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Bluebirds/Questions Answered by Expert Bluebird Bob Walshaw
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Eastern Bluebird Incubation | 3/30/2012 |
| Q: Does the female bluebird leave the nest during the incubation period? There are three bluebirds ... A: She will leave at times to find food, more often in hot weather as the eggs will cool less. Please ... | |
| one bird and no more | 3/30/2012 |
| Q: I saw one bluebird fighting with sparrows to get into a first year bluebird house. I have not seen ... A: Unfortunately taking the killer house sparrow nests out is seen as competition by them and only ... | |
| Aggressive robin | 3/21/2012 |
| Q: A pair of bluebirds are interested in our nesting box but are being chased by an aggressive robin ... A: This is not unusual. The box is probably too close to the Robin's nest. All birds compete for space. ... | |
| Single egg in bluebird box | 3/18/2012 |
| Q: I watched our bluebirds scurry about and build their nest in the same box that produced 3 nestings ... A: There are so many different situations with birds, predators and the workings of Mother Nature. ... | |
| nest of crushed leaves | 3/18/2012 |
| Q: Birds have started building nests in some of my boxes, chickadees mostly build with moss, bluebirds ... A: Here in NE OK Tufted Titmice use dead leaves but usually with moss too. The most likely bird is the ... | |
| Competition at feeder | 3/15/2012 |
| Q: We managed to attract bluebirds to a mealworm feeder just below the box. However, cardinals and a ... A: Yes. You never want to have a feeder near a box as it attracts other birds that will interfere with ... | |
| new to bluebird | 3/3/2012 |
| Q: I just bought 4 bluebird houses made from cedar. I am in wisconsin by alot of open farm fields and ... A: Placing boxes along roads, even high speed ones is a good idea as cars stir up and knock down ... | |
| bluebird feeder | 2/4/2012 |
| Q: i purchased one and meal worms but the birds won't go in the feeder. we have bluebird houses with ... A: Congratulations. You have a great start as Bluebirders. 1. Feeder - That is not a bad design, but ... | |
| Blue Bird Trail Question | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: How old can the Blue Bird Nestings, be when you make your last inspection of the nest box? A: We tell inexperienced people not to open boxes after the young are 13 days old (they fledge 18 to 19 ... | |
| blue birds | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: All winter we had a pair of blue bids.When spring came we would see anywhere from 8 to 10 blue ... A: This is normal for this time of year as it is the end of the nesting season. I assume that when you ... | |
| Bird in my Bluebird House | 7/31/2011 |
| Q: The past three nights in a row, there has been a bird in my vacant bluebird house (last bluebird ... A: That is a very normal situation. It is a Downy Woodpecker, and they often do this in the fall and ... | |
| babies dying | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: Over the past few years we have successfully raised 3-4 broods of bluebirds per season in a box ... A: This is not unusual with the last nest of the season and with the high heat, but sometimes we just ... | |
| Blue Birds | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: Bob I have a few bluebird boxes in my rather large back yard. I have had bluebirds and tree ... A: A number of Bluebirders have reported birds leaving early because of the heat. Also it is nearly the ... | |
| babies in heat wave | 7/23/2011 |
| Q: The first set of babies was born in the Spring, right before an unseasonable heatwave (high 90's and ... A: I doubt that the spring babies died from the heat. Usually when we find them dead then the parents ... | |
| Where did they go? | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: I had a successful nest of bluebirds who fledged about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I've been feeding the ... A: Sometimes they leave for the woods or another area that they may feel is safer for the young. Also ... | |
| death of female bluebird | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: A pair of bluebirds have lived with us for four years.A few days ago I found the female had her ... A: What I am going to say may sound cruel but I want to be honest. What has happened is not unusual. ... | |
| What happened to our bluebird family? | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: This Spring we had a successful hatching of three babies and everything was fine. The next hatching ... A: This is not unusual as they have many predators, and this is why they have so many babies. One ... | |
| Abandoned nest ? | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: I have just put up my first bluebird house and unfortunately did not know to research where to put ... A: Usually when this happens something has gotten the female. The male is wing waving trying to attract ... | |
| 2 Baby Blue BIrds | 7/8/2011 |
| Q: We had a family of bluebirds living in a bluebird house that my son had built for a tech project. ... A: You don't ever need to "keep your distance". Boxes should be opened every week so you know when eggs ... | |
| bluebird nestlings destroyed and can't find female | 7/3/2011 |
| Q: I moved into this house in April and it had 2 birdhouses on the deck so I left them there. In early ... A: Sounds like you had a Raccoon attack and the mother is probably gone. There is a lot to know, and If ... | |
| Female bluebird dead | 7/1/2011 |
| Q: This evening I found one (female) of two bluebirds that live on our property dead. They both ... A: If you are sure that the female that laid the eggs is dead remove the nest and destroy the eggs. A ... | |
| bluebirds throwing eggs out of nest | 6/30/2011 |
| Q: First time having the pleasure of having a pair of bluebirds nesting . Cats have been locked in the ... A: Cracked eggs will not hatch. You had an attack by the killer house sparrows or House Wrens. ... | |
| Bluebird | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: She has thrown them out. The first 2 there were 5 eggs and the 3rd there was 3 and I thought for ... A: I have had a 100 box 5 mile line for many years and i have never seen Bluebirds throwing their eggs ... | |
| Bluebird | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: She has thrown them out. The first 2 there were 5 eggs and the 3rd there was 3 and I thought for ... A: Nothing stops the killer house sparrows 100%. You need to have at least 3 or 4 boxes so an attack ... | |
| When do new bluebirds babies start getting fed? | 6/22/2011 |
| Q: I checked my bluebird house this morning and found 3 of the 4 eggs had hatched. I see Mom and Dad, ... A: The adults start feeding them as soon as they raise their heads for food. This happens pretty ... | |
| fighting bluebirds | 6/22/2011 |
| Q: This morning I witnessed two males fighting. They carried on for 30-40 minutes with the female ... A: Yes this is nornmal behavior. Like many animals who often fight to the death it is nature's way of ... | |
| Lawn Insecticide - toxicity to blue birds | 6/20/2011 |
| Q: Our lawn care folks spray IMIDACLOTRID 2F a couple of times a year. Is this specific insecticide ... A: My research into the material safety data, etc. shows that it is highly toxic to aquatic ... | |
| BlueBird mom dead | 6/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a bluebird house... bluebird mom was found dead this afternoon.She had 4 eggs. Is there any ... A: The male cannot incubate the eggs as he has no brood patch. Sometimes if someone has a trail with a ... | |
| Bluebirds habits when eggs hatch | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: I checked my box Sunday afternoon to see freshly hatched babies. I also saw papa that evening close ... A: Unless you watch continuously you may miss the feeding times. Also sometimes unfortunately predators ... | |
| BAFFLE | 6/9/2011 |
| Q: AFTER AN EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH FOR DAYS ON LINE, I'VE COME TO THE SAD CONCLUSION THAT THE ONLY BAFFLERS ... A: Don't forget- you will need baffle guards on the T posts if you have snakes and climbing critters. ... | |
| BAFFLE | 6/9/2011 |
| Q: AFTER AN EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH FOR DAYS ON LINE, I'VE COME TO THE SAD CONCLUSION THAT THE ONLY BAFFLERS ... A: I am sorry, but the Bluebird organizations do not recommend wood posts for just the reasons that you ... | |
| eggs gone, no bluebirds | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: My first batch of eggs were found broken on the ground. Second batch 2 gone and one egg that did not ... A: Yes. Clean out the nest. It is almost impossible to stop some of this from happening, which is why ... | |
| Blurbird babies | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: I have your free pamphlet. Thank you. This is my 2nd season for Bluebirds. I had four babies. Two ... A: This is not unusual. Sometimes there is a delay of a day for one or two. And the parents may not ... | |
| Bluebird nests | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: ..I have a pair of bluebirds in my area....the female half built a nest near my house in the box..I ... A: You will just have to wait to see what happens. It is hard to understand some of their decisions, ... | |
| dead bluebird chicks | 5/28/2011 |
| Q: We have just discovered that our bluebird house has two dead chicks in the nest. I haven't seen the ... A: Were you monitoring the box every week to know how many eggs and young that were there? It is not ... | |
| "tutu" as snake proofer | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: Do you have a photo of a "tutu" insalled? I have a roll of one inch plastic screen and wonder if I ... A: You need the netting with 1/4 inch mesh that the snake gets tangled in. Their scales go in one ... | |
| Feeding day old nestlings. | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I have a family of five Eastern Bluebird nestlings that hatched less than 24 hours ago. The weather ... A: I understand. The book will answer many other questions that you may have. I have sent out more than ... | |
| Feeding day old nestlings. | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I have a family of five Eastern Bluebird nestlings that hatched less than 24 hours ago. The weather ... A: The best bet is to let the parents handle it. Very young nestlings are very fragile and you could do ... | |
| Feeding day old nestlings. | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I have a family of five Eastern Bluebird nestlings that hatched less than 24 hours ago. The weather ... A: At this point it is most important that the parents survive. Also they may be feeding the young more ... | |
| bluebird eggs...mama killed by cat | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: is there anything i can do to save the bluebird eggs in our bluebird house where the mama bird has ... A: If you had a trail of other boxes and knew the ages of all of the eggs you could put an extra egg in ... | |
| Why did my blue bird babies die? | 5/24/2011 |
| Q: I put up a new box this spring and had a nesting pair of Western blue birds start a nest. We had ... A: There are so many possibilities that it is really hard to say. Here in the east and midwest House ... | |
| Bluebird house | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: In April we put up a bluebird house that was supposed to be sparrow resistant. Within a month we had ... A: Unfortunately there is no house sparrow proof box. (A caution - there are many good sparrows, but ... | |
| bluebirds | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: We had a pair of bluebirds in April build a nest, lay five eggs and the female was sitting on them. ... A: Ants drive birds away. Go to WalMart or a pet store and buy Caged Bird spray - spray the boxes, the ... | |
| nesting | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: Greetings from nesr Okefenoke Swamp. last year we had our first nesting after having a house up for ... A: It is hard to say. Sometimes the female changes her mind but more often a predator has gotten one of ... | |
| bluebird eggs attacked by swallows | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: I had a bluebird couple and 4 eggs just a couple days ago. I've been checking the nest and today ... A: I may have answered this before, but it is best to clear out a nest after an attack - just scrape it ... | |
| should I have changed the nesting material? | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: Our five bluebirds hatched on May 9th and have been thriving until they succumbed to this crappy ... A: Yes. The spookers should not be installed until after one egg is laid and the birds are bonded to ... | |
| should I have changed the nesting material? | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: Our five bluebirds hatched on May 9th and have been thriving until they succumbed to this crappy ... A: Sometimes you can save them by putting in a dry nest when you know that it is wet. It is worth a ... | |
| bluebird eggs attacked by swallows | 5/16/2011 |
| Q: I had a bluebird couple and 4 eggs just a couple days ago. I've been checking the nest and today ... A: Throw out the cracked egg. The mother may try to hatch the others and may even lay more eggs, but ... | |
| Eastern Bluebird Babies Dead | 5/16/2011 |
| Q: Yesterday my husband and I came home to find our four bluebird nestlings on the ground next to the ... A: This is not unusual and is one reason why I always recommend that Bluebirders have at least 3 or 4 ... | |
| bluebird attacked by cat | 5/15/2011 |
| Q: I had a nest with 5 baby blue birds, the mom and dad were excellent parents. This morning my cat got ... A: It is hard to say if the male will survive. It depends how badly he was bitten. Hopefully he will be ... | |
| Bluebird multilevel nests | 5/15/2011 |
| Q: Last year and again this year I am having trouble with the Eastern Bluebirds building new nests on ... A: We don't usually know why new nests are built on top of eggs, but there are at least two ... | |
| Bluebird hatching/feeding. | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: I have a pair of Bluebirds this year and five eggs were laid. The first egg hatched 5/10/2011, a ... A: They have many predators which is why they have so many babies (15 or more each year in the southern ... | |
| ants and larve in nest | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: I have a bluebird box...have had sucess for the past two years. This year 3 pairs fought to nest ... A: A quick fix - go to WalMart or a pet shop and get CAGED BIRD SPRAY - this is designed for birds. If ... | |
| Wren attack | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: Four days ago I noticed my bluebird pair somewhat agitated around the nestbox. After checking on the ... A: I got this question twice so I erased one. House Wrens are bad actors even though they are a ... | |
| Snake in bluebird box | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: Our bluebird eggs hatched yesterday morning. Today mom and dad were hovering in front and hollering. ... A: Usually it is best to remove a nest after any predator attack which allows a fresh start. Don't ... | |
| Blue birds | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: My pair nested and took care of the eggs,I went out every other day and checked them---the eggs ... A: Sometimes early in the season especially if there has been some cold weather the birds will delay ... | |
| blue bird nesting habits | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: my mother lives in jacksonville florida. she has a bluebird nesting box. she has watched them make a ... A: With that many eggs it almost seems like two females are involved. Also sometimes with the first ... | |
| Bluebirds feeding their young | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: Do both male and female feed thiir young A: The answer to this is all over the lot. Some extensive studies have shown that some males help a ... | |
| Bluebird nesting | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: I have 2 questions. My pair of bluebirds have laid 4 eggs so far. Last one on 4/20/11. The female ... A: It is easier for the predators to find them because of the odors from the feces, feeding activity ... | |
| Bluebird nesting | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: and was doing some research on bluebirds when I came across your website. I have a pair of bluebirds ... A: Yes this is quite normal early in the nesting season, especially with the advent of cold weather. ... | |
| Bluebird Question | 4/28/2011 |
| Q: My female bluebird laid her last egg on 4/16 and then basically the male and female disappeared. We ... A: This is not unusual. The birds back off a bit then as with cold weather there are few insects for ... | |
| no activity at the BB nest | 4/27/2011 |
| Q: The nest in our Bluebird house has been ready for about 2 weeks but nothing is happening. The male ... A: There is sometimes a delay at the start of the season, especially if the weather has been cold as ... | |
| Bluebird nesting | 4/25/2011 |
| Q: I have 2 questions. My pair of bluebirds have laid 4 eggs so far. Last one on 4/20/11. The female ... A: Four is the average number of eggs for Eastern Bluebirds. Also they delay starting incubation if the ... | |
| Is my bluebird nest abandoned? | 4/25/2011 |
| Q: We saw our bluebirds now and but lately have not seen any sign that they are still around. I ... A: No, if still alive they will be somewhere else trying to find food. And as I mentioned, please use ... | |
| Is my bluebird nest abandoned? | 4/24/2011 |
| Q: We saw our bluebirds now and but lately have not seen any sign that they are still around. I ... A: Several things may have happened which is why a box should be looked into at least once per week so ... | |
| 1st egg cracked | 4/22/2011 |
| Q: I recently put a bluebird house in our yard because I kept seeing bluebirds in our neighborhood. A ... A: Unfortunately House Wrens often peck and damage Bluebird and other bird's eggs. I would remove the ... | |
| Raccoon disturbed bb nest but didn't get eggs | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: Recently, a bb laid 3 eggs in my nest box. This is the 4th year I've had broods. Unfortunately, I ... A: When a nest is disturbed by an attack like that the birds usually abandon it. I always clear it out ... | |
| bluebird chicks feeding and parent dead | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: I am afraid one of my cats has taken the parent bluebird. As it is now dead can I help the chicks ... A: As this is not unusual in nature one parent can raise a brood of young. It is not necessary, but ... | |
| Blue birds | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: I have tried for years to get Bluebirds----and finally moved the house to a less suitable spot. ... A: They have a lot of predators and one may have gotten him. However the female can raise a family by ... | |
| feeding habits | 4/16/2011 |
| Q: Have you ever seen two males and one female feeding babies? I have two males (one male who I assume ... A: It is not that unusual. Birds do strange things. Some have been recorded feeding koi in water garden ... | |
| Bluebird Nest | 4/11/2011 |
| Q: I put up a slotted bluebird house on my fence. Typically each year I have a family of tree swallows ... A: You never know for sure as they are unpredictable, but what has usually happened in these cases is ... | |
| Eastern mountain Blue Bird | 4/8/2011 |
| Q: Bob, I have a nesting box for Eastern Mountain Bluebirds and have had great success the last five ... A: It is a real mystery but somehow they seem to know. Also sometimes something has happened to the ... | |
| bluebird habit | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: My knowledgeable brother tells me that the bluebird always leaves a straw/stem/stick sticking out of ... A: Try moving the box that has never had Bluebirds around to the front of the house so they can't see ... | |
| bluebird habit | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: My knowledgeable brother tells me that the bluebird always leaves a straw/stem/stick sticking out of ... A: The reverse of this is usually true. Bluebirds are bigger and stronger and usually bully and take ... | |
| bluebird habit | 4/3/2011 |
| Q: My knowledgeable brother tells me that the bluebird always leaves a straw/stem/stick sticking out of ... A: What seems to happen (and there is some debate on this)is when Bluebirds are first interested in a ... | |
| sparrows | 4/2/2011 |
| Q: Where can I get a trap for the sparrow that is trying to take my Bluebird house?? A: hat is one of the killer house sparrows, an alien unprotected bird like the starling. Call the ... | |
| 4 Eggs Abandoned? | 3/30/2011 |
| Q: I have Eastern Bluebirds nesting in a nestbox in my yard. This is the 4th year in a row that we've ... A: On one hand this is not unusual when the weather turns cold. There are fewer insects and the birds ... | |
| Time between egg laying | 3/25/2011 |
| Q: We have a cam in our bluebird house and she laid first egg Mar 15th and the second one today Mar. ... A: It is hard to say. We often find infertile eggs in nests. The eggs will hatch 12 to 14 days after ... | |
| Time between egg laying | 3/25/2011 |
| Q: We have a cam in our bluebird house and she laid first egg Mar 15th and the second one today Mar. ... A: This is not unusual for the first nesting. Sometimes the birds just get too early a start,and ... | |
| Western Bluebirds | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: I have built a bluebird house and wanted to know how high I hang it? A: Bluebirds like to have their boxes only 5 or 6 feet high on guarded or non climbable pest posts, but ... | |
| Bluebird Video | 3/17/2011 |
| Q: Bob--You answered many of my questions two years ago regarding bluebirds. Our bluebird laid 4 eggs ... A: I would love to have it. Bob Walshaw. 13019 E. 28th Place, Tulsa, OK 74134. And did you send me your ... | |
| Mealworms/preditors | 3/16/2011 |
| Q: I purchased some meal worms but am not sure what to put them in, where to put them or how much to ... A: Trees and wood posts are bad as cats, raccoons, snakes, etc. climb them. The T posts that farmers ... | |
| can i post boxes higher | 3/13/2011 |
| Q: We have a porch that sits one story above thegorund, and posted a bluebird box on the trunk of a ... A: It will work, but Bluebirds prefer boxes much lower as they feed on the ground after insects. ... | |
| bluebirds | 1/23/2011 |
| Q: i guess the bluebirds and the last brood have stayed for the winter in central Massachusetts. they ... A: Bluebirds are staying in the north more and more. I am told that mealworms really don't give them a ... | |
| roosting bluebirds | 1/10/2011 |
| Q: Have you ever heard of bluebirds roosting in an old robin's nest in winter? Every evening around ... A: That is not unusual. They have their own agenda and will snuggle together in any way to get out of ... | |
| bluebird box | 1/2/2011 |
| Q: I have a bluebird house built by the Bluebird Society on a tree in my backyard. It is 5 feet off ... A: Five feet is fine but trees are bad due to climbing predators. And yes, boxes should be cleaned out ... | |
| Thanksgiving | 11/25/2010 |
| Q: I want to use something different to stuff my turkey. Do Bluebirds make good stuffing? A: This is a bit late unless you are having a delayed dinner. Actually using house sparrows is much ... | |
| bluebirds and grubs | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: 2 broods in nest box. i live in massachusetts.i have seen 5 blue birds around nest box up to first ... A: Congratulations on having Bluebirds! Usually they move south for the winter from your area, but they ... | |
| Bluebirds are coming back to the house | 10/26/2010 |
| Q: Do bluebird babies come back later on in the season to visit? We had 8 bluebirds around our bluebird ... A: They are probably migrating through your area to warmer climes for the winter. Although more ... | |
| Too late? | 9/23/2010 |
| Q: We had our first family of bluebirds nest in late July in one of our birdfeeders! 5 eggs and 5 ... A: Congratulations on your successful nesting. Yes, it is definitely too late for another normal ... | |
| BlueBirds | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: Couple of questions. I have a bluebird camera box so I can watch these birds closely. four eggs are ... A: I find on my 100 box line that summer heat does affect fertility. There is not much that you can do ... | |
| bluebirds | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: second brood is about to leave the nestbox end of july. i have been giving them a good amount of ... A: We feed birds for own enjoyment, not because they need it. Studies have shown that even when fed ... | |
| Bluebird Fledgling Won't Fly | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: We are first time 'bluebirders' and our first brood fledged this past week - all except one that is. ... A: It would be best to let nature have its way. Mother Nature doesn't want weaklings contributing to ... | |
| 2nd Bluebird nesting? | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: My husband has heard you can leave the first nest in place and the bluebird will come back and use a ... A: It is best to always clean out the box (just scrape it out with a putty knife) after the young ... | |
| stolen eggs? | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: Bob I have written before about what a down year this seems to be for bluebirds. I have 5 boxes ... A: Sorry about that. If you are sure that it was not snakes (and big black snakes can get around some ... | |
| Male blue bird takes something white from house | 7/25/2010 |
| Q: I have two videos of (I think a male) bluebird going inside the bird house and flying out with ... A: In the first part of the young birds lives their waste is in a fecal sack, and the adults remove ... | |
| Female Bluebird Sticking Head Out | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a female bluebird who is sticking her head out of the nest with her mouth open for 20+ ... A: This is normal bird behavior in hot weather. They do this to cool off as they do not have sweat ... | |
| Mother bluebird killed | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a family of bluebirds in a bluebird box in the backyard. I have not looked in the box, but I ... A: This is not unusual and the male can do this as long as the babies are beyond needing to be brooded ... | |
| nesting | 7/20/2010 |
| Q: The bluebirds had one brood and I cleaned out the nesting box. After a week or so came back and ... A: You never know. Sometimes they do delay like this, and anything is possible in the hotter weather. ... | |
| My book will give you more hands on information. | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: Finally saw a nest and want to be sure it is successful. Thirty year established home in middle of ... A: What a beautiful name. That is the name of my favorite English book. You are about to embark on a ... | |
| Male blueblue playing dead? | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: I live near Raleigh, NC and twice in the last 2 years I have witnessed a male bluebird swoop down ... A: There are two reasons for this, and many birds do it. One is just getting some sun. The other more ... | |
| baby bluebirds dead? | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: I am not sure if the babies are dead. We have a bluebird house, and each week I go out to see if ... A: They do hunker down and play dead after they grow some feathers so that they are less attractive to ... | |
| Bluebird box hole | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: We have a few bluebird boxes with holes that have been made larger by other birds. Is there a repair ... A: I tack a square of 1/4 inch plywood with a 1 and 1/2 inch hole over the enlarged opening. Some ... | |
| Bluebird remains | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: We have several nesting boxes for our bluebirds %26 have been enjoying their return here for years. ... A: That sounds like a hawk. A cat will usually carry its catch away from the site. Please don't be too ... | |
| Cowbird takes bluebird egg | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: I saw what I think was a cowbird enter my bluebird box and snatch an egg. When the male bluebird ... A: A Cowbird can enter a 1 and 1/2 inch entrance hole (which is what you should have) but it is ... | |
| missing 3 day old bluebirds | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a bluebird house in my yard attached 5 ½ feet above the ground on a tree. This spring a pair ... A: Usually when young birds or eggs are missing and there is no sign of disturbance it is the work of a ... | |
| Bluebird Nest | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a bluebird nest with 5 eggs this is her second time laying in this nest, she has laid the ... A: That is bad news, Michelle. Bluebirds never cover their eggs. Some other bird has done it or is ... | |
| Baby bluebird count | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: My second clutch of 5 Bluebird eggs began hatching on 6/18. I have been checking the box daily but I ... A: Checking daily is a bit too often. We recommend weekly unless there are problems, and very carefully ... | |
| hatching | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a nest with 5 eggs. They should have hatched by Friday but have not. this is the second ... A: Eggs should hatch in 12 to 14 days after the start of incubation depending on the weather. I wait 3 ... | |
| Baby Bluebirds | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: We have 3 babies in one of our houses this year. Today as I was walking around the property I ... A: Birds don't smell and we are able to handle them with our bare hands. Send your mailing address to ... | |
| Babies in newspaper slot keep hoping out | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: I live in Eastern Nc. I have a bluebird nest under my mailbox in the newspaper slot. When i noticed ... A: You don't have to use gloves. Birds don't smell us. Yes, block the lower part of the box to ... | |
| Destruction of Bluebird Eggs | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: I read about instances when you should destroy abandoned eggs, but what is the best way to do that? ... A: There is no reason to be concerned about this as there is no life left in them. Just toss them out ... | |
| heat and eggs | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I only had two of my boxes used this year, but both were successful. Now both birds are beginning ... A: Yes, and rarely even four if they get an early spring start. Birds have many predators and many ... | |
| heat and eggs | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I only had two of my boxes used this year, but both were successful. Now both birds are beginning ... A: It may. My Bluebirds here in NE OK nest into the August heat waves, but because of our winds they ... | |
| Bluebirds & Titmouse feeding chicks?? | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I have several bb boxes, and several years of successful eastern bluebird hatches. This year after ... A: This is not an unusual situation. Begging chicks sometimes trigger the feeding impulse in other ... | |
| Bluebird attacks my cat | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I think my cat killed the bluebird's family! I found three dead baby bluebirds (do cats throw up ... A: Cats can't throw baby birds out of a nest. It was probably a House Wren and the cat is being blamed. ... | |
| Fledging time of day | 6/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a pair of Western Bluebirds in my backyard who laid 6 eggs in a bluebird house. The babies ... A: It is very hard to tell. It even depends on how well the parents were able to feed them. The parents ... | |
| Bluebird parents | 6/20/2010 |
| Q: Do the bluebird parents sleep in the birdhouse with the babies? A: During the first few days after hatching, especially in cool weather in the spring until the babies ... | |
| bluebirds | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 pairs of bluebirds competing over the one house we have...I plan to put up another house to ... A: Houses should be 100 yards (a football field) apart unless a house or other barrier is between them ... | |
| blue birds | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: We had the privilege of a observing a pair of bluebirds nesting! Unfortunately, the nest was ... A: Finding just skeletons so quickly probably means an attack of fire ants. I don't have them here in ... | |
| eastern bluebirds | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: they took to the nest box, had 5 babies,which i believe left after 17-18 days. i would feed them ... A: That is normal. The adults take the young to a secluded spot to give them some training. If you have ... | |
| mother bluebird is dead in nest.... | 6/12/2010 |
| Q: The female layed 4 eggs and after one day sitting on the nest she apparently has died. I have a ... A: Always have your boxes eye high so you can see into the nest. Stand on something and if you see that ... | |
| chickadee babies | 6/11/2010 |
| Q: What would cause baby chickadees to die after being one week old? Went to check on hatchlings and ... A: This happens when the weather is cold, but at this time of year it usually is that a predator has ... | |
| Abandoned bluebird eggs | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: Eastern bluebirds built a nest in our bluebird house. They laid 6 eggs 3 weeks ago and have not ... A: They have many predators and probably something got the female. Yes, clear out the nest and destroy ... | |
| where did the male blue bird go | 6/1/2010 |
| Q: every year I have 2 bluebirds that come and nest in a bird house...this year the nest was made and ... A: They have many predators, and something may have gotten him. Also birds roam a lot, and he may be ... | |
| blue birds | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: I would like to attract blue birds to my backyard (Chicago), what can I feed them? A: Generally this time of year they are satisfied with insects. Later they will eat meal worms, suet. ... | |
| Blue bird eggs | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: You have helped me out before now I have another question. When we got to our beach home in Harkers ... A: Usually this is from some sort of attack, a snake, house sparrows, House Wren, etc. It often causes ... | |
| eastern blue bird | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: i haave 5 eggs in the box nest.the female has been killed.how long before the eggs die.she was ... A: There is nothing that you can do. The male cannot incubate as he does not have a brood patch, and ... | |
| puzzling behavior | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can explain the behavior of this female bluebird. They have built a nest and layed 4 ... A: Put a screen on the window or hang strips of Mylar plastic film. She is seeing competition. The eggs ... | |
| Bluebirds | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: My son will be building 30 bluebird nest boxes as an Eagle Scout project next week. He is doing ... A: Send your mailing address to me at walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you my free 20 page Bluebird ... | |
| Bluebird | 5/24/2010 |
| Q: Last year the sparrows murdered my hatched bluebird babies. This year successfully had eggs laid in ... A: Bluebird's skulls are very thin, and a killer house sparrow's peck can cause an injury that is hard ... | |
| Bluebirds taking over Chickadee Home/baby birds | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: Please help. I had baby chickadees in a house and the adult chickadees were there for about a ... A: All birds are teritorial, and although Bluebirds are harassed and killed by the killer house ... | |
| bluebird nesting | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: Hey Bob me again- I think I solved the problem with the sparrows, now I would like to know if you ... A: It depends on how many Bluebirds that you have in your area and where and how many boxes that you ... | |
| getting bluebirds to nest | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: this year I started attracting blue birds with mealworms, alive and dead and am doing very well.I've ... A: House sparrows are alien unprotected birds and the only solution is to trap and kill them. Taking ... | |
| bluebird eggs | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: Hey Bob, My kids were looking at the bluebird nest and it fell. Four eggs and a nest hit the ground. ... A: That is too bad. See what happens with the one egg. Often they will lay more. And never try to ... | |
| Female bluebird suddenly gone | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I had a pair of nesting bluebirds in a proper bluebird house. Everything was going well until one ... A: You can always open a box to check unless the young are close to fledging as they may try to leave ... | |
| concerns about bluebirds/nest | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I have had 3 bluebird houses on my property for 3 years now & have learned so much about their ... A: You are being too cautious. You should be opening the box at least once a week (until the babies are ... | |
| Chicks alone | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: My 5 bluebird chicks have been abandoned. I see the male about once a day when he perches on the BB ... A: It sounds as if a predator has gotten the female. This is not unusual, although the male will ... | |
| Female bluebird suddenly gone | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I had a pair of nesting bluebirds in a proper bluebird house. Everything was going well until one ... A: Not unusual. They have many predators. It probably was the work of a House Wren (which is ... | |
| ABANDONED NEW BABIES | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: WHAT WOULD CAUSE A BLUEBIRD PAIR TO ABANDON NEWLY HATCHED BABIES? A: Unfortunately that is not unusual, and it is almost always caused by the death of the female. (They ... | |
| Bluebird babies | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: When I checked my box all of the 5 day old babies were missing. I found one dead about 20 feet from ... A: This is a very common happening, and it is usually the killer house sparrows or House Wrens. (It ... | |
| FEMALE GONE | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: Bob, The nest has 4 eggs in it but the female has disappeared, now for 5 days. She must be dead. ... A: This is not unusual. They have many predators, but To be sure I would wait at least another week and ... | |
| long incubation period | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: Mama bluebird laid last of five eggs on the 11th of April. She is still sitting but so far no ... A: Sometimes eggs are not fertile. I wait 30 days and then remove the nest and eggs. (Just scrape it ... | |
| I found 1 week + old baby blue birds dead | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: Yearly I enjoy two blue bird couples nesting in our BB houses. A week or so ago the first pair's ... A: Usually in a case like this if there are no injuries (and no hypothermia from very cold weather) ... | |
| missing bluebirds | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: I wonder if you have noticed a lack of bluebirds and chickadees this year? I have five bluebird ... A: Yes Mary. This spring has been different. Bluebird nestings have been 2 weeks late and my Chickadee ... | |
| attracting bluebirds | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: I am wondering the best way to attrack bluebirds to my backyard. I have put up 3 different types of ... A: You may have a problem if you live in a city or in a very built up area. There are many Bluebirds in ... | |
| destroyed eggs | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: after 2yrs excited about our 5 blue eggs %26 mom %26 dad diligently guarding nest. after 2 weeks the ... A: A common happening. You have to trap and kill the alien house sparrows. They are not protected. Also ... | |
| bluebird behavior | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: We have a pair trying to incubate three eggs. There were four eggs originally, but the very next ... A: That is new to me also. I have never seen that done. Send your mailing address to me at ... | |
| parents gone/nest destroyed | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: After 2 years of waiting, I finally had a pair of bluebirds inhabit my bluebird house and lay 4 ... A: It is difficult as they have many predators, but this is nature's way of keeping a species strong. ... | |
| Bluebird mother found dead outside of box | 4/24/2010 |
| Q: Yesterday I went out to mow and to my great dismay I found a bluebird dead underneath my bluebird ... A: This is not unusual. They have many predators and she was probably killed by one of the alien house ... | |
| What To Do After Predator Robs Unborn Chicks | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: A critter unlatched my lady's first year bluebird home, last night, and took out the five blue, week ... A: 1.Sounds like a Raccoon. Close your box with a Phillips head screw and put a guard on the post. 2. I ... | |
| new eggs in Bluebirds nest | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: My husband & I are new to bluebirds. Last year we moved into an older home that backed up to a ... A: Yes. They are territorial and will often fight each other, especially if there are few cavities ... | |
| Bluebird nests | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a nest under my eaves, built on a spotlight. My husband thought he saw House Sparrows ... A: Not usually. There may be other birds with blue eggs, Robins for example. Was part of the nest made ... | |
| bluebird aggressiveness | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: We have a pair of bluebirds that constantly tap on our house windows. this started last Sunday and ... A: Congratulations on your trail. There are a number of solutions - hang strips of Mylar plastic in ... | |
| attracting Bluebirds | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: Wanting to get bluebirds started, we went on the internet to find out how. So, we built a birdhouse ... A: It is hard to say. The female makes the decision and they are very fussy. Also it is very early. My ... | |
| blue bird sitting on eggs | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: This is the second year I have had a pair of blue birds. Last year they layed only 2 eggs. When I ... A: That is hard to know. Snakes take eggs and do not disturb the nest. So do the killer house sparrows ... | |
| Bird feed near bluebird box | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: How close can a bird feeder be to a blue bird box? We now have bluebirds nesting in our box and we ... A: As far away as possible as other birds will bother the Bluebirds. Send your mailing address to me at ... | |
| Bluebirds | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: Is it true that if you see a bluebird on the first day of spring and he sings to you, you will have ... A: I am not superstitious, but you can believe it if you like. If you are interested in Bluebirds send ... | |
| chickadee nesting | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: From the Page Belcher golf course, I noticed some bluebirds checking out my house last week. But, ... A: They are very similar, but the House Wren does not have the white stripe across the eyes. The ... | |
| chickadee nesting | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: From the Page Belcher golf course, I noticed some bluebirds checking out my house last week. But, ... A: No. That was not good. Chickadees and Titmice and Carolina Wrens (Not the bad House Wrens) are good ... | |
| BIRD HOUSE OPENING | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to keep sparrows out of my bluebird house. The house has a standard 1 1/2" diameter ... A: No. The only sure method is to trap and kill them. Do not change the size of the hole. Send your ... | |
| bluebird | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: I have 14 bluebird boxes up and several couple of bluebird nests in them each year and there young ... A: I don't have Tree Swallows here in NE OK, but the experts say to pair boxes about 15 feet apart(and ... | |
| could I have Bluebird eggs this early? | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: This weekend my daughter and I discovered 4 little blue eggs in one of our bird houses atached to ... A: It is a bit early, but Bluebirds have been moving farther north lately. I wait at least two weeks ... | |
| Sparrows taking over bluebird house | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: Blue birds have nested several years, laying eggs multiple times each year. I saw them at the house ... A: Unfortunately the birds that were chasing your Bluebirds were not just sparrows (we have a lot of ... | |
| Bluebird house direction | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: Literature I have read says to not face the house toward prevailing wind. Someone told me they have ... A: I disagree with the literature. I have 16 years of Bluebird experience and monitor a 100 box trail. ... | |
| Dirt | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: I just recently was able to get out and inspect my bluebird houses after all the snow melted. I ... A: The orange balls are usually what is left of berries on the outside of the pits, probably left by ... | |
| bluebird "family" roosting on front porch | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: We live in the city of Tiffin in Northwest Ohio and a group of bluebirds has taken up residence in ... A: Putting up Bluebird houses now could help as they use them now on cold nights. However you need ... | |
| when to clean the box out | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: We have a pair of eastern bluebirds who did not migrate this year. I know the nest they used last ... A: Yes. Once the babies fledge thay never go back. The nest is a dangerous place. The book covers this ... | |
| when to clean the box out | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: We have a pair of eastern bluebirds who did not migrate this year. I know the nest they used last ... A: Leave the nest in for now as they may use the box on cold nights. Then clean it out in February ... | |
| hole size and location | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: For bluebirds in Florida, how big do I make the entrance hole and how high from the floor of the box ... A: If you will send your mailing address to me at walshaw1@cox.net I will send you my free 20 page ... | |
| hurt bluebird | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: i have an adult eastern bluebird that was hit by a car.his wings are broken and he can't fly.no one ... A: I really can't help. A bird does not survive with those kinds of injuries. Even if it will eat do ... | |
| blue birds at 1 box in October? | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: Live in residential neighborhood, in BA - Had first nesting spring 2009 - not successful, something ... A: Some Bluebirds stay here all winter although it is a gamble. They get first dibs in the spring on ... | |
| Bluebirds not migrating in Montana | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: We have a flock of 15-20 bluebirds that didn't leave for migration this year...wea re in SW Montana ... A: That is a bit unusual but they should leave when they run out of berries. Leave your boxes up as ... | |
| Bluebird | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: What direction should bluebird nesting house face? A: I have had a 100 box 5 mile trail for 15 years in NE OK and Regardless of what you read I find that ... | |
| bluebirds | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: How late in the season do eastern bluebirds raise their second brood? I saw a pair of adults with ... A: This is certainly at the tail end of the season, but not totally unusual. My last fledging here in ... | |
| blue bird leaving nest and eggs | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: Two years in a row I have had a pair of birds leave the same house with eggs in it. This year after ... A: When eggs are abandoned it is usually because a predator has killed the female, and this also often ... | |
| Bluebird eggs | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: How long does it take for bluebird eggs to hatch once they are laid? We have two in our birdhouse ... A: From hatching to fledging is 18 or 19 days. If the babies were gone well before then and the nest ... | |
| protecting the bluebird box | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: I just found my bluebird babies dead in the house. I knew something was wrong because I saw a ... A: Always clean a box out after an attack. This late in the year and after an attack the Bluebirds ... | |
| empty eggs | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: Bob, A bluebird was laying a second clutch of eggs in one of my boxes. Last time I checked there ... A: Where do you live? The Southern Red Squirrel is bad about eating eggs, and I understand that ... | |
| Blue Bird Habits | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: Should I remove the nest once the babies have flown away or will the mother use the same nest again? A: Remove the nest as soon as the babies leave. They never go back. Just scrape it out well with a ... | |
| Mom bluebird killed | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: Yesterday something pecked my mom bb to death and there are 3 nestlings in the box. Dad is really ... A: I still would not rule out house sparrows. They have spread everywhere, and I don't know of any ... | |
| Abandoned Bluebird eggs | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: I live in Florida and we had some very hot 105 w/heat index days (5 days) and then heavy rains for ... A: This is not unusual in hot weather and at the end of the nesting season. Also predators may have ... | |
| Mom bluebird killed | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: Yesterday something pecked my mom bb to death and there are 3 nestlings in the box. Dad is really ... A: That was a killer house sparrow attack. Yes one parent can usually raise a brood, but unfortunately ... | |
| raccoons | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: How do I keep raccoons from getting into my bluebird houses? I've seen advertisements for ultrasound ... A: They are very strong and persistent. I don't have guards on my black oil sunflower feeders and a ... | |
| Bluebird Eggs | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: I have 5 BB boxes and a nest cam in one. In the nest cam nest, one day I had 3 eggs, and the next ... A: OUCH! That really hurts. Relocating house sparrows just gives the problem to someone else, and when ... | |
| abandoned bluebird eggs | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: My bluebirds did a 2nd nesting in a house in my front yard. When it got very hot I noticed noone was ... A: Eggs are often abandoned late in the season when it gets hot or when a predator gets the female, and ... | |
| birdhouse hazards | 7/2/2009 |
| Q: We recently put up two bluebird houses. Tree swallows moved into one of them and they are really ... A: There are several possibilities, although nothing is certain in the bird world. !. Were all the eggs ... | |
| Bluebirds | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: I had three bluebird eggs until about 5 days ago. Then we found part of a shell on the ground and ... A: This sounds like the work of the killer house sparrows or the House Wren. A snake swallows the eggs ... | |
| bluebird territory size | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: My neighbor was told that he had to have two acres of land in order for bluebirds to nest in the ... A: 100 yards is the right figure unless a house or big barrier is between them so they can't see each ... | |
| high nests | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: This is the first year that our bluebirds have built twice as high nests. The first time they built ... A: I have several pairs on my 100+ box trail that do the same thing, and this is bad as it makes it ... | |
| too many birds? | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: Bluebirds in my nestbox are raising a second brood. By counting from the time they should have laid ... A: Sometimes more than one female will lay eggs in a box. And you can't always count from the last egg ... | |
| Blue bird nest in a bad location (newspaper box under our mail box) | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I live in Florida and it is very hot out right now (100 degrees, 115 degree heat index). I went out ... A: Not much that you can do. Those boxes collect heat. Next time when you get your paper look in the ... | |
| Blue Bird nest filled with ants | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I checked my blue bird nest box today and found a hen sitting on eggs but the bottom of the nesting ... A: Yes Barb. Go quick to WalMart ot a pet store and get Caged Bird Spray. It was developed for birds. ... | |
| buebirds | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: recently had babys in nest,now they are gone and no where to be found or seen.the parents arestill ... A: To know what goes on you should be opening the box at least weekly to check. The eggs hatch about 14 ... | |
| baby blue birds | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a nesting box with 4 baby blue birds.Hiw long is it until they turn blue all have gray ... A: From hatching to fledging (leaving the nest)is approximately 19 days. Be very careful after 13 days ... | |
| bluebird houses together | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: Can I hang two bluebird houses on the same telepnone pole? Or how far apart should they be? We live ... A: That is a no no. They are very territorial and boxes need to be at least 300 feet apart unless there ... | |
| Bluebird eggs | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: How long does it take for bluebird eggs to hatch once they are laid? We have two in our birdhouse ... A: Yes, she needs to leave to eat. In this warm weather the eggs stay quite warm. Some eggs are ... | |
| hatched baby bluebirds | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: My two babies have their eyes opened and some colored feathers. Are they suppose to be really docile ... A: At this age they duck down as they see you as a predator. Also you should not be cleaning the box ... | |
| bluebird nesting | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: I just saw one of the bluebird parents get taken by a hawk. The other parent chased the hawk, so ... A: If the young are two weeks old at this time of year with plenty of insects one parent should be able ... | |
| blue birds | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a blue bird nest, and the adults are tending the eggs. There are 4 blue eggs and 2 ... A: Several species lay white/brown speckled eggs. A "good" species might have laid them and then the ... | |
| what to do about wrens killing bluebird babies | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: After reading previous posts I think I may have solved the problem of why my baby blue birds ... A: The first defense against House Wrens is when you monotor and open boxes weekly (you should have 3 ... | |
| mixed blue bird breeds | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: the blue birds in our birdhouse look very odd and different..they look like a mix of a brown wren ... A: That is a mystery. They don't sound like Bluebirds as their young always have only grey and white ... | |
| what to do about wrens killing bluebird babies | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: After reading previous posts I think I may have solved the problem of why my baby blue birds ... A: There could be several reasons for this, and please do not blame the Wrens until you know which Wren ... | |
| Bluebirds abandon nest? | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: We have two Gilbertson bluebird boxes set up on individual poles. They are about 25ft apart with a ... A: If you read the book you will see that the houses should be at least 300 feet (a football field) ... | |
| Would bluebirds leave w/babies before they were ready? | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: This morning no sign of any bluebirds. The parents were busy feeding them up until yesterday - I ... A: Ok. The basic problem is that you have not been opening the box at least weekly to check so that you ... | |
| Sparrow Killed Mother Bluebird on Nest | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: There are 4 young babies with fur and old enough to open their eyes. The mother was killed on the ... A: The male will be OK now that the young are beyond the brooding stage (he does not have a brood ... | |
| dead baby blue bird hanging out entry hole | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: this morning i found a dead baby hanging out the entry hole. very similar to this photo ... A: The bird looks injured which probably is a house sparrow attack. Remove it and clean out the box. ... | |
| baby bluebirds | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: The bluebirds hatched, my husband checked the nest and they appeared to be dead. But, the male ... A: Be sure that they are dead - feel for warmth. After a certain age babies hunker down and act dead to ... | |
| Blue Bird Houses | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought a blue bird house and was wondering how far off the ground I need to mount it, ... A: It should be eye high for you so you can look into it when you monitor it every week and also if you ... | |
| Eggs not hatchings | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: I saw your answer to the question about how long to wait before cleaning out the nest if the eggs ... A: Yes. I usually give it 30 days, and even this is a bit long. The most common situation is that ... | |
| Blue Bird Houses | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought a blue bird house and was wondering how far off the ground I need to mount it, ... A: Not on a 4X4 post. Raccoons, cats etc. can climb them. Use a 3/4 inch metal pole or the T posts that ... | |
| mealworms | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: Is there something..like chili or red pepper spice that I can use on the mealworms to discourage ... A: Don't do this. Get or make a Bluebird feeder that has glass sides and 1 and 1/2 inch entrance holes ... | |
| Help with baby Eastern Bluebird please!! | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: My cat brought in a baby bluebird through the cat door. We caught him and took the bird away. He ... A: 1. Please buy one of the electronic litter boxes that sweep waste into a closed container and never ... | |
| dying baby bluebirds | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: Help! I've had a dozen successful hatches of bluebird eggs--but in our new box, the mama laid six ... A: We never know why eggs and sometimes babies are abandoned. There are a lot of bird diseases and the ... | |
| Predator Guards for fence posts | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: We have several BB boxes at our park that are on metal fence posts. Should we change them and put ... A: The mesh enrance guard discourages Bluebirds and 4X4 posts are able to be climbed by Raccoons and ... | |
| dead baby bluebirds | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: We had 5 baby bluebirds and we went to check on them yesterday and they are all dead. It's been ... A: This early in the year heat should not have been the problem. If their heads were injured it was ... | |
| Bluebird eggs disappeared | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: A couple of weeks ago we had a pair of Bluebirds scoping out our boxes after having 4 of them up ... A: Unfortunately this is not unusual, and it could be a House Wren, house sparrows or even a snake. ... | |
| dead chickadees | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: Carolina chickadees nested this year in a box they successfully nested in last year. The birds ... A: So hard to say. Were their heads damaged? (house sparrow or house Wren attack). And sometimes for ... | |
| Bluebird Egg Incubation Time | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: We are in the Florida Panhandle, bluebirds laid 4 eggs on or before the weekend of May 2nd. As of ... A: 14 days is about right. Either the female sensed that something is wrong with them or a predator has ... | |
| babies gone | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: I had 5 bludebird babies and on Monday the mother and dad were feeding like crazy. I noticed that ... A: This is not an unusual situation when a box is mounted on a wood pole. If the nest is not disturbed ... | |
| Birdhouse placement | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: ..The two bluebird boxes I have, have been taken over by Wrens(they are close to a brushy area) If ... A: Human activity does not bother them, and lawn mowing is only weekly anyway. Also the short lawn is ... | |
| bluebid predators | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: I have two bluebird boxes mounted back to back. Bluebirds nested in one and chickadees in the ... A: Even with no claw marks it sounds like a Raccoon, Possum or even a cat. If the babies were tiny even ... | |
| whats going on with my bluebirds? | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: I,ve had bluebirds nesting in a box for a while now. They have been feeding their young for almost ... A: If you had been monitoring (opening the box at least once a week to check ages, problems) You would ... | |
| abandoned eggs ??? | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: We have a bluebird box that has had 5 eggs in it for about a month. We occasionally see adult ... A: This is not unusual. They have many predators and either one got the female or there was an early ... | |
| snake ate one of my baby robins | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: Three weeks ago robins built a nest and laid eggs in our gutter right outside the kitchen window. We ... A: This is part of nature. Snakes and predators get the weaker and less smart and this keeps the ... | |
| two situations-need help | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: I have had a horrible last 24 hours in bluebird-land. Yesterday, sparrows attacked one of my boxes. ... A: Be patient. She may incubate the 2 eggs and even lay more. If she abandons them destroy the nest and ... | |
| dead baby bluebirds | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: Five baby blue birds died. At first there were white spots in the pine straw nest. Now the ... A: If the babies are dead get them and the nest out. If they were not hurt by a house sparrow or a ... | |
| blue bird babies | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: There was no visibly physical damage. Would a cat have scared the parents away. I don't know why ... A: Unfortunately sometimes a predator gets the female and the male has no brood patch to keep the early ... | |
| ants | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: Bluebirds recently fledged from one of my bluebird houses. Ants have moved in with their larvae. I ... A: Go to WalMart or a pet store and get caged bird spray. This will kill them. To keep them from coming ... | |
| Aggressive Bluejays | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: We recently adopted a feral male cat that brought with him some baggage: aggressive, loud dive ... A: That is natural bird behavoir, especially with Blue Jays and Mockingbirds. He did not bring them, ... | |
| dead bluebirds | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I just read a question about dead baby bluebirds. I also had an early nest this spring with dead ... A: Cold weather will do it, as if food is scarce the parents will abandon the young to save themselves. ... | |
| sparrows in Martin house | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: Bob, How do we remove sparrows from the Martin house when Martin eggs are already in the house. ... A: That is a problem. The new super gourds have traps that fit in the gourds and also there are some ... | |
| bluebird box | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: Is there a certain direction that the bluebird box should face? A: You can read various opinions in Bluebird books, don't face them south as it will be too hot, don't ... | |
| Momma Killed | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I just got home from work and noticed a hawk on the ground in front of one of my bluebird boxes. ... A: It is a bare patch on the female's breast with extra blood vessels that allows the female to ... | |
| Momma Killed | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I just got home from work and noticed a hawk on the ground in front of one of my bluebird boxes. ... A: Unfortunately no. They need to be brooded for a few days until they get some feathers and the male ... | |
| bluebird fledgling that can't fly | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: The bluebirds in my box are 21 days old today. Some have fledged, but today, I saw a fledgling on ... A: Birds do strange things and all are at least somewhat territorial. Also Robins feed on the ground ... | |
| bluebirds | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a nest that had three eggs on the fourth day (when the fourth should have been deposited) i ... A: Always remove the nest after an attack. This sounds like a House Wren, especially if the eggs were ... | |
| bluebird fledgling that can't fly | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: The bluebirds in my box are 21 days old today. Some have fledged, but today, I saw a fledgling on ... A: This is normal - once they leave the box they will not go back. If the parents are not feeding him ... | |
| Baby bluebird fell out of the nesting site | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: Eastern blubirds have nested in the bottom portion of our mailbox. My son just discovered two very ... A: Put them back in the nest and hope that the parents will feed them. You cannot raise them. Lean a ... | |
| Wren House | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: Although, I have 3 bluebird nesting boxes, the bluebirds are nesting in my wren house for the second ... A: Bluebird babies do not have problems getting out of any entrances that their parents can get into, ... | |
| Bluebird house | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: You and I have had some contact a while back, and you helped me very much. I have a Bluebird house ... A: They are suspicious of being next to woods and trees as this is where most of their predators come ... | |
| Bluebird egg | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: 10 days ago, (April 16, Eastern Nebraska), we had one bluebird egg in a new blue bird house. I ... A: Sometimes egg laying is delayed in the spring due to cool weather, and sometimes a predator has ... | |
| House Sparrows. . . Bluebirds | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I live near Fort Worth. I have a bluebird house up that has been taken over by HOSP (yuck). I'm ... A: Not too late - they nest into August and can have 3 families a year. Direction is not critical - I ... | |
| Male Bluebird attacking reflection on chimney | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: "Our" male eastern Bluebird has been repeatedly attacking it's reflection on a very high chrome ... A: It is a male spring habit and he will not hurt himself. Many birds do it. If it bothers you cover ... | |
| 9 eggs | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: I have my first baby bluebirds hatched 3 days ago and my other nests all have eggs as well. I ... A: It is unusual, but sometimes two females will use one box. Also sometimes another female will "dump" ... | |
| Bluebirds | 4/19/2009 |
| Q: 4/19/09 Eastern PA I checked out our BB house today and found 4 eggs had been laid, but the Daddy ... A: The female can raise a brood by herself, and the male can if the young are hatched and beyond the ... | |
| nestlings died | 4/18/2009 |
| Q: We had a nest with 5 eggs in march in alabama, then bad rain and cold few days. checked the nest ... A: This is not unusual in a cold spring. If there are not enough insects the adults will abandon the ... | |
| bluebird eggs mom died | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: We have bluebird boxes all over our farm as we love to nurture and watch them. Today I found a nest ... A: Please destroy the eggs. There is nothing that you can do. Even if you had a trail with a lot of ... | |
| Bluebird eggs | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I found this egg in my yard. We have a bluebird box that is occupied every year, but no birds in ... A: This looks like a Robin's egg although I don't have my egg pictures with me. It also could be a ... | |
| Bluebird nest | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a bluebird box with 5 eggs and the parents are bringing in more straw as if they are building ... A: That is unusual unless they are just adding a bit to the outsides of the nest. Another possibility ... | |
| Egg laying-cold temps | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: I live in Altoona (central) PA. A bluebird pair just finished building a nest our box where they had ... A: It has been below freezing here in NE OK too, but I understand that it has to get very cold to ... | |
| Blue Birds | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: We put up a blue bird house which we got from Wal-mart made from cedar wood. The next day it was ... A: In the first nest of the spring there is sometimes quite a delay after a nest is built before egg ... | |
| Bluebird boxes... | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: My bluebird boxes are full of sticks from last season, tho the birds only built the nests, then were ... A: Sticks are usually from House Wrens, a protected but problem species. Boxes should be cleaned out ... | |
| bluebird eggs | 3/28/2009 |
| Q: We found a bluebird nest in our yard that had been blown away in a storm and it had eggs in it. How ... A: Please don't even try. It is almoat impossible and in some cases even illegal. Even if you were by ... | |
| chickadees | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: I just put up a house and have noticed chickadees nesting there. Should I remove their materials ... A: Keep them! They are great birds, and usually have only one family and then the Bluebirds will nest ... | |
| Bluebirds Won't Use our House | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: We live in central Ohio and have had bluebirds in our nestbox for the last 3-4 years. One fall they ... A: You need to trap and kill the alien house sparrows or you will never be successful with Bluebirds. ... | |
| Cleaning bluebied houses | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: I live in upstate SC and wonder when I should clean out my Bluebird house. A: You should clean them out now as the nesting season is starting, and also after each family of young ... | |
| bluebirds and chickadees | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: We recently put up a bluebird house and I see both chickadees and bluebirds checking it out. The ... A: Let things happen. The green material is moss, and the Carolina Chickadees are great fun. They will ... | |
| incubation time? | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: How long is the incubation of the bluebird eggs. We have 4 eggs in a nest and the momma just ... A: Incubation lasts from 12 to 14 days depending on the weather, and the young leave the nest about 19 ... | |
| Bluebirds | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: I reside in Western NY State and have bluebird houses(5) on my property which get used each year by ... A: I need more information. How did they not survive? Were they injured? Attacked by a house sparrow or ... | |
| Bluebirds | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: I live in Maryland and last summer I set up two houses for the bluebirds. We've had wonderful luck ... A: Yes. Clean out the old nest every time after the babies fledge, and again in the spring if something ... | |
| Bluebird attracted to a mirror | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in Coweta, I made pictures of a male bluebird attracted to a mirror on my fence, he as come ... A: Great. I am Bluebird Bob and I live in Coweta too. I will be presenting a Bluebird seminar at Bass ... | |
| bluebirds | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: I heard that house sparrows can be kept out of a bluebird nest by stringing fishing line across the ... A: This is really not effective. House sparrows need to be trapped and killed. There is no type of box ... | |
| Blue Bird | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: I live in south east Oklahoma.What are the Blue Birds called in my area? A: I am sure that they are called Eastern Bluebirds, as the Mountain and Western Bluebirds are far to ... | |
| white ducks in lake | 12/3/2008 |
| Q: We live in Georgia. In our neighborhood there is a small lake. During the spring and summer, there ... A: Wow! You have stumped me. I just reviewed pictures of all wild ducks that we have and there is not ... | |
| bluebird houses | 11/29/2008 |
| Q: how to clean them. One answer online was - scrap with a putty knife -- it would not go in unless it ... A: Bluebird houses should open from the side or the front, both for ease of weekly observation, ... | |
| Family | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: So - When was the last time you saw your wonderful son and family? We miss you and love you. Happy ... A: Too long ago, and I am most aware of it on special days like this. Unfortunately it is impossible ... | |
| Bluebirds in northern Illinois on 11/7! | 11/7/2008 |
| Q: I still have bluebirds in my yard on 11/7. Should I continue to feed them or stop? I'm worried ... A: Feeding them will not make any difference. Depending on how far north you live some will stay all ... | |
| flying south? | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: I'm in Wisconsin, it's late October, and I still have bluebirds around. Is this wierd? Don't they ... A: Bluebirds in many areas that would seem too far north either wait until the last minute to migrate ... | |
| bluebird nests | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: I'm in a panic. It's late October and I have several bluebird boxes that I put up in my yard which ... A: Not at all. Kim. This is the time to clean them out, and you will have to check them again before ... | |
| Nestting | 9/5/2008 |
| Q: My Blue birds fledged on August 24 2008. I Live in Morganton NC (zone 5 I believe). My question is ... A: This late in the year in your area the nesting season should be complete. However do not take the ... | |
| All the bluebirds have disappeared | 9/3/2008 |
| Q: This past spring and summer I became a bluebird fanatic! Two pairs of eastern bluebirds had a total ... A: I live in NE OK, and probably 90% of them go south to where there is warmer weather and more ... | |
| Help! Bluebird Mom might be missing? | 9/3/2008 |
| Q: Please can you help me? We are in South Jersey and have our first bluebird nest that has five eggs ... A: This unfortunately is not unusual late in the season. They may have been tired from raising earlier ... | |
| my cat got the dad bird | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: our nest has 3 9 days old babies..today my cat got the male, it is alive but injured. I placed it ... A: Usually one parent can feed the young, especially in this case where there are only three. Send your ... | |
| ?normal baby behavior | 8/9/2008 |
| Q: I noticed a pair of bluebirds visiting a nextbox in my yard. I opened it and saw at least 1 baby ... A: It takes 19 days from hatching to leaving the box. Early in this period the babies will raise their ... | |
| Bluebird | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: I set up a birdhouse this past summer and saw that it was occupied by bluebirds. I'm new to all ... A: No. Leave it alone. She is probably starting another family. The cleaning instructions are when you ... | |
| bluebirds eat | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: What do you feed bluebirds? A: You really don't need to feed them - we feed birds for our own enjoyment. They are OK without us. ... | |
| Bluebirds fledging | 7/31/2008 |
| Q: My question is what is the earliest baby blue birds fledge. I had taken a pic of 5 babies just ... A: There could possibly be time. I have a few nests with eggs here in NE OK. Cone guards always work if ... | |
| Bluebirds fledging | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: My question is what is the earliest baby blue birds fledge. I had taken a pic of 5 babies just ... A: I am afraid not if you are sure of your dates. From hatching to fledging is usually 19 days, ... | |
| Bluebird Nest with No Eggs. | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: It's been more than 10 days since the bluebirds built a nest. The bluebirds disappeared for a ... A: This is not unusual this late in the season. Most pairs have raised at least one brood and maybe ... | |
| possible dead bluebird | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: i have been checking since bluebird layed her eyes, there were four. they are now 13 days old, i ... A: You are right to leave them alone after 13 days, as the birds see us as predators and may try to ... | |
| abandoned eggs | 7/19/2008 |
| Q: I have 4 eggs in the bluebird house, (3rd batch this summer). It seems they have abandoned the eggs. ... A: This is not unusual at the end of the season and in hot weather. You don't say where you live, but ... | |
| BlueBird Nest | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: This year I put a bluebird box in my backyard and sure enought one pair occupied it. I have been ... A: They may have grown up and fledged (flown from the box). You can tell this by cleaning the nest out ... | |
| bluebird egg hatching | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: once a bluebird egg starts hatching how long does it normally take for them to completely hatch, ... A: After the first "pip" or tiny hole in the shell from a healthy baby it usually takes 12 to 24 hours ... | |
| Bluebird babies | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: Bob...my pair of eastern bluebirds just finished raising a clutch of 3 babies (2 male and 1 female). ... A: You should get the old nest out as the babies never go back.(Just scrape it out with a putty knife). ... | |
| missing egg | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: As of noon today, there were 3 bluebird eggs and now 4 hours later one is missing. The other eggs ... A: Unfortunately there are things in the bird world that we don't understand. The new in-box camera ... | |
| Keeping sparrow out of a bluebird house | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: We had a old bird house in our yard. The bee starting going in it so we sprayed it with bug spray. ... A: House sparrows are a serious problem. They are the rats of the bird world, and call for aggressive ... | |
| Unhatched eggs | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: After a month of nest building and checking out my bluebird house, the pair finally had 5 eggs in ... A: If houses are too close together this can be a source of confusion, and a pair may build a dymmy ... | |
| Unhatched eggs | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: After a month of nest building and checking out my bluebird house, the pair finally had 5 eggs in ... A: Sometimes this happens and we don't know why. The Bluebirds may have been spooked by the house ... | |
| bluebird eggs | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: We had 4 eggs in our bluebird house. It was about time for them to hatch. All 4 eggs just ... A: Unfortunately this is the hallmark of a snake attack. House sparrows and house wrens usually smash ... | |
| Blue Bird's empty nest | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: Last week I saw about 4 hatchling in my bluebird box. I have the kind of box that allows me to open ... A: You did the right thing. They never go back, and you should just scrape the box out with a putty ... | |
| abandoned eggs | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: First there was one egg then two more, I thought one was a sparrow egg so I removed it. Next day ... A: Usually one different egg is the work of a parasitic brown headed cowbird and they should be removed ... | |
| abandoned nest? | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: Within a couple of days of putting up my first bluebird box, a nest was started by bluebirds. I ... A: On the positive side, somrtimes there is a bit of delay after nest completion before eggs are laid. ... | |
| baby keeps leaving nest | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a bluebird nest and from pictures on the internet I have determined that the babies are 6-7 ... A: You are probably right. The birds seem to know when something is wrong, and they sometimes remove ... | |
| bluebirds | 7/5/2008 |
| Q: I had a bluebird house with babies approx. 12 days old. In the morning I checked them and they were ... A: This just has to be a house sparrow attack. A raccoon or hawk, etc. would have eaten them. Look more ... | |
| first time blue bird watcher | 7/5/2008 |
| Q: My husband put up 2 new bluebird houses this late spring. We have seen a male bluebird around for ... A: Yes you can open the box and you should be doing this every week to check for problems. Believe or ... | |
| Bluebird eggs | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: I live in Berkshire county, Massachuttes...I have 4 eggs in my bluebird house..the bluebirds are ... A: In warmer weather incubating can be intremittent as it is easier to keep the eggs at the right ... | |
| bluebirds | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: Bluebirds built a nest in my newspaper box. The babies left the nest today. Today, as I approached ... A: You are being dive bombed as they probably want to use it for a second nest. All you have to do is ... | |
| 4 eggs/dead mom | 6/29/2008 |
| Q: Our bluebird box has 4 eggs but the mother was found dead on the ground this afternoon about 20 feet ... A: Unfortunately this is not unusual. A house sparrow could have killed her (were there any marks on ... | |
| blue jay ??? | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: I just love bird watching, and there are these blue jay fledglings at a nest in a bush near my ... A: All birds lose feathers from time to time, and they lose all of them over a period of time when they ... | |
| nest question | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: Moving to a new place. I have bluebirds currently, what direction, location, how close to the ... A: Regardless of what you read the best direction to face a house is toward their short grass feeding ... | |
| All Bluebird eggs haven't hatched | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: This is the second brood we have had this season. She laid 4 eggs and almost two weeks to the day ... A: This is not unusual. Sometimes eggs are infertile, they may have gotten cold or the incubation ... | |
| The Bird Guardinan | 6/22/2008 |
| Q: I have bluebirds nesting and she has laid one egg. I had problems with chickadee babies being ... A: Guards don't really work well, and they should never be used until all eggs are laid when the birds ... | |
| Many bluebird eggs in the nest | 6/22/2008 |
| Q: Predators got the first batch of our Western Bluebird (5)eggs in May. We made changes and moved the ... A: A house sparrow or some other bird buried the eggs, and they did not hatch as they were not ... | |
| Mother Bluebird Killed - Babies just hatched | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: So my cat got the mother Bluebird last evening and as she was still alive, I put her back in the ... A: Often one parent can raise a brood. Don't feel too bad - predators get the slow and less smart which ... | |
| Baby Blue | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: Update on bird to big to get out of nest. Today mom & dad are both feeding him!!However, we saw an ... A: Sorry I didn't think of that. Sometimes fishing line or string is the problem. And adults can get ... | |
| baby blue bird alone | 6/20/2008 |
| Q: Yesterday I had 4 baby birds about 4 days old. Today there is messy grass on Yesterday I had 4 ... A: Unfortunately that sounds like a killer house sparrow attack. Do you trap and /or shoot them? They ... | |
| nest abandoned | 6/20/2008 |
| Q: My name is Shannon Worley and I live in Asheville, NC. For the past two years I have had a blue ... A: The second box may have confused them if it is too close to the first (They should be a minimum of ... | |
| Baby Blue trying to get out of nest | 6/20/2008 |
| Q: We have a baby blue bird in the house in our patio, he has been trying like crazy for the past 4 ... A: This is unusual as the normal babies always leave on their own after about 19 days after hatching. ... | |
| Why don't my BB eggs hatch | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: This is the second set of eggs that my bluebirds have laid and they do not hatch. I live in Atlanta ... A: I would be baffled too if I was sure that it was the same pair. Once is not too unusual as once in a ... | |
| Blue Birds Gone | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: My Blue Birds have left the nest the other day, I know the young are now gone. I know they will be ... A: Depending on where you live they can have up to three families a year. You should be checking the ... | |
| bluebird | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: well, hi. i found an egg in my backyard, with its parents. after a day or so the parents left and it ... A: Don't do anything. Let nature take its course. The birds had a reason for abandoning it, or a ... | |
| missing bluebird | 6/13/2008 |
| Q: I have a nest in a apple tree in my yard that a bluebird sat on this nest everyday for 1 or 2 weeks. ... A: If she was sitting on the nest that long she certainly had eggs. An empty undisturbed nest after ... | |
| bluebird eggs | 6/11/2008 |
| Q: My bluebird has stopped sitting on her eggs.....we had 3 or 4 days in the 90's......could there be ... A: Eggs are abandoned at times and we often do not know why. From the start of incubation Bluebird eggs ... | |
| Bluebird hatchlings abandoned? | 6/11/2008 |
| Q: Just this morning I noticed a large chunk of dead grass gathered below our bluebird box. I check our ... A: Your touching the eggs/babies was not the problem. We are even able to take babies out of the nest ... | |
| BLUE JAY HELP!!!!!!!!!!! | 6/9/2008 |
| Q: PLease Help!!! I have this blue Jay fledgling. The rehab people are going to come pick itup in a ... A: Let the rehab people help you. I never recommend helping baby birds, as they bond to you and can ... | |
| Bluebird Nesting | 6/9/2008 |
| Q: After the first babies have hatched and left, should the unoccupied nest be cleaned out or left in ... A: Yes. Just scrape the old nest out with a putty knife - no need to do more. This increases the chance ... | |
| last bluebird baby | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a bluebird box that had 4 babies, we had a bad storm this past Wednesday, the babies would ... A: If you are sure of the 10 to 11 days it would have been too early for them to leave the box as it ... | |
| spooker or no spooker? | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: Do sparrow spookers ever spook the bb's? Mama Blue has laid her first egg. Spooker holder has ... A: The spooker experts advise not putting the spooker strips until all eggs are laid so she has firmly ... | |
| Bluebirds | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: A pair of bluebirds nested in our bluebird box. They have been very active, until I put the ... A: That should not have bothered them. They get rained on and sometimes like to fly through and feed ... | |
| Bluebirds | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: How close can you put a nesting house to your home? The baby bluebirds left the nest. I haven't ... A: Very close. People often have them on their lawn or along their driveway. They like to be close to ... | |
| Blue incubation | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: First let me say I am a novice regarding Bluebirds. I'm located in south-central PA. My wife and I ... A: This sometimes happens, especially in a cold spring or late in a hot summer, and we don't know why. ... | |
| bluebirds | 6/1/2008 |
| Q: In a matter of hours, and with many attempts of running and yelling through the yard trying to chase ... A: They are actually a weaver finch, an alien bird from Europe and our native birds have no defense ... | |
| Bluebirds | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: When a Bluebird lays her eggs and they hatch, leave the nest, will she lay more eggs or does she lay ... A: From the start of incubation eggs hatch in 12 to 14 days depending on the weather. From hatching to ... | |
| bluebird eggs | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: I saw our mother bluebird dead on the deck steps, I was wondering how long the eggs can stay alone ... A: This is a normal nature happening. Don't try to raise them as it is cruel. The cockateil won't be ... | |
| dead baby bluebirds | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: new to all this. had baby bluebirds just hatch 2 days ago. Mother nowhere to be seen today and male ... A: Bad things happen, especially in cold spring weather. If food is short the parents will stop feeding ... | |
| there not hatching what do I do???? | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: I have a pair of bluebirds that built a nest, as of may 5th, 08 they had 5 eggs in there. Today is ... A: There is not much that you can do. The eggs should have hatched 12 to 14 days after the start of ... | |
| cracked bluebird egg | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: Today while checking our bluebird eggs I was being impatient and picked one up. I accidently dropped ... A: Usually a cracked egg will not hatch, but hatching takes place 12 to 14 days after the start of ... | |
| nestbox placement | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a couple of slot-style nestboxes on my .6 acre lot. I wanted to place another on the ... A: They love to be close to us, although the boxes should be a minimum of 100 yards apart as they are ... | |
| bluebirds | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: How far apart do you put bluebird houes. A: They should be a minimum of 100 yards apart unless there is a big barrier such as a house between ... | |
| Ants and chickadees and new houses, Oh my | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a nesting pair of bluebirds, the eggs hatched about two weeks ago. I am having a terrible ... A: 1. ants - go to WalMart or a pet store and get caged bird spray. It is designed for birds - you can ... | |
| My sons bluebird egg | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: not cracked undamaged. We made a little bed for him, and have him under a light we turn him and mist ... A: Please tell him to throw it away. The birds probably knew that it would not hatch, and the mother ... | |
| Bluebird eggs, no nest | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: We have had one nest and 4 babies this year and they all feldged successfully. I was late in ... A: Oddly enough they will sometimes do this. I have had eggs in the bottom of a bare wooden box. Put a ... | |
| Hanging Bluebird Houses | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: My brother is involved in housing and monitoring BB's in California where they hang the houses in ... A: Send me your mailing address and I will send you a free 20 page Bluebird book that has pictures of ... | |
| ( Belived to be ) Abandoned Bluebird Egg | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: Me and my friends were doing a fundraiser when we found what appeared to be an abandoned egg. I was ... A: Eggs hatch in 12 to 14 days after the mother starts incubating, and the young fly from the nest ... | |
| ( Belived to be ) Abandoned Bluebird Egg | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: Me and my friends were doing a fundraiser when we found what appeared to be an abandoned egg. I was ... A: I commend you for all of your hard work and research. However it is almost impossible to raise this ... | |
| What to do with a nest in a bad place? | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: I have found that bluebirds have made a nest and layed 4 eggs in the bed of my pickup truck. There ... A: I would set up a small platform (a stepladder, etc. ?)next to where you park the truck and put the ... | |
| Death of Bluebird Babies | 5/23/2008 |
| Q: The Bluebird nest in my yard was going great. Yesterday, I noticed where the the parents were not ... A: This is not at all unusual in the Bluebird world today. It was probably an attack by the alien ... | |
| dead baby birds | 5/22/2008 |
| Q: Oh dear -- when I checked on the four Eastern bluebird chicks in my nest box today (they were just ... A: We often just don't know. A layer of grass over eggs or babies usually means a house sparrow, but ... | |
| eggs not hatched | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: Our 2nd brood eggs are really late to hatch. Our first brood was 14 days after the last egg was ... A: It rarely goes that long, and 12 to 14 days is about right. Have the eggs been warm or have you seen ... | |
| Too Soon? | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: We left for the weekend and came back to an empty box - the 4 baby birds are gone. no trace of ... A: They fly out in 19 days, although they will leave a bit early if something attacks them. A good sign ... | |
| nest on top of eggs | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: I have a 4 year old bluebird house with a web-cam in it, so I am able to monitor my birds regularly ... A: This is not totally unusual. House sparrows do it often, but they usually use a lot of grass and ... | |
| ants in box w babies | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: There are ants in the nest with 3 fairly larged feathered babies. lots of ants. THe ants do not ... A: Go to WalMart or a pet supply store and buy caged bird spray (what is used for parakeets, etc) Put ... | |
| Bluebird Eggs | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: I have bluebird eggs that have small cracks in them. Does this mean they are rotted? A: If you have been checking the nest every week you will know how old they are. Incubation is 12 to 14 ... | |
| baby bluebirds | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: if there is a dead baby bluebird in a nest box will the mom or dad get it out or will we A: I always take them out, especially if they are in with live babies. If the others have flown and a ... | |
| 4 attempts | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: I have been using a Bluebird box in my backyard for 6 years. Each year a pair has raised 3 or 4 ... A: Strange things happen in nature, but I have not experienced more than one repeat, and this has been ... | |
| Bluebird Nest removal? | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: I have had a family of bluebirds, build the nest, hatch eggs, now the fledglings have left the nest ... A: The birds never go back so as soon as the young fledge you should remove the old nest - just scrape ... | |
| cold spring & swallows | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: We have had an unusually cold spring. The weather is just now getting to "normal", but the ... A: Most people in the upper midwest where they have a lot of tree swallows pair boxes about 15 feet ... | |
| bluebirds | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: I put up my very first bluebird nesting box this year. Male and female found it and have laid three ... A: The book will give you most of the answers that you need and I will mail it tomorrow. Contact me ... | |
| Abandon nest after building | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: I live in Marietta, GA. I had bluebirds build a nest in my bluebird house about a month ago. They ... A: This is not an unusual happening and we rarely know why. The most common reason is that a predator ... | |
| Dying birds | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: I found my female bluebird dead in the nestbox with her head and neck pecked badly. I removed her ... A: That is the work of the alien killer house sparrow, which is not a sparrow at all, but a weaver ... | |
| bluebird chicks | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a question re: bluebird chicks. My 4 bluebird cicks died yesterday on their 14 th day of ... A: This usually happens in a cold spell when the adults are unable to find enough food and have to ... | |
| Missing bluebird dad | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: We had horrific winds last night, and I have not see the father all day today. Mom has been doing ... A: One bird, especially the female can usually feed the young enough for them to survive. The female ... | |
| tree swallows taking over built bluebird nest | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I live in MN and I watched my bluebirds build their nest this year. They left for about 4wks and I ... A: I have a 6 mile trail with 100 boxes, and I have some Bluebirds that bomb me. They see us as ... | |
| Eggs, But they don't hatch | 5/11/2008 |
| Q: I live in Eastern NC. For the second year in a row I have a pair of Blue Birds and they lay eggs in ... A: This sometimes happens especially in the spring when the weather is cold and also late in the season ... | |
| babies disappeared/ants on eggs in bluebird nest | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: My first attempt at putting up bluebird houses has been fun! I put up 7 houses on my wooden fence. ... A: 1. Raccoon, or possibly a cat. Fasten your boxes with a phillips head screw through the side of the ... | |
| Bluebirds hatched!! | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: I am very happy, I checked this morning and "my" bluebird eggs had hatched. There seemed to be one ... A: Congratulations! You should open the box both for your enjoyment and to check for problems. You can ... | |
| Admitting defeat? | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: I put up my first bluebird house last summer. The first egg laying was attacked by house sparrows. ... A: Don't give up. You will always lose some. You just have to put up at least 3 or 4 boxes and trap ... | |
| blue bird eggs | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: I finally have blue birds after 12 yrs. in our nest. I have 4 eggs but ran into a problem w/black ... A: These things do happen as Bluebirds have a lot of predators and enemies. Keep your fingers crossed - ... | |
| Blue Birds | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: I have seen these little blue birds myself. I've looked everywhere to find them and can't. They are ... A: They are Indigo Buntings. Buy a bird field guide and look it up or go see one at the library. They ... | |
| Cleaning Bluebird Nest | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: Four bluebird babies left the nest about 1 week ago but the nest is high on a pole and the only waY ... A: Until you get my book and find out where to get traps and how to use them in the short run you need ... | |
| Cleaning Bluebird Nest | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: Four bluebird babies left the nest about 1 week ago but the nest is high on a pole and the only waY ... A: Sometimes they will build a new nest on top of the old so I would leave it alone until after the ... | |
| general bluebird info | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: I need some help. I live in eastern NC. I've been spoiled from last year...my first year as a ... A: Please send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you a free 20 page Bluebird ... | |
| bluebirds | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: Can you please tell me how often a bluebird hatches a brood? We had a nest on a pole, with bluebirds ... A: They can have as many as 3 families a year. To move quickly WalMart has some good Bluebird houses. ... | |
| bluebird | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: We had a nest in the bluebird house, the baby died by a dog. I was going to clean out the ... A: Then give it a couple of weeks to see what happens. Eggs should hatch in 12 to 14 days depending on ... | |
| egg laying after nesting | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: I've seen the male in & out of the house a couple of times during the week & the nest is complete ... A: Sometimes if the weather is cool there is a delay. Or something may have happened to the female. ... | |
| bluebird | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: We had a nest in the bluebird house, the baby died by a dog. I was going to clean out the ... A: If the parents have already raised a family with one baby killed by the dog, then the two eggs may ... | |
| Bluebirds and Swallows | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: I have put two bluebird boxes up within 20 feet of each other.. The bluebird pair have built a nest ... A: Do you live where you have Tree swallows? This is unusual action if they are actually Swallows. It ... | |
| bluebird monitoring | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: set up a bluebird house, apr 21, 08, blues showed up next day, started nest building and as of today ... A: Congratulations! Send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you a free 20 page ... | |
| Who's messing with the nests? | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: A few weeks ago I wrote about a bluebird nest that had its first egg destroyed. You felt it was ... A: The feathers and straw are almost always an indication of the killer house sparrow's work. You must ... | |
| Incubation period | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: This is the first year for bluebirds in our BB house. They have spent a week building the nest. ... A: The incubation period is 12 to 14 days after all of the eggs are laid and the female starts ... | |
| Help, Will my Bluebirds come back? | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: Every morning, I pull up the shades to view the wonderful nature scene in our back yard. Our ... A: Anytime you have a wet nest even with eggs or babies you can replace it with dry grass. (You can put ... | |
| House swallows taking over blue bird house | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: We have had our blue bird house for three years with nesting occurring two out of the three years. ... A: Again, I think you mean house sparrows, not swallows. Offer to buy your neighbor some black oil ... | |
| House swallows taking over blue bird house | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: We have had our blue bird house for three years with nesting occurring two out of the three years. ... A: Swallows are OK, but house sparrows are not. I am not sure what you have. If you live where there ... | |
| Abandoned eggs; should I move the box? | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: ! We have three bluebird eggs in our box that is on our fence. I have not seen the bluebird parents ... A: Without knowing where you have the house I don't know what you mean by a safer place. An open area ... | |
| BLUEBIRDS NEST | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: I NEED TO CLEAN THEIR NEST AFTER TEH BABIES ARE GONE????? WILL THE SAME BLUEBIRDS MAKE A NEST AGAIN ... A: Yes - clean out boxes immediately when babies leave. Just scrape out well with a putty knife. The ... | |
| eggs not hatching | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: Mother Bluebird has been sitting on her eggs in our bluebird house for more than 3 weeks. Obviously ... A: This cold spring weather has delayed some hatching, but if you are sure it has been 3 weeks I would ... | |
| 5 eggs no parents | 4/21/2008 |
| Q: I have one acre, 1 bluebird nest on the right side of the yard and on the left side of the yard I ... A: You can never have too many boxes. I have 100 on a five mile trail. The rule of thumb is that they ... | |
| Cleaning of bluebird houses | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: We found a dead bluebird in our box after winter. It looked like it had died recently. No birds ... A: This is not unusual. All you ever have to do is to scrape the box out well with a putty knife. ... | |
| Chickadee in a bluebird house | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a bluebird house with 4 eggs in it and the bird are in and out often. Today I saw the house ... A: Bluebirds do not let Chickadees get ahead of them. Yes, you should have several boxes up (a minimum ... | |
| Blue bird eggs abandoned | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: I have about 15 boxes in my yard which all had action the first 3 days after i put them up.. However ... A: Your boxes may be too close together - they need to be at least 100 yards apart (a football field) ... | |
| killing HOSP | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: How does one go about dispatching the HOSP once you have it trapped. Do any larger birds eat them? ... A: You will have a lot of info in the book. They are very fragile, and most Bluebirders just squeeze ... | |
| Blue Bird House | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: Bob do you have a favorite design of house to attract blue birds. I may live close to you in OK and ... A: Yes, I like the North American Bluebird Society basic design which can be made from one 5 ft. board. ... | |
| bluebirds | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: I bought a bluebird box about a month ago. I watched as a bluebird pair and a chickadee pair ... A: This is not unusual although Bluebirds often just build a nest over the Chickadee eggs. The ... | |
| Trapping and killing house sparrows | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: We have 2 bluebird boxes. We have seen a pair of bluebirds making a nest in one of them, but the ... A: There are excellent inbox traps for doing this, and yes, you should. Send your mailing address to ... | |
| bluebirds return and so do chickadees | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: The bluebirds returned to sit on my bluebird box but don't seem to be continuing their nest.. ... A: Depending on where you live Chickadees and Titmice usually nest before Bluebirds. I encourage them ... | |
| About sparrows and bluebirds | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: We had bluebirds around all winter and they would fly to the nest, go in and set on top. One day I ... A: Once the killer house sparrows show up the Bluebirds go away. If you will send your mailing address ... | |
| Bluebirds Left | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: I put up a bluebird box in my yard and the next day a male was perched on it. The same day a ... A: This is not unusual. I have a 100 box 5 mile line and I never know why it happens. Sometimes the ... | |
| Help needed now BB eggs | 4/3/2008 |
| Q: Mother blue bird was killed during night. Reached in and the 5 eggs are cold. Have them iin ... A: You are trying to do something that from the egg stage is nearly impossible. If you had a trail of ... | |
| Bluebird egg discarded | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: We've had a nesting pair of bluebirds very active and laying in the past few days. Tonight we ... A: There are three possibiliries here: 1. A house wren has attacked. I just lost a full clutch of eggs ... | |
| Birdhouses | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: I live in the country on a farm and recently put up 4 bluebird houses on the wooden fence ... A: Leave them alone! They are Bluebird eggs. About 5% of the Bluebirds lay white eggs and we don't know ... | |
| egg laying | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: My bluebird has laid one egg each day for two days. My questions is ... does she have all 4-7 eggs ... A: Looking at the size of the eggs you can understand that the female's body is not big enough to hold ... | |
| Dead Chickadee in Bulebird house | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: I have been checking my bluebird house to see if the bluebirds have started building their nest yet. ... A: No. They are seriously different. The killer male house sparrow has a black patch on his chest, but ... | |
| Dead Chickadee in Bulebird house | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: I have been checking my bluebird house to see if the bluebirds have started building their nest yet. ... A: Not really. The bird was probably done in by a killer house sparrow. All you ever have to do in ... | |
| bluebird houses | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: We have two bluebird houses we want to hang in the backyard. How close can they be hung? How high ... A: How high depends on how tall you are. Hanging, metal posts, etc. - all should be eye high so you can ... | |
| Bluebird Eggs | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: I have 5 eggs that were due to hatch on Sunday. There appeared to be a lot of activity on Sunday ... A: Cold weather will delay hatching for several days. However it is not unusual for eggs not to hatch ... | |
| bluebird nest and egg | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: I live just north of Atlanta Georgia and this is the 3rd year I have had bluebirds nesting in a box ... A: Sometimes there are no answers for different Bluebird actions. A female may change her mind for a ... | |
| Redbird flying into window | 3/14/2008 |
| Q: I have tried marking windows up, placing a couple of boards across the windows so he could land on ... A: Several options (he won't get hurt). Cover window with cloth or paper, hang garden netting, put a ... | |
| Woodpeckers pecking bluebird house | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: I live in Crystal River Florida and have just put up a bluebird house. Within a day "Homer and ... A: No, they are not a threat but they can be a nuisance, and squirrels sometimes enlarge entrances ... | |
| blue bird box direction | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: what direction do face bluebird box,N-S-E or W A: The Bluebird books give many opinions on this. I have found that in my area of NE Oklahoma which ... | |
| bluebirds battling | 2/3/2008 |
| Q: I witnessed some pretty serious-looking fighting going on between two groups of bluebirds this ... A: This is not unusual. They are really quite territorial which is why houses need to be at least 100 ... | |
| Nesting Requirements | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: I have a nest box that I'm not sure meets bluebird nesting requirements. The dimensions are 6" x 5 ... A: Recommended box size for Western Bluebirds (NABS)and Stokes is 5X5 floor, height from floor to ... | |
| Death of bluebird babies | 11/22/2007 |
| Q: I have about 12 bluebird houses that I have monitored for years. We had about 7-8 nests throughout ... A: I have talked to people all over the country but have had no word oF a virus affecting Bluebirds ... | |
| converting the nest box | 10/25/2007 |
| Q: As the temperatures are beginning to drop, I'd like to make my bluebird nest boxes more comfortable ... A: All you really need to do is to put some dry grass clippings in the bottom of the boxes. Sometimes ... | |
| bluebird houses | 10/14/2007 |
| Q: I have heard that the houses should be cleaned out with a mild bleach solution. Also, can I put more ... A: No need to do this. Just scrape the old nest out with a putty knife AS SOON AS THE YOUNG FLEDGE. ... | |
| blue birdhouses | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: I am doing a Boy Scout project at our subdivision playground area and was interested in putting ... A: Boxes should be eye high so you can see into them both for enjoyment and to check for problems. ... | |
| Hanging the house, in a subdivision | 9/24/2007 |
| Q: Live on 1/4 acre lot, in 30 yrs old subdivision. Have only 5 trees on my lot. Was given house for ... A: The season is over for this year. If you will send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net I will ... | |
| Cleaning Blue Bird houses...or not | 8/17/2007 |
| Q: I'm not sure when or if I should clean our Blue Bird house. I think the same family has occupied it ... A: Always clean out the nest as soon as the babies fledge. (Just using a putty knife is OK) They never ... | |
| Speaking engagement at Jenks Garden Club | 8/14/2007 |
| Q: We met at the Jenks Herb & Plant Festival this past April. Would you please consider speaking at ... A: 1. Do you have a spring date open? Jan/Feb/Mar/April 2008? Talks are really made for then. 2. My ... | |
| How long do blue birds stay | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: I have a pair of blue birds for months now. I know they had 1 set of babies, but have not seen ... A: After a nest is built and at least one egg is laid you should open the box weekly to check progress ... | |
| Missing Bluebirds & Babies | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: We have so enjoyed watching a pair of bluebirds build a nest in our bluebird house and hatch their ... A: From hatching to flight is only 19 days. If you have been opening the box to monitor as you should ... | |
| Bluebird nesting habits | 7/9/2007 |
| Q: After my pair of bluebirds completed their nest in my small backyard in a decorative metal birdhouse ... A: This happens when it is hot or very occasionally when one of the parents has defective genes. I ... | |
| Day 14 of nesting | 7/8/2007 |
| Q: Up until this morning we heard very loud chirping coming from nest. This morning, Day 14, we cannot ... A: All should be OK if the parents are bringing food. Sometimes as nestlings get older they become ... | |
| Sleeping BB | 7/7/2007 |
| Q: Hey Bob, This may be a strange question, but do the parent BB sleep in the BB box at night. Also is ... A: The female will stay with the babies when they are small, especially if it is cold. Nights are ... | |
| bluebird/house sparrows | 7/3/2007 |
| Q: If you have a bluebird in the house and a house sparrow coming around sitting on top of house, what ... A: That is a real problem. If the Bluebird is not strong enough to chase it away it could kill the ... | |
| Bird house cleaning | 6/29/2007 |
| Q: I know this is not a direct question about bluebirds, but in a way it is. I have several houses ... A: With all cavity nesting birds clean out the nest as soon as the young fledge. (Just use a putty ... | |
| Abadoned Nest | 6/22/2007 |
| Q: We have a Bluebid nest and HOSP around it was going well but the Hosp was on the house today the ... A: House sparrows have to be trapped and killed to protect Bluebirds, but you will always lose a few. ... | |
| blue birds | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: I purchased a blue bird house and installed it. Within 2 or 3 days two bluebirds had made a nest. ... A: Bluebirding is fun, challenging and sometimes disappointing. It sounds like the birds were being ... | |
| Bluebird babies | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: Last night, our bluebird nest had five babies in it, but tonight when I checked, there are two. I ... A: They uually fledge within 24 hours and the parents stay in touch with all of them. (Hopefully a ... | |
| bluebirds dying | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: I had 4 baby bb almost ready to fly, checked the nest and found all 4 dead in the nest.There didn't ... A: This is not unusual, and is often because one or both of the parents were killed by predators. The ... | |
| Bluebird feeding | 6/8/2007 |
| Q: This is my 3rd year with bluebird houses and hopefully the first successful births of 5. Others ... A: At this time of year don't worry about feeding as they prefer insects. And feeding is for your ... | |
| Bluebirds ?disappeared? | 6/7/2007 |
| Q: We had 2 nestings of bluebirds last year. The young and parents stayed though the winter. When ... A: This has been a strange spring. Just be patient. Also it helps to put up at least 3 or 4 houses (at ... | |
| Need help with Incubation ASAP!!! | 6/6/2007 |
| Q: My wife found a bluebird egg outside while walking to our house today. We don't want to put back ... A: Please throw the egg away. The birds may have dumped it (sometimes they know an egg is infertile or ... | |
| unattended eggs? | 6/6/2007 |
| Q: Bob How long should eggs stay in the box unattended. I had a couple of BB lay 5 eggs on March 30, ... A: This happens on a fairly regular basis, especially when something happens to the female (they have a ... | |
| color of eggs | 6/6/2007 |
| Q: I had to discard of 5 BB eggs that were abandon for weeks. It broke my heart, but i knew that other ... A: That is natural. About 5% of BB eggs are white and we don't know why. Also some eggs are abandoned ... | |
| hatchlings left alone | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: This is my 5th time attracting bluebirds that have nested. I have never seen this happen before. ... A: This is not unusual. Remember that baby hawks have to eat too. Also it is nature's way of keepng the ... | |
| hatchlings left alone | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: This is my 5th time attracting bluebirds that have nested. I have never seen this happen before. ... A: I have had this happen twice on my line this year. If the male is lost the female will usually feed ... | |
| House cleaning | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: What is the best way to clean a wooden bluebird house after the birds move out? A: Very easy. I have had a 100 box trail for years and all I do is to scrape the old nest out with a ... | |
| Mountain Bluebirds | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: what is unusual about the mountain bluebird's nest?? A: The Mountain Bluebird is a bit larger than the Eastern and Western birds, and its nest is a bit ... | |
| Abandoned eggs / dead male | 5/7/2007 |
| Q: We had high winds today in Va Beach Va. I went to check the BB house and there was a dead male on ... A: Sorry, but it does happen. BB can raise 15 or more babies in a year and if they all survived we ... | |
| disturbing baby bluebirds | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: A neighbor's kid disturbed our bluebird house with babies in it, acutally handled them although I ... A: 1. You can handle the babies up until they are 13 days old without problems. Close your boxes with ... | |
| house knocked down | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: We have been having some trees removed in our backyard. The tree that our bluebird house is on was ... A: Hang it back as near to where it was as possible. It is OK to open the house to get to the screw. If ... | |
| disturbing mother bird | 4/30/2007 |
| Q: Bob, I understand the necessity for checking boxes periodically for problems, but how do you get ... A: No problem. This happens all the time in monitering. She would not be hurt and would have returned ... | |
| 2 Blue Birds keep attacking my Golden Retriever??? | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: Just the day other my wife called me outside while she noticed what looked like 2 Blue Jays (they ... A: These are probably Northern Mockingbirds. They are aggressive but really a good bird as they get a ... | |
| Bluebird nest | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: I had bluebirds building a nest in a nesting box I had right before we had very strong winds ... A: I would wait about a week and then clean out the box (using a putty knife is ok). Regarding your ... | |
| Where are the eggs? | 4/26/2007 |
| Q: I have a bluebird box that's visible from my house. A pair of bluebirds have been visiting the box ... A: Hard to say-a real mixed bag. A snake will take eggs without disturbing the nest - also competing ... | |
| Bluebird nests | 4/26/2007 |
| Q: A pair of bluebirds built a nest in both of our boxes the end of March. I suppose one was a 'false ... A: Give them a bit more time. The cold has slowed things down. Take nests out if no action in 2 more ... | |
| Bluebird Eggs | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: Why do Bluebirds lay blue eggs? Do other animals lay colored eggs? A: We don't know. Some BB lay white eggs. Other birds have many diffrent patterns - spotted, solid, ... | |
| Woodpecker in Bluebird house | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: I just put up two Bluebird houses and have seen a male and female Bluebirds going in and out of both ... A: Bluebirds are late nesting everywhere due to the colder weather. Give them a bit more time. BB ... | |
| Bluebirds nesting | 4/21/2007 |
| Q: I built and put up boxes in my back yard with some dry moss in them and have seen couples of ... A: Yes, putting moss in the boxes makes the BB think that a Titmouse or a Chickadee has claimed he box. ... | |
| concern about our bluebirds | 4/20/2007 |
| Q: A femal BB has laid three eggs March 30th. The BB pair has behaviored strongly since yesterday. ... A: That is a bit strange, but we have had some odd behavior with the cold weather. Do you live up ... | |
| Bluebird in a martin condo | 4/9/2007 |
| Q: One bluebird pair is nesting successfully, while the other seems to be struggling. She took a long ... A: Nest building time varies with the age of the female,the weather, etc. 3 eggs is not usually a ... | |
| Frozen eggs? | 4/8/2007 |
| Q: Bob, you have been so helpful to me in the past, I hope you have some experience with eggs in ... A: This must be a very common situation in cold areas. Either the mother keeps them warm at night or ... | |
| Cleaning Blue Bird Houses | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: I have purchased a property that has existing Blue Bird houses and I'm just wondering if I need to ... A: All you need to do as soon as possible is to scrape them out well with a putty knife. Also do the ... | |
| bluebirds | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: when placing the bluebird house, how high up and which direction should the entrance be? north south ... A: 1. Eye high so you can look into the nest when checking weekly, trapping house sparrows, etc.,etc. ... | |
| Woodpecker in Bluebird house | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: I just put up two Bluebird houses and have seen a male and female Bluebirds going in and out of both ... A: You don't say how far north you live, but even here in NE OK the Bluebirds are just starting to ... | |
| Female Bluebird | 3/24/2007 |
| Q: We have a female bluebird, who for the pat 2 days has been continuously attacking our picture window ... A: Yes they do but it is rare. To stop this you can hang garden netting, tie strips of cloth, mylar or ... | |
| Mounting round bluebird house | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: What do I use that I can purchase to hand round bluebird house with wire and where should I place ... A: Sorry, but I don't understand your question. What do you mean by "hand rounding with wire?" You ... | |
| my blue bird house | 3/19/2007 |
| Q: We have a blue bird in our house..the first time in 3 years since the house was put up. This ... A: Bluebirds are hard to discourage once they start nesting. I open boxes at least once per week and ... | |
| Bluebird nesting | 3/19/2007 |
| Q: I have 3 bluebird houses and have had successful families the past couple years though only one pair ... A: This often happens if houses are too close together, as they are very terriorial. Houses should be a ... | |
| bluebird egg found | 3/15/2007 |
| Q: We found a bluebird egg in our vent. Pls share how we are supposed to incubate it. thanks! A: Ths is very unusual. How do you Know that it is a Bluebird egg? And what kind of a vent? You can't ... | |
| bluebird | 3/11/2007 |
| Q: When do blue birds lay their eggs. I am in Virginia, and the male and female have been building a ... A: The eggs are laid shortly after the nest is completed. Incubation takes 12 to 14 days, and just 19 ... | |
| Bluebird house-KEEP SPARROWS OUT | 3/8/2007 |
| Q: I have had a bluebird house up for 6 months. I have bluebirds from time to time at my feeders. ... A: Cleaning out the nests just keeps the Bluebirds from nesting and incites the male to go raiding and ... | |
| Flocks of Bluebirds? | 2/28/2007 |
| Q: a few years ago I started putting up Bluebird houses on my fence line, which borders a field and ... A: Congratulations! It sounds as if you are doing fine. Regarding bluebirds staying all year, you ... | |
| bluebirds & sparrows | 11/12/2006 |
| Q: We retired in 1990 and built a home near Crossvile, Tenn. WE had bird ... A: You are having problems with the killer house sparrows, an alien bird that came in from Europe years ... | |
| Blue Birds | 10/26/2006 |
| Q: We live in Illinois. Do the blue birds migrate in the winter or do they stay? A: Yes they do migrate south from northern climates as there are no insects for them to eat which make ... | |
| BLUEBIRD HOUSES | 10/19/2006 |
| Q: WE HAVE ABOUT 6 BLUEBIRD HOUSES BUT EVERY YEAR THE BROWN BIRDS TAKE THEM OVER AND THE BLUEBIRDS LET ... A: Those "brown birds" are the alien killer house sparrows. They came in from Europe many years ago ... | |
| Bluebirds "attacking" windows | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: we have bluebirds that will keep bumping into our windows every morning and evening. I love the ... A: That is unusual at this time of year. It is common for them to fight their reflection in the spring ... | |
| Safe environment for bluebirds | 9/19/2006 |
| Q: For the past two years I have had problems with a mockingbird getting to the worms before the ... A: Mockingbirds are interesting and you are fortunate to have one even though it is giving you a ... | |
| How high? | 9/17/2006 |
| Q: How high should a bluebird house be hung? A: The rule of thumb is "eye high". It should be so that when you open it from the side or front on ... | |
| Bluebird houses | 8/15/2006 |
| Q: Bob, we had a bluebird house in our backyard in GA and had 3 years worth of nesting 2 to 3 times a ... A: Absolutely. I have nearly 100 houses out in a Bluebird trail that has been used for nearly ten ... | |
| Bluebird Housing | 7/22/2006 |
| Q: What is the best thing to mount a bluebird house on and what direction should it face? We live in ... A: The cheapest post to mount a Bluebird house on is the metal fence pole that farmers use for barbed ... | |
| feeding | 7/20/2006 |
| Q: I have a bluebird feeder and I have 1000 mealworms. So far, no bluebirds have entered the box. I ... A: In the spring and summer Bluebirds are focused on insects and some fruits and berries, and it is ... | |
| eggs in bluebird nest | 7/20/2006 |
| Q: First I'll give some background. We have a bluebird house that has had several nesting bluebirds ... A: It has been 105 degrees here in the Tulsa, OK area the last few days, and I am having some of the ... | |
| bluebird eggs covered up | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: I just checked my bluebird house. There are 3 eggs in it, but they are covered up with about 1.5 ... A: That is usually a bad sign. A house sparrow or another bird has done this, as Bluebirds never cover ... | |
| Bluebird Housing | 7/4/2006 |
| Q: We bought a wooded area and a friend told us we had bluebird houses on some of the trees. Can you ... A: Bluebirds like open areas, and if you do put up Bluebird houses you should put them on the outskirts ... | |
| Abandoned Nest | 6/24/2006 |
| Q: Bluebirds built a next in our bluebird house about 10 days ago, but there has been no activity in ... A: I have a three mile Bluebird trail with nearly 100 houses, and this happens to me more often than I ... | |
| Window attacks! | 6/12/2006 |
| Q: Since the weather has warmed up (about 8 weeks ago) there have been one and sometimes two bluebirds ... A: This is unusual for Bluebirds, although more aggressive birds like Blue Jays and Cardinals do it all ... | |
| laying of bluebird eggs | 6/8/2006 |
| Q: Is there a time frame in which the female lays her eggs after the nest is completed? I have two ... A: This is not unusual if the weather has been too hot or too cold, or if the boxes are too close. ... | |
| Bluebird keeps attacking me in the backyard | 6/7/2006 |
| Q: Bluebirds have laid a nest right outside our backyard door. One of the parent birds flys into me ... A: My Bluebirds sometimes dive bomb me when I am opening boxes to check their nests, but one has never ... | |
| Bluebirds/New Construction | 6/1/2006 |
| Q: We built a new home in the woods. The bluebirds are confused. They hang around in the trees, then ... A: This is not unusual for birds, although it is usually done by more aggressive birds like Cardinals, ... | |
| sparrows and bluebirds | 5/25/2006 |
| Q: A few questions: 1. Is it possible to deter house sparrows from the nesting box? I've thrown away ... A: Glad to hear from you. 1. It is impossible to keep the alien killer house sparrows out. The only ... | |
| Bluebird abandoned nest | 5/25/2006 |
| Q: I have a Bluebird box in my backyard and have successful clutches the last couple of years. But this ... A: Wait a few more days,the second clutch may be OK. (It may be a different pair). This is not unusual ... | |
| Blue Birds | 5/24/2006 |
| Q: Bob, Two yers ago we put up blue bird houses and each year I believe trees swallows have killed both ... A: We don't have Tree Swallows here, but from what I read they battle with the Bluebirds, but do not ... | |
| seeds in bluebird nest. | 5/24/2006 |
| Q: You mist have experienced just about everything possible with bluebirds. I knew you would know if ... A: I honestly don't know about the beetles. However nothing seems to choke the babies. They get ... | |
| Bluebird nestlings attacked by sparrows | 5/18/2006 |
| Q: This is my first year with bluebirding and I have already fallen in love with it. I succesfully had ... A: This is an increasing problem in many areas. I have a 100 box line and I have to aggressively trap ... | |
| bluebirds | 5/18/2006 |
| Q: I have a bluebird living in a new box and sometime ago I saw eggs.Last week one hatched,not the ... A: That is unusual as normally all of the eggs hatch within about a 24 hour span. See if this happens. ... | |
| what is it???? | 5/18/2006 |
| Q: I have this beautiful, little brilliant blue bird in my yard. It is about the size of a finch, it ... A: It is an Indigo Bunting. I am looking out my home office window right now looking at one on the ... | |
| Nesting/Incubating | 5/17/2006 |
| Q: I have a cute pair of Eastern Bluebirds nesting in a box I put up. They have four eggs so far and ... A: The Eastern Bluebirds usually lay 4 or 5 eggs and sometimes 6. It sounds like the female has started ... | |
| Nesting of Bluebirds | 5/15/2006 |
| Q: When bluebirds have a 2nd brood, will they use the same nest as the first or do they build a new one ... A: Yes, you should clean out the nest as soon as the young fledge. Just using a putty knife is fine. ... | |
| where to hang | 5/15/2006 |
| Q: I was given a bluebird house for mother's day and have found to hang it from a post facing a south ... A: Forget about the direction to face it- face it toward the most short grass area where they feed. It ... | |
| snakes eating blue birds | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: bob my wife and i are very upset.for the 3rd year a black snake has eaten our baby blue birds.the ... A: Sorry about the problem, but this is nature. Black snakes are especially good as they get rats, ... | |
| Birds | 5/10/2006 |
| Q: Why birds dont get electricuted while they stand on those live electrical cable wires? A: This is an interesting question, and one that I have wondered about myself. I talked with a friend ... | |
| BLUE BIRDS KILLED | 5/8/2006 |
| Q: BOB, WE ARE SICK. OUR BLUE BIRD BABIES WERE EATEN LAST NIGHT. I HAD THE HOUSE MOUNTED ON A TREE ... A: Sorry about that. Nature can be cruel. It sounds like a Raccoon, and that often happens when a box ... | |
| Bluebirds abandon nest | 5/3/2006 |
| Q: Found you through a google search. Hope you can advise. I'm very upset. I've had bluebirds ... A: Yes, sometimes nature is cruel, but usually there are reasons for this. If nothing happens in ... | |
| Bluebird Hasn't Started Incubation | 4/28/2006 |
| Q: We have a new house, just built three years ago. We put up a bluebird house last fall and have a ... A: This is not unusual if the weather has been cold as you mentioned. The birds often wait for warmer ... | |
| abandoned and attacked nest | 4/23/2006 |
| Q: I was so happy to find a nest with 5 small birds eggs and 2 Parents that were very attentive, in my ... A: Sorry about that. Nature is very cruel and competitive at times. There is no hope, and almost always ... | |
| Cowbird eggs | 4/14/2006 |
| Q: I have always checked my bluebird and chickadee nests when egg laying is complete to make sure that ... A: I have nearly 100 houses out, and yes, very ocasionally I will find a Cowbird egg. The female ... | |
| eggs covered up | 4/13/2006 |
| Q: I sent this question yesterday, but never got a confirmation from All Experts so I am resubmitting ... A: This is not at all unusual for Chickadees. I have nearly 100 boxes out in a 3 mile line, and the ... | |
| Robin attaching our windows | 4/4/2006 |
| Q: I know your description said bluebirds but I have a crazy robin that has attacked all my windows for ... A: This will be a short lived and not unusual problem. Cardinals, Mockingbirds and others do this too, ... | |
| Location | 3/8/2006 |
| Q: Where do I place my bluebird houses? West ? Southeast ? Thanks, diana A: The answer is easy. No matter what you read, face them toward short grass like a lawn or pasture, as ... | |
| bluebird info | 3/2/2006 |
| Q: ok i have three houses up bluebird have one and building a nest sparrows are trying to ... A: This is a difficult situation to help you with if you are determined to continue what you are doing, ... | |
| Scaring Woodpeckers away from my house | 2/17/2006 |
| Q: For some strange reason, a woodpecker is pecking at the stucco trim on my house. Can I install a ... A: This is not an unusual situation. You are lucky it is pecking on the stucco and not punching holes ... | |
| wild birds | 12/5/2005 |
| Q: While I see that your expertise in with Bluebirds, I'm hoping you might have some answers to my ... A: I am sure that these are the alien killer house sparrows (Also called English Sparrows) that are not ... | |
| birds (science) | 11/18/2005 |
| Q: why dont birds get electricuted when they sit on electric cables A: I honestly don't understand why the electricity doesn't go up one leg and through their body to the ... | |
| Yearly travel | 10/2/2005 |
| Q: I have a ranch in Hartsel, Colorado. The elevation is 9200 ft. I still have a lot of Bluebirds on ... A: There are 3 types of Bluebirds in this country, the Eastern, Mountain and Western. Based on your ... | |
| cardinals | 8/23/2005 |
| Q: I know that your expertise is bluebirds, but I'm hoping that you can also give me advice on what ... A: I work with a lot of other birds, and I have a lot of Cardinals in my yard. The best way to attract ... | |
| eastern bluebirds | 8/19/2005 |
| Q: I had a pair of blue birds build a nest in my bluebird box on Saturday, July 23. The first egg was ... A: I don't know where you are writing from, but if you have had a lot of hot weather this is not ... | |
| why dont crows perched on live wire dont get killed | 8/14/2005 |
| Q: why dont crows perched on live wire dont get killed A: If they touch only one wire they don't have a problem. In some cases where another live wire is ... | |
| Science | 8/11/2005 |
| Q: 1. What musical bird can fly backwards? 2. Which part of the body is affected by Bright's disease? ... A: 1. A Hummingbird could be considered a musical bird, and it can fly backwarda. 2. Bright's disease ... | |
| Bird droppings | 7/28/2005 |
| Q: I know this more then likely has nothing to do with Bluebirds however maybe you can point me in the ... A: This is a very normal situation in nature at this time of year when birds and animals are eating ... | |
| Late Nesting Attempt | 6/26/2005 |
| Q: You are always so helpful. What do you think causes the nest abandonments you mention? I thought a ... A: I thought I had answered this question, but I must have hit the wrong button or something. We have ... | |
| Late Nesting Attempt | 6/26/2005 |
| Q: Earlier this year the bluebirds in my house began nesting in April, but something happened to the ... A: A great name - my only sister is named Mary. Regarding your question, there should not be a problem. ... | |
| ABANDON NEST | 6/12/2005 |
| Q: WE HAVE 3 EGGS IN THE NEST, BUT BOTH ADULTS HAVE DISAPPEARED. NO FEATHERS, NOTHING ON GROUND. WHAT ... A: This is not an unusual situation, nature being what it is. The most likely scenario is that the ... | |
| want to know about humming... | 6/10/2005 |
| Q: want to know about humming bird? A: I really don't know what you are asking. You can get a lot of information at the library or from ... | |
| Early egg sitting | 5/21/2005 |
| Q: A pair of bluebirds started nesting recently in one of my boxes. (It happens to be the one visible ... A: (A good name - my only sister is named Mary) I don't see that you have a problem. I have nearly 100 ... | |
| When will a robin destroy her own egg? And yes, I know that is not a bluebird. | 5/4/2005 |
| Q: I know a robin is not a bluebird, but I have searched through many web sites and this is the only ... A: That is an unusual situation. I do not believe that a bird knows that something is wrong with an ... | |
| Disappearing nest material | 3/31/2005 |
| Q: I have several bluebird boxes in cleared areas on my wooded property in southern Indiana. Last week ... A: This is a new one on me too. I have monitored a 100 box line here in northeast Oklahoma for a number ... | |
| Starlings | 3/20/2005 |
| Q: {I just asked this question but I don't think it went through--if it did, ignore this one.) I have a ... A: The hole in a Bluebird box should be one and one-half inches in diameter, and starlings definitely ... | |
| bird messes | 12/19/2004 |
| Q: how do I stop birds from landing on my elctrical wires and making a complete mess of my car and ... A: This is an almost impossible task. Unless these are high tension wires or ones that cannot be ... | |
| Feeding Wild Birds | 8/18/2004 |
| Q: Is it to give moldy bread to wild birds? A: Jeffery - I have some general bird knowledge, but I really concentrate on bluebirds. I do know that ... | |
| Blue birds | 7/2/2004 |
| Q: I live in Colorado and i have only seen one little bluebird. Whenever I try to attract them i just ... A: Glad to help. Bluebirds are insect (and sometimes fruit and berry) eaters. and usually do not come ... | |
| Strange Bird in Backyard | 6/19/2004 |
| Q: We have a strange bird that has stopped into our backyard. It is brown, white, smaller than a ... A: I concentrate on Bluebirds and other small cavity nesters, and am not really knowledgable about ... | |
| Bluebird nesting habits | 6/11/2004 |
| Q: For several years bluebirds have been nesting in a bluebird box that I have. I also have a spare ... A: We do not have Tree Swallows here in this part of eastern Oklahoma, but I have read about them and ... | |
| Eastern bluebirds | 6/6/2004 |
| Q: A pair of bluebirds has been "staking out" a house for the past 2 days. One is definitely a mature ... A: This is not unusual if a male and female are involved, as the male will often go in and out of the ... | |
| bluebirds vs. sparrows | 5/24/2004 |
| Q: We have three bluebird houses, and one other "normal" bird house. Bluebirds built a nest in one of ... A: Congratulations on helping our Bluebirds. You must use tough love and trap and kill the house ... | |
| Blue birds | 5/8/2004 |
| Q: Can you answer qustions on bluebirds in CO A: There are three kinds of Bluebirds in this country, Eastern (which we have here), Mountain and ... | |
Bluebird Bob Walshaw
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Questions about setting up and monitoring Eastern Bluebird houses. This includes where and how to put up houses, trouble shooting, fighting predators, especially the killer house sparrows and helping other small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Carolina Wrens, etc.
Experience
20 years with a 100+ box Bluebird trail which has been accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail. Talks on Bluebirds to many organizations.
Organizations
North American Bluebird Society, Audubon Society local and national, Oklahoma Bluebird Society, OK Furbearers Alliance
Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Birds and Blooms, Oklahoma Today and many other publications.
Education/Credentials
BS, MBA, Cornell University Bird Biology course
Awards and Honors
Blue Cross Ageless Hero, Red Cross Everyday Hero, North American Bluebird Society Awards, Oklahoma Bluebird Society Lifetime Award.
Past/Present Clients
Many
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