant than he was about coming to the tray. So far, we've just used an open tray but we will be working on building a mealie feeder and hope that she will adapt and come to it.

Nancy

Nancy JohnsonBRGainesville, FL (North Central FL ~3 mi W of I-75)

To: judymellin"at"netzero.net, Bluebird-L"at"Cornell.edu
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 18:22:26 -0500
Subject: Re: Male missing since Fri. 1st egg day--can female do it alone?
From: Terrance H Bennett thbkab"at"juno.com

Hi folks,

This is a true story!

A few years ago I had a female EABL incubating four eggs . The male left and disappeared totally for four days ( I'm sure to save himself, as Judy mentioned ) while we had four days of early Spring cold and rainy weather . Believe this or not she was a very tame female and I fed her daily through the nest box hole. She would eat meal worms. The rain stopped by the fifth day and the sun came out and the male returned! A happy ending! I'm sure she would of abandoned the nest too had she not been tame enough to allow me to feed her! It was a very rare.... once in a lifetime experience!

Kathy Bennett
Licensed Wild Life Rehabilitator
Central NY

On Tue, 1 Apr 2003 06:50:17 -0800 "judymellin" judymellin"at"netzero.net
writes:
Unfortunately, there are many, many factors at play here. During

...

From: "Dereth Vardaman" deecv"at"msn.com
To: "BlueBird List" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Male BlueBird alone raise chicks?
Date: Wed, 7 May 2003 10:33:49 -0500

Hi List . Can a male bluebird alone raise 3 babies hatched yesterday 5/06/03 by himself? He's presently in box keeping them warm and feeding them too. Is this too big a job for him alone? Mom presumably lost in yesterday's storm - not seen in past 3-4 hours. Thanks, Dee - central Alabama

Date: Wed, 07 May 2003 12:07:24 -0400
Subject: Re: Male BlueBird alone raise chicks?
From: "Haleya Priest" mablue"at"gis.net
To: deecv"at"msn.com, BlueBird List BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu

The male can raise chicks once they get past the need of being brooded at night - this is at about 7 days. So while your male can keep them alive during the day if it is warm enough, he doesn't have a "brooding patch" which only the femaile has. So those chicks will die unless you find someone in your area who has chicks the same age in which you can transfer them to other boxes - OR in your case - you ought to find a wildlife rehabilitator right away! Here is how to find yours:

To locate a nearby wildlife rehabilitation expert, go to:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm  or:
http://www.livingwithwildlife.com/hospital.html .
You might also try contacting your area or regional NABS affiliate group:
http://birds.cornell.edu/bluebirds/affiliategroups.htm .
You can also try your local Audubon Society. Please don't assume your local vet will know how to handle these emergencies. You need folks specifically trained to work with wild birds.  If you find a good rehabber that isn't listed on the websites provided - please let the list know so we can pass on the information!!! :-) H

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We must leave our mark on life while we have it in our power, lest it should close up when we leave it, without a trace.
Isak Dinesen

The online Bluebird Reference Guide: http://birds.cornell.edu/bluebirds/ 
Mazzzchusetts Bluebird Association: http://www.massbluebird.org
Cornell's Birdhouse Network: http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/
North American Bluebird Society: http://nabluebirdsociety.org/

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From: "Dereth Vardaman" deecv"at"msn.com
To: "BlueBird List" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Male BlueBird alone raise chicks?
Date: Wed, 111:33 AM

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From: "Lawrence Herbert" lherbert"at"4state.com
To: "Bluebird" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: male on his own
Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 06:03:10 -0500

I too once that I'm sure of had a male successfully raise a brood of Eastern Bluebirds when the female was killed. It was on a second clutch in June/July and the weather was very warm. It happened in east-central Kansas when we lived near Emporia Kansas.

On our trail in Newton County, extreme sw Missouri, I've had a couple of bluebird nests that have fledged here in early May.

No tornado damage along the trail. Damage occurred at Pierce City, and Carl Junction, Jasper county, just north of Newton County.

Good birding, Larry H. Joplin, sw, Missouri.

From: "Crystal Hill" crystaljhill"at"msn.com
To: "Bluebird_Post_Cornell" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Female BB missing?
Date: Sat, 31 May 2003 09:09:07 -0400

Hi, this morning something really weird.. My husband went out early to get his newspaper and he said that the male BB was acting really weird chasing off all birds in the yard and hovering over nest box. I said okay and did not think much about it (I thought maybe the eggs hatched last night). When I went out to give their mealies the male was around but no female. She was not in the nest box. I have been watching for about an hour and the male will fly back and forth from the box to the trees to the mealworm feeder. No female in site. The 3 eggs appear fine. Yesterday evening was the last we saw her going into her box. Male on his normal perch. Could she just be off feeding. I have counted from the date of the last egg this is the 14th day or so of brooding. Am I just over reacting? It does have me a little worried.

Crystal
Social Circle, Newton County, Georgia
Lat: 33:34:28.74N Lon: 83:44:31.708W

From: "Crystal Hill" crystaljhill"at"msn.com
To: "Bluebird_Post_Cornell" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Female BB Missing?
Date: Sat, 31 May 2003 09:18:32 -0400

I have also noticed that the male EABB seems to be looking in the bluebird nest box we mounted in the yard, I have not noticed him do this before it is like he is checking it out. It has been mounted for several weeks now. Thanks Crystal Social Circle, Newton County, Georgia

From: "Crystal Hill" crystaljhill"at"msn.com
To: "Phil Berry" phil4643"at"msn.com,
"Bluebird_Post_Cornell" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Female BB missing?
Date: Sat, 31 May 2003 09:50:32 -0400

More odd behavior, I saw a female (would like to say our female, but she never went into the nest box with eggs and she appeared very dirty, rough looking) She drank some water and then the male and female flew off the male stopped at the new nestbox we put up sticking head in and out and sat their for a while. Could he be trying to get the other female to mate?? I just don't understand. Crystal

----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Berry" phil4643"at"msn.com
To: crystaljhill"at"msn.com
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003 9:26 AM
Subject: Re: Female BB missing?

Most likely the female was snatched off the nest during the night, if
she was incubating. Males get testy when their mates disappeaar like that.
Phil Berry
Gulf Breeze,Florida
Original Message

Hi, this morning something really weird.. My husband went out early to

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Date: Sat, 31 May 2003 16:54:18 -0400
Subject: Re: Missing Female BB
From: "Haleya Priest" mablue"at"gis.net
To: crystaljhill"at"msn.com, "Bluebird-L" Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu

Crystal,
It sounds like there is a good chance that the female got killed. The male would not attempt to incubate the babies because he doesn't have the brooding patch. However, if it has gotten really warm the female won't have to incubate as often so you might just be missing her.

The mom is pretty much essential to the success of the nesting cycle once the eggs are laid and up till the chicks don't need to be brooded anymore (7-8 days). Once they are past that stage the male can keep the chicks fed.

I would in NO WAY blame yourself for monitoring too much. I've checked many many boxes even several times a day with no problem. That is the LAST thing that would have caused a problem.

Remember these are wild creatures and nature has the predator/prey thing set up quite well. So unfortunately for us - especially when we have just one nest of bluebirds - we are at a big risk for disappointment!!!

I think you've done everything really well and there is no way you could have saved your female. She might have gotten hit by a car, eaten by a hawk, - who knows. But I would still wait and see what happens -don't remove eggs just yet - especially since they feel warm to the touch. :-) H
--------------------------------------------
I expect to walk through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
- Stephen Grellet

The online Bluebird Reference Guide: http://birds.cornell.edu/bluebirds/
Mazzzchusetts Bluebird Association: http://www.massbluebird.org
Cornell's Birdhouse Network: http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/
North American Bluebird Society: http://nabluebirdsociety.org/
Best of Bluebird Mailing Lists: http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/bestofbbml/bblindx.htm

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From: "Crystal Hill" crystaljhill"at"msn.com
To: "Haleya Priest" mablue"at"gis.net
Subject: Re: Female BB missing?
Date: Sat, 14:37 PM

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From: hubertrap"at"webtv.net (Joe Huber)
Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2003 14:41:20 -0400 (EDT)
To: crystaljhill"at"msn.com, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: Missing Female BB Update

Crystal, There is no way of knowing now if these eggs were ever sat on. If not they can still be fertile. As far as the missing adults I can't give you any sure answer to that. If they happen to return these eggs could turn out ok. Don't know how long to tell you to wait but wait a few more days to see if they return,or another pair shows up. Predator could have gotten both but you have no way of telling that. Wish you luck. Joe Huber, VEnice, Fl.

Charter member NABS, Charter member OBS, Life member OBS Joe Huber hubertrap"at"webtv.net 

http://community.webtv.net/hubertrap/HOUSESPARROWCONTROL 

http://community.webtv.net/hubertrap/RoostingBluebirds

27.1171494 N Lo -82.4124222 W
He who ask a question is stupid for five minutes, He who never ask a question remains stupid forever, Chinese Proverb.

From: "Crystal Hill" crystaljhill"at"msn.com
To: "Bluebird_Post_Cornell" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Missing Female BB Update
Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2003 07:15:12 -0400

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From: Lynn Ward lWard"at"pmai.org
To: "'bluebirds and cavity-nesting birds'" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Helping a Lone Bluebird Parent & a Question
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 14:37:08 -0400

Hi Everyone,

I'm back from vacation & spent an interesting week in helping to save 5 nestlings. It began a week ago Saturday when the female from my front yard pair disappeared. I last saw her in the a.m. & noticed only the male going in & out on feeding duty throughout the day. The nestlings were 12 days old. The weather (as luck would have it) had turned cold & rainy. I fed him the last of the mealworms I had on hand (of course never expecting this turn of events) and drove 30 minutes away early Sunday morning to buy a small supply. It was the holiday weekend & I couldn't mail order a large supply for three days. I spaced the feedings out and fortunately I was able to get worms FedEx'd to me overnight Tuesday. (Wow, was that expensive! I also had to talk the owner of Grubco into doing it that day because orders were backed up so bad. I explain Ned that I had a bluebird-feeding emergency situation.)

All the while, I was so impressed with this male who flew himself ragged with feedings, fighting off robins, removing fecal sacs and whatever else he had to deal with. We named him Super Dad. It's an unbelievable miracle of nature to witness such dedication by a wild bird. I kept wondering how long he could keep this up. I felt so helpless - all I could do was make sure he had a steady food supply. Also, fortunately, this bird must have been one of my winter visitors as he was apparently conditioned to use the mealworm feeder which I moved from the backyard to help him with the robins. He never hesitated to go into it. The robins still harassed him by chasing him to and from the feeder, but at least they weren't gobbling up all the mealworms.

After a few days of this it became time for fledging. One nestling was quite a bit larger than the rest & my husband & I got to witness his fledging on the night of the 30th. What a thrill to see that our efforts seemed to have paid off! Hawks overhead & a stray cat prevented the fledging of the rest that night. I now wondered about the four remaining nestlings. Could he care for the lone fledgling & feed them at the same time?

I checked the box the next morning & only three remained. At least one more had fledged but I was still concerned about the remaining nestlings. At 3:30pm, the box was empty - all had made it out!

The fledglings have now been out for 3-4 days. Super Dad has kept them close by which I expected.

Now here is my question: he began singing for a mate yesterday & by golly, he had a female with him this morning who was exploring the nest box. The only thing that bothers me now is that he doesn't seem to be going to the feeder for his usual feeding trips to the fledglings. For anyone with this experience out there: will the new mate at this point help to feed the fledglings or at least not interrupt the feeding/training process? He's been so faithful to care for his brood up to this point but I guess I'm just concerned that he will be "distracted" from his duties...

Thanks for any feedback! I haven't run into this situation before...

Lynn Ward
Parma, MI

Forwarded at the request of a fellow EABL monitor. I'll forward your replies to her. Thanks!

Rebecca J., Columbia MD

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Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 3:56 PM

Hi Rebecca; I seemed to have lost my female for the box I have in my yard some time over the past 24 hours. The male is attentive, but he's got 5 6 day olds in the nest. What I was planning to do was farm 3 out to other boxes and leave him 2. Do you think that's a good plan?

Forwarded at the request of a fellow EABL monitor. I'll forward your replies
to her. Thanks!

Rebecca J., Columbia MD

Why not put out mealworms pretty close to the nestbox and let him take care of his own babies? You can make a portable stand by getting a mop or broom handle and nail a small board on it and stick the thing in the ground. I am sure Papa Bluebird would find the mealworms in a bowl on top of it that they cannot climb out of.

I've read many times of one parent feeding the babies and they make it.

Evelyn Cooper

From: RLJ [mailto:ebecca"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2005 6:58 PM
Subject: FW: help!

More questions from my friend about the bluebird family that lost its mama. Thanks for your help!
-----Original Message-----

Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2005 12:21 PM

Would you post one more question for me? How close in age, when farming abandoned nestlings out, do they have to be? Obviously, I know that the closer the better, but how about when putting younger nestlings in a box with a single older nestling? The older one would be about 10 days old, the younger ones 6 - 7 days old.

I think it’s best if they are at most a day or two apart in age. Bluebirds tend to fledge all on one day, sometimes two, for a reason, probably to keep the parents from having to tend the nestlings in a nestbox and the fledglings in a tree somewhere, maybe some distance from the nestbox. It is hard work feeding several babies bigger than you are, without having them in two separate locations!

Contacting other nearby bluebird monitors might locate a nest with babies of the correct age.

Kate Arnold
Paris, Texas

From: L Colangelo [mailto:lcolangelo"at"verizon.net]
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 5:44 PM
Subject: thanks

Please forward my thanks to the kind people who weighed in on my dilemma; these things are never clear-cut. Thank goodness he found a new mate....she makes 5 trips to the box for every one he makes.....typical male......

From: mikenbev [mailto:mikenbev"at"bellsouth.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 10:22 PM
Subject: how to help widowed female?

My beautiful male (known to us for 2 years) disappeared 4 days ago after very bad weather here in Atlanta. He leaves behind 5 10 day old nestlings and a tired mother! I am providing her with 3-400 mealworms a day and fresh water. Is there anything else I can do to help this poor mother and can anyone give me words of encouragement that she will be able to raise these babies to independence on her own? Grieving in Atlanta, Beverly

From: Steve Murphy Home [mailto:thcri"at"qwest.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 11:27 PM
Subject: FW: how to help widowed female?

Wow, three to four hundred meal worms per day!!  How many will one eat a day??

Steve Murphy

From: lviolett [mailto:lviolett"at"earthlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 12:21 AM
Subject: Re: how to help widowed female?

That is one lucky widow to have you supplying hundreds of mealworms per day to keep her family going.

With your help, she should be able to fledge all five chicks. I've had single females fledge five and six chicks *IF* mealworms were provided several times per day. And there is a possibility that your female will be able to attract a step-dad. Bluebird step-dads don't seem to help with nestlings, but they provide important guard duty and sometimes help with fledglings.

As long as the female survives (and you don't run out of mealworms!!!), you should witness a happy ending. The fledglings won't be foraging on their own for a couple of weeks, so keep providing mealworms well after the fledge date. Be sure to rotate placement of mealworms and timing so that predators don't zero in on your routine. The female will be watching for mealworms and you can place them on tree roots, bare ground in the shade, tree branches, protected ledges, keep changing the location and make sure the selection of placement protects the female..

Linda Violett
Yorba Linda, Calif.

From: Autumn L. Kruer [mailto:autumnk"at"iglou.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 7:57 AM
Subject: RE: how to help widowed female?

I lost a male to a kestrel one year (picked him right off the top of the box). I kept running outside and screaming at the kestrel until he got tired of coming back and found an easier place to hunt. A female bluebird can and will feed and care for the babies by herself. The problem is more grave when sitting on the eggs or brooding the newly hatched, but she should be fine with 10-day-old nestlings. Just tired. Don’t be surprised if other bluebirds come to help.

If the male is killed after the first clutch, I’ve found the juveniles will come back to help.

Autumn in Kentucky

From: mikenbev [mailto:mikenbev"at"bellsouth.net]
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 4:00 PM
Subject: new problem for widowed female

I wrote fearful last week of my "backyard" female's ability to raise 5 nestlings on her own since Dad disappeared and received many helpful and encouraging responses.
Good news /bad news - the little guys/gals left the nest yesterday on day 17, all except one little straggler who has been alone in the nest box for almost 24 hours now. Poor Mom rushes back and forth feeding mealworms in the trees and to the loner in the box. He/she peeks out consistently but while watching frequently today, I see no efforts to jump ship (he made several tries just before sundown yesterday).
Any thoughts? Might she eventually abandon him/her? Anything I can do?
Beverly - worried once again in Atlanta!

You're/they're still ok. The straggler is just that. The other fledglings
will be fed for a while by mom, so no need to worry. The little straggler
will likely fledge today (greatest chance) or tomorrow... normally late in
the day or evening. Just keep watching. If the straggler is still being
fed and is making an effort to "leave", it shouldn't be long. Take care &
good luck --J

Jimmy Dodson

From: lviolett"at"earthlink.net [mailto:lviolett"at"earthlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 6:40 PM
Subject: Re: new problem for widowed female

If the stragler hasn't fledged by mid-morning tomorrow, you might want to carefully check to make sure the nestling isn't caught about the leg with nest material or its wings matted with fecal glue. Cover holes during and after the check until things settle down. Make sure cats & dogs are indoors in case you get a shrubbery landing.

Linda Violett
Yorba Linda, Calif.

David --

It happens here too... Caro. chickadees (especially) and Caro wrens getting nests going in bigger boxes and someone (sometimes a woodpecker) evicting them. More often than not, the CACH use EABL or nuthatch boxes. Last year I have an EABL nest in a "3-species woodpecker box" designed to be larger enough for Red-bellied, Hairy, and Downy wp's.

Two choices... either let nature take it's course and the CACH, etc. learn the "hard lesson"... OR make a hole restrictor using the same concept that people do for EABL boxes. Make it larger enough to cover the 2+" hole and reduce the entrance to 1 or 1.5" dependent on the species using the box.
The woodpeckers may pound the heck out of the restrictor, but it makes it much more difficult for them to get in & typically they will tire of the effort and elect to find an easier location... if you notice the restrictor getting drilled, you could even consider matching with another wp box or at least putting one close... this may solve the problem.

Question for you... when you say CAWR... do you mean Carolina wren, Cactus wren, or Canyon wren? I ask b/c CAWR isn't a four-letter alpha code used in NAmerica b/c by the "first two-letters rule", all three apply. Carolina wrens are CARW, Cactus wrens are CACW, and Canyon wrens are CANW. Below I've included the link to a pdf of alpha codes for NAmer compiled by the Institute for Bird Populations at Point Reyes, CA.

Let me know what your thoughts are on the recommendations, it's a good discussion question. Take care --J

Link to Alpha Codes:
http://www.birdpop.org/AlphaCodes.htm

Jimmy Dodson
Asst Forest Manager -- NCSU Dept of Forestry & Environmental Resources
Campus: 3024B Biltmore Hall, Raleigh, NC

From: Mary Clare [mailto:maryclare"at"cox.net]
Sent: Sunday, May 07, 2006 12:22 PM
Subject: Female Bluebird gone

It seems certain that one of the bluebirds (most likely the female, hard to
know for sure when you don't see them both) is gone. Also found what appear to
be bluebird feathers on the ground.

I didn't see her all morning.

Our guess is a neighborhood cat got her.

The male has been taking mealworms to the box by himself.

What is the prospect for the babies surviving?
Other than continuing the mealworms, what can we do?

This pair had been nesting here for several years

Thanks-
Mary Clare
Escondido, CA

Sorry to hear it.

How old are the babies, and how many?

I have heard of single fathers raising the babies. At least you are seeing him take mealworms to the box!

It sounds to me like you are doing all that you really can.

Maybe she had a scuffle with a cat or other critter and will still reappear, too.

Good luck!

Shawn in Sevierville, TN

Mary Clare, I sent you a short off-list note but am sending this expanded note to you *and* the List so everyone may benefit.

There is really nothing you can do but provide a better box/setup for the future. Your chicks should be self-regulating their own body heat by now so they should be OK under the male's care and your mealworms.

Cats do not bother 2-holed hanging mansions. Since you are in Escondido, California, I'll send you one of my old hanging 2-holers for the cost of postage if you can't build one. The one I'd send for the cost of postage is about 10 years old and serviceable. It is not as large and deep as I build now but most likely larger and deeper than what you are currently using and would protect future nestings from your neighbor's cats.

Linda Violett
Yorba Linda, Calif.

Thanks Linda -

The feathers weren't found near the box. (about 80 to 100 feet away)
The attack must have happened on an insect gathering trip on the ground.
I saw the cat run away from the spot where the feathers were.

I'm very sad because the pair was very friendly, especially the female ... I looked
forward to their vibrant greeting each morning and feeding them mealworms....

I hope the male and the babies will be OK

I'll be in touch about the box. Thanks again.

-Mary Clare

Just a note from a back-yarder in a similar condition: I have gotten great encouragement and info from this list since losing my male when the babes were only a few days old. In my area, a BB is a special sight and when you get to know a "little couple" personally over the years, it's like losing a family friend when they are gone. My Mama did fine feeding her babies as long as I provided many mealworms several times a day - the biggest problem I had and still have is fending off the other primarily seed-eating birds who have discovered that worms are a tasty treat now that there is no partner to protect the feeder. Three of five healthy nestlings fledged on day 17 (do you count birth as day 0 or day 1?) and mom is still regularly retrieving worms to feed them in the trees - I am still playing surrogate father and shooing off chickadees, titmice, carolina wrens while she makes her runs.
Questions for the experts -
1. I was sad to find 2 dead nestlings in the box when cleaning out the nest, altho not surprised; I had noticed some odd behavior in Mom on day 12-13 and was worried something was wrong inside the box. Both were males, one only about 1/2 the size of the other altho both with similar feather development so I am assuming he had problems from the beginning and perhaps was just not "meant to be". However, the other one was beautiful and seems normal size - he had a very small raw area just above one eye, otherwise looked normal. I am wondering if he could have been trampled in the box from overcrowding.
This box has successfully fledged now 14 BB's in the last 3 years but I have never had a clutch over four. What is best box sixe for EABL?
2. With a distinctive odor in the box once it was opened, I am wondering if this is why they fledged earlier than they typically have for me (has been
20-21 days in the past) - maybe she knew this was an unhealthy environment?
I left the box open to air for a day but is there a certain way I should clean it? There is no obvious debris but I am wondering if the odor may linger in a way that will be a deterrent for future house-hunters?

Lastly, I hope I am finished with my BB dilemmas this year - having nothing but success in previous years, this has been a tough one. All in all, I am learning from this list that I am very fortunate to be in my little idyllic backyard with no house wrens, no house sparrows, minimal crows, rare hawks and essentially nonexistent cats, dogs and racoons!

P.S. to Mary Clare: sorry for your loss - wish there was a way to match up my Mama and your Dad - too bad you are 3,000 miles away!

Hopefully now just a silent reader,
beverly in Atlanta

Beverly, congratulations on the three Bluebirds that fledged from the single-mom box. As to the two that died in the nest, perhaps the old nest
could give some clues. You spoke of the nest as having an ammonia smell.
Did it have a gluey layer of fecal muck? And was the fully feathered
nestling stuck in it? What is the size of the box floor?

There is a photo of a dead nestlings stuck in a gluey layer of fecal muck of a tiny 4" Gilbertson tube at the bottom of:
http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/floorsize.html

That web page might help you with your question on which box size to use.
And regardless of box size, some boxes will have a layer of fecal muck when the parents are stressed (single-parents, food shortage). An example of a mucky nest on a large 5x6 floor is shown at the bottom of:
http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/NestPics.html

The above photo of the larger floored box had a large clutch (like yours).
Both parents attended the nest but weren't able to keep the nest clean.
Since the box floor was large, the fecal build-up was spread thinner over the larger surface. After all but one of the chicks had fledged after 24 hours, I opened the box to make sure the straggler wasn't caught in the nest. I saw the mucky nest and that the remaining chick's feathers were soiled and damp but in OK condition. The chick was briefly removed, the nest was flipped so the chick could be placed on a dry surface. It eventually fledged. Fecal build-up on small box floors is one of the reasons I now use large box floors.

Beverly, you did a great job in helping the single mom fledge the majority of her clutch. I particularly was impressed that you notice past clutches with no problems in the box spent 20 to 21 days in the box prior to fledge compared to this troubled box with an ammonia smell, two dead chicks that fledged much earlier (about 17 days).

Your post was packed with observations and possibilities. If all your questions weren't fully covered, please ask again.

Linda Violett
Yorba Linda, Calif.

From: Mary Clare [mailto:maryclare"at"cox.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 12:00 AM
Subject: 3 BB fledged !

You may recall I wrote about the female being killed by a neighborhood cat while she was foraging.

We supplied the male with many mealworms and watched him carry them to the bird box.

Today, I'm very happy to report that 3 fledged and flew off!

The male continues to return to the feeder and carry mealworms to the babies.

-Mary Clare
Escondido, CA

From: Mary Clare [mailto:maryclare"at"cox.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 12:26 AM
Subject: Finding a new mate

Have any studies or observations been made of bluebirds finding a new mate after one dies?

I looked in "The BB Monitor's Guide" but didn't find anything on the subject.

Thanks

-Mary Clare
Escondido, CA

We've had reports on the List of females finding mates immediately after the male is gone. Some think her main purpose was needing help to feed the babies. Others have reported a sort of mourning period for the male or female.

Evelyn

From: Mary Clare [mailto:maryclare"at"cox.net]
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 1:15 AM
Subject: 6 days after fledging

Update: The female died May 6. 3 BB's fledged May 17.

The male bluebird comes to the feeder to get mealworms many times during
the day. He flies off to a group of eucalyptus trees on an undeveloped piece
of land...approximately 500 ft. from our house. On Sunday I saw one of the
fledglings in our chinaberry tree on the lower part of our property. The male
was quite distressed and fluttered around the fledgling until they both flew
back to the eucalyptus trees.

Does this mean we won't have more bluebirds nesting in our birdhouse
in the front yard?

Other years, all the fledglings stayed...lined up on the roof of our house and
waited for their morning feeding of mealworms.

The wrens and juncos are competing with the male bluebird for the mealworms.
This hasn't happened in past years. The male has been chasing them away.

-Mary Clare
Escondido, CA

After waiting all these weeks for a nesting, the adult male has disappeared. I saw him Friday evening, which is the day I believe the chicks began to hatch. I saw the male entering and exiting the nestbox, which was unusual since the hen had been setting on the eggs.

Saturday I peeked in the box and saw four yellow beaks, but it was windy and cool and I didn't want to keep the box open long. There had been five eggs. Didn't see the male at all Saturday.

The female is now working constantly to feed the chicks. She often sits in an oak tree behind our lot and chirps. She and the male used to chirp to each other constantly. I hope she finds help!

This female ate bluebird banquet all winter, so I put a little bit out on our porch and she did come and eat some several times yesterday. Unfortunately, a scrub jay came too and I spent a lot of time chasing him off. I've had a female lose her mate once before and she did manage to raise the brood herself. It sure is a lot of work though.

We do have other WEBLs here in the area, as they fought over our nestboxes, so I'm hoping she finds another mate, or at least some help. In the meantime, I'll keep offering her raisins and banquet and try to keep the jay away.

It's always something!

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

You could help out the single by purchasing emergency mealworms from a pet store while you arrange for a large bulk mail-order supply from Rainbow Mealworms, Compton, Calif. (310) 635-1494.

On my trail, single parents can bring only two (rarely three) chicks to fledge without help..

Linda Violett
Yorba Linda, Calif.

Thanks for the advice. I just placed an order with Rainbow Mealworms and they are scheduled to arrive on Thursday. My husband is on his way to our local feed and seed store to buy a temporary (and expensive) supply.

I hope the female will eat them! She has been eating Bluebird Banquet from a spot on my porch, and I plan to put some mealworms in the same place to get her started.
I have some small corningware glass containers and I'll try putting the worms in there and see how it goes. The chicks are 3 or 4 days old now and I need to check on them and get a good count.

Just hate to upset the female as she is very protective now.

Thanks all.

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

> A problem has arisen, in the form of the scrub jay. In the winter he would come
> to the place where I fed banquet to the bluebird, and now he is taking the
> mealworms. The bluebird came as soon as I put them out, but the jay was right
> behind her and he actually chased her to the nestbox! Now what? Do I stop
> feeding her so that the jay won't harrass her, and let her take her chances
> feeding the chicks?
>
> I fed her on my porch, where she and her mate roosted all day, thinking the jay
> wouldn't be so bold as to come this close to the house. Wrong! I put the
> mealworms on the table where I used to put the banquet, since it is in the
> shade, and she flew right to them. The jay doesn't want to share, at all.
>
> Decisions!
>
> Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

Malinda Mastako
SE Michigan

Barbara-- it is very hard for a single adult to brood and hunt for food without the help of a mate from such an early stage in the nesting.. I sure hope your weather is good. At this age, they will still need brooding. In addition to the mealworms you say are on the way, many suppliers will also sell waxworms, or you can get them from fishing bait shops. They are another good supplemental food to help out in the tough situation you are in, with such a long time left to go before fledging. You may want to contact a local wildlife rehabilitator in your area. It is good to get any additional advice they may offer, as well as to develop a relationship with that person in case something should happen to the remaining parent. Your single mother will have to take some chances that she might not otherwise, due to the need to find all the food for the entire brood on her own. These risks can sometimes put her in harms way from a cat or other predator. Our rehabber advises coating the mealworms in calcium powder, and feeding them high protein dog or cat food for a few days before putting them out. Finally, (if you aren't blown away by all this, yet) the same suppliers who distribute mealworms and waxworms will also sell small crickets. They are another alternative food source that can really help out in a pinch like this.

I have lost an adult during nesting season a few times. Until I started offering mealworms, the maximum number a single parent could fledge was usually three. Now, when this situation arises, I offer mealworms, waxworms and crickets coated in calcium powder provided by my rehabber. Most young make it to flege now. I have even had single moms with newly fledged previous broods who have managed just fine to keep everyone alive. The bluebirds prefer the waxworms, then the crickets, then their final choice is the mealworms.

I will be crossing my fingers up here in Michigan for your little single mama! Please let us know how she fares.

Malinda Mastako
SE Michigan

My attempts to help the single parent have resulted in disaster. The meal worms I offered attracted a scrub jay, and he kept chasing the female BB, once following her to the nestbox and sticking his head in.

A little while ago I heard her chirping incessantly. She was perched on the porch roof with an insect in her beak but didn't go into the nestbox. My husband got out the ladder and looked in, and he said it looks like there is only one chick left and he wasn't sure it was alive.

I suspect the jay has taken the hatchlings. This is the first time I've had anything like this happen. The nestbox is the deepest one I could find -- a chalet style, and it has a wooden predator guard on the front. I know the chicks will stretch up to be fed, which makes it easier for a predatory bird to reach them.

Now I'll watch to see if the female will go into the box, and I'll try to keep the jay away. Later I'll check the nest myself and see how much damage is done, although I don't know what to do about it now. Looks like the meal worms were not a good idea after all. I did put cat food out for the jay, but he wasn't interested in it since he knew the mealworms were available, and the chicks.

Bad day.

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

Barbara, thanks for your observations. Even though you didn't actually see the Jay with a baby in its beak, that is the most likely suspect. Happened on my trail, too.
My Home page mentioning Jays in the year 2000 -- which triggered me to build deeper boxes http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/

Check the box immediately. If the last chick is alive, lower the nest as far as possible and snug the chick to the back corner.

For the Old Timers:
How many disasters do we have to experience before we start building deeper hole-to-floor boxes for our birds? And WHY is the 6.5" hole-to-floor measurement the nestbox "standard"?

How to build the box: http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/construction.html

Linda Violett
Yorba Linda, Calif.

[Note from webmaster: remainder of posts from this thread under Boxes, Depth and Feeding Mealworms, Part 4.)

From: happywebl"at"comcast.net
Subject: Single Parent Update
Date: Mon, 05 Jun 2006 18:34:58 +0000

When I realized that the male parent was gone the day the chicks hatched, I ordered meal worms as advised by this list. They came promptly and were quite reasonably priced. However, the female doesn't like them.

When I first put them out she ate a couple herself, but didn't take any into the nestbox. There was a scrub jay who came for the worms and harrassed the female, driving her into the nestbox and putting his head in. She was terrified every time she saw him after that.

We continued to put out the meal worms, and drove the jay off every time he came for some. He would go to the nestbox and perch on it and chase the female away.

The female love bluebird banquet this past winter so I have been putting that out along with the meal worms. She eats it but doesn't feed it to the chicks. Maybe I'm helping her out by supplementing her diet. She is busy all day catching insects and makes constant trips back and forth to the nestbox.

I checked the chicks this morning. The two survivors now are nine days old and look healthy. They were hunkered down together, but when I blew on them they moved their wings, so I know they are alive. They look well fed and are getting feathers.

I hope they make it. I don't know what else I can do. I've been camped on the back porch neglecting everything else for a week now, but I feel the chicks are large enough so that then can mantain their body temperature (plus, it's gotten hot here) and I can see the female feeding them. I bring in the food when I'm not out there.

My husband agreed to build one of Linda's boxes for me. That will be a relief, since the only predation I've had has been avian!

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

Female was killed while laying second clutch (not sure how but found her dead by the box) ... four babies and dad are OK. Will the dad have a chance of meeting another female and mating this season? How does this work... what to expect?

David (Columbia County, NY)

This morning the two surviving chicks fledged -- day 19 for them! I was out to check on the nestbox about 6:30 AM and I heard that soft bluebird chirping that they use to communicate. Then I saw the two chicks fluttering around the nesxtbox -- Mama was on the roof of my porch talking to them.

One chick looked in the entry hole, and the other sat on the roof of the box. When they spotted me, they flew across the yard to the fence on the other side. It was comical to see them trying to land next to the hen! I've seen them a couple of times in the last few hours, in and out of the yard and flying to the trees behind our lot.

I also saw a nice looking male perched on the fence at one point -- so maybe we'll get a second nesting. Got to clean out that house and put on a deeper permanent face guard.

Boy, this feels good! Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

Sadly, I have run out of beginners luck. My very first pair of bluebirds started nesting 5 days after I put up my very first BB nestbox. They laid 4 eggs. Today is Day 14 from hatching. I know she was here yesterday. I put out mealworms this morning. I think she was around but not sure.
Everything looked normal. This afternoon, when my son took his nap, I went out to sit on the patio and watch them. I noticed the male making continuous trips to the nestbox. I took out mealworms and whistled to them.
They always came to the adjacent tree. She was nowhere in sight. I hadn't planned to look in the nestbox any further after day 13. I walked over to it to see if that would get her in. The male did something he has never done, he dive bombed at me while I was close to the nestbox. I broke the rule of not opening the nestbox after day 13, to be sure all was well inside. The four chicks seemed fine. He is being extremely defensive about the nestbox area now. He got after a redwinged blackbird that landed in the tree. He's gotten after the robins on the ground. He was protective before but not this much.

I have not been able to get the male to eat mealworms in the 3 weeks I've been feeding them. Only the female would eat some and take a few to the chicks. I've set out an extra mealworm bowl in another location where he likes to perch. I have yet to get them to move toward the mealworm feeder I have. If I got too far from their main tree, the robins got all the worms.

Its 7pm now, and I have tried several times to whistle her to the tree.
She's been gone all afternoon :(.

Cindy Groene
South Lyon, MI

After several days of no sightings, I heard a bluebird's distinctive "chirp" in the trees behind my yard. My husband and I took a walk on the path back there, and I heard the call growing louder.

The path is lined with big oaks, and next to them is a small creek. I looked up into on of the largest oak and could barely make out a bluebird, then I saw another one fluttering around. I whistled my "special" whistle and the one bird chirped back. I'm assuming it is the hen and at least one of her two chicks.

After all that concern (on my part) and hard work on her part, they're out there where they belong. This is the most dangerous time for the fledglings, I know, but she's sticking close to home, which they don't usually do.

This morning I went out on the porch early and I could hear her. Then I saw her in the closest tree on a dead branch, chirping for raisins. I'll put some out for the next week, then they are on their own!

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

I have not seen the mama BB today. Dad is feeding them about every 40 minutes. Momma was feeding them every 15 minutes. I don't know is momma is dead or incubating eggs elsewhere. It has now been 14 days since the babies hatched. There are 4 of them. How much longer before they fledge? Barb So. IL

They can fledge at anytime now, but mine average day 17.

No, I don't think your BB Mama is off incubating another clutch. I think something has happened to her.

Papa can take care of them. In an instance like this, it is great to supplement feed mealworms to help make his job easier.

Evelyn

From: Steve and Cindy Groene [mailto:hausgroene"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, June 26, 2006 6:24 PM
Subject: TRES fledging and BB update

My TRES fledged today. It was 18 or 19 days after they hatched. Can’t be certain of the exact hatching date but I know its one of the two days. I had 6 eggs laid. All 6 hatched and it appears that all 6 fledged. Cleaned the box out this afternoon.

My widowed male continues to come to the mealworm feeder. Today, I was able to confirm that he is taking mouthfuls of mealworms. I will surmise he is feeding the remaining fledglings. I watched him fly off about 200 yds to a grove of trees several times. That must be where the fledglings are hanging out. He also continues to fly into the cleaned out nestbox. I’m hoping he will find a new wife and have a second nesting.

Cindy Groene
South Lyon, MI

I've been seeing my single parent female WEBL returning daily to my yard, eating the raisins I put out for her. Since the chicks fledged, we haven't gotten a good look at the chicks (two fledged out of four).

This morning we were eating breakfast on the porch and she flew to the bird bath for a drink, then to the area where I put the raisins. A minute later, before she left, a chick landed on the fence and fluttered his wings. It looks like a male, since it has a lot of blue on the back and wings. They flew off together to the trees, and returned shortly after. I believe she was showing him where to get raisins\ :- ).

I'm glad at least one chick survived, as the female put a lot of effort into trying to raise them on their own. I haven't seen a new male around, so I am not too hopeful of a second or third nesting this season. It's so hot, I'm relieved there aren't eggs or chicks in the box now!

...

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

From: Steve and Cindy Groene [mailto:hausgroene"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 2:51 PM
Subject: Dad brought fledglings

I was rewarded this afternoon when my widowed dad brought two fledglings to the mealworm feeder. They fledged 9 days ago. It’s the first sighting I’ve had of them since they fledged. Looks like two of the four have made it, so far. Dad and new wife are also very busy. New wife started nest building in the nestbox dad used w/ previous wife. She’s been busy taking pine needles from my yard to the nestbox at the back of my yard. The male also must have shown her the mealworm feeder, as she is now using it, too. The fledglings sit on the mealworm feeder and beg and dad comes and feeds them.

I also spied a song sparrow eating mealworms from the feeder!

Lastly, this morning I had TRES checking out the paired box that the previous owners used to fledge 6 TRES this past Monday. I was quite surprised. They were flying in and out of the nestbox and sitting at the entrance hole. This may lead to nothing more but it will be interesting to see if I get another pair nesting.

Cindy Groene
South Lyon, MI

From: Steve and Cindy Groene [mailto:hausgroene"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 8:57 AM
Subject: Loss of male BB

Well, here we go again. I last saw the male BB on Monday. On Tues, only the female came up when I checked the nestbox, which was unusual as they were always sitting in an adjacent tree letting me know their unhappiness at my presence near their nestbox. The chicks hatched 9 days ago. The two fledglings from the male’s first nesting are also missing. I also last saw them on Monday. The current female is NOT their mother. They lost their mother when she disappeared four days before their fledging.

I’ve also noticed the female, who only rarely visited the mealworm feeder before, is now visiting it about every third or fourth feeding session. Sometimes, she comes only to feed herself then resumes her hunting. There are three chicks in the box. Hopefully, she’ll be able to fledge all three.

Seems I can’t keep a pair together long enough to fledge the chicks together .

Cindy Groene
South Lyon, MI

From: happywebl"at"comcast.net [mailto:happywebl"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 12:42 PM
Subject: Single parent: Epilogue

This morning I put out the standing order of chopped raisins for the single female and her one surviving fledgling. They have been coming at least twice a day for a snack and a bath since the chicks fledged.

This morning we were surprised to see THREE bluebirds in the yard: a pretty male is now part of the family. They were eating the table grapes that we grow on our deer fence! We were going to pick the Flame Seedless today, but apparently the birds have already discovered that they are ripe. We have five different varieties of table grapes in the yard, but the Flames are definitely the favorites of the birds and beasts.

The blue trio has been hanging around all morning, and I was hoping I'd see them visit the nestbox. It's too late for this season, but if they roost here we'll be assured of nestings in the spring.

Stay tuned for the next installment.

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

From: Sara Hull [mailto:shull"at"mail.nih.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 1:52 PM
Subject: Heartbroken in Maryland

I discovered a male EABL this morning in my mealworm feederbox, deceased. My best guess is that he tussled with a HOSP or wren inside the box and lost. (I observed such an altercation last year in which the wren flew away as fast as he could...)

I believe this is the lively young EABL chap who has been faithfully defending a nearby nesting box full of 5 eggs that he sired. The female/mother was perched atop the feeding box this morning when I discovered the male.

I am heartbroken.

Assuming that the female is now flying solo and that her eggs remain safe, what can do to help her take care of her brood until they fledge? I assume I can help by making food readily available (and I will be purchasing a different mealworm feeder than can't possibly host a couple of fighting birds inside...). I can't do much more to protect the nest against predators. What else might I do to ensure their survival?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Sara Hull
Boyds, MD

PS Is it a bad idea to situate a mealworm feeder close to the nesting box? This was a recommendation I had received last year, but I wonder if this might attract any other birds to the vicinity and cause problems for the nesting EABLs...

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