Well, I pretty much spent the whole season fighting house sparrows. Not even one PM visit. Keeping the sparrows out of my 5 BB houses and 6 martin gourds was a daily fight, but I won.
The first pair of BB's that built in one of my BB houses were about to lay when I found the male dead on the nest during a nest check. Then nothing for about a month.
Then another BB couple moved in, made a nest and laid 5 perfect white eggs. Today, I did my regular daily nest check and found 5 blue headed baby BBs with their mouths open asking me for food. So awesome!
I'm sitting on my back porch right now typing on my laptop and watching both the male and female bringing bugs to the little ones. Love it.
One Success for 2011
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MidTNJerry
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 9:14 am
- Location: Tennessee/Murfreesboro
2013 -
2012 - Dawnsong CD playing every morning. Many, many visitors.
2011 - Many visitors.
2012 - Dawnsong CD playing every morning. Many, many visitors.
2011 - Many visitors.
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dancingirl76
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Mon May 16, 2011 10:09 am
- Location: Albia, IA
It is amazing how much we care about these little creatures. Last year I cried when after our BB's hatched 4 babies, a group of three racoons got to the babies. I fixed the BB house with a guard and the same pair successfully raised two more broods of babies.
dancingirl76
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3795
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Congrats,
Just so you know according to sialis's web site onyl 4%-5% of bluebird eggs are white.
Just so you know according to sialis's web site onyl 4%-5% of bluebird eggs are white.
2026 HOSP 29
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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Fredmyyster
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:30 pm
- Location: Tennessee/ Nashville
Mid, great story, thanks for sharing ! Love knows no color diff 
Empty POOLS are a Delight ! !
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MidTNJerry
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 9:14 am
- Location: Tennessee/Murfreesboro
Only 4-5% are white. Interesting.
The pretty blue heads on these little ones are unmistakable. They're growing fast too!
The pretty blue heads on these little ones are unmistakable. They're growing fast too!
2013 -
2012 - Dawnsong CD playing every morning. Many, many visitors.
2011 - Many visitors.
2012 - Dawnsong CD playing every morning. Many, many visitors.
2011 - Many visitors.
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MidTNJerry
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 9:14 am
- Location: Tennessee/Murfreesboro
All five of the bluebirds fledged successfully. We've gone from never seeing a bluebird in our backyard to now seeing 7 flying around constantly. The two parents are staying in the area with the brood and teaching them how to catch insects.
My first year martins are still hanging around and visiting the gourds also. I'm hoping that they're planning to come back next year.
My first year martins are still hanging around and visiting the gourds also. I'm hoping that they're planning to come back next year.
2013 -
2012 - Dawnsong CD playing every morning. Many, many visitors.
2011 - Many visitors.
2012 - Dawnsong CD playing every morning. Many, many visitors.
2011 - Many visitors.