Blue Birds
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BobbyG
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 11:13 am
- Location: LA/Laplace
- Martin Colony History: 10 years
I built a blue bird house and put it about 20 yards from my martin houses bluebirds moved in and layed 3 eggs haven't seen them in a few days so I go check and the eggs are gone no shells are evidence at all ( snake ) ?
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TheSmiths
- Posts: 336
- Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 1:02 pm
- Location: Western KY
- Martin Colony History: •
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Tried to attract PMs 2004; began more earnest attempt in 2014.
Current home site consisting of 2 modified Trio M12Ks, 4 ChirpyNests, and assorted artificial gourds, all enclosed in owl/hawk cages.
2018 — 3 pairs
2019 — 6 pairs
2020 — 12 pairs; barred owls late in season
2021 — 17 pairs; enclosed housing
2022 – 14 pairs
2023 – 18 pairs
2024 – 18 pairs
2025 – 24 pairs
2026 –
Manage FILs colony & public park colony. Attempting to start a colony at a wildlife refuge.
~20 years of providing housing for cavity nesting birds including Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Great-Crested Flycatchers, Northern Flickers, & Prothonotary Warblers.
Sorry you lost your bluebird eggs. How is your bluebird box set up? In addition to snakes, there are several other animals that will take eggs but leave the nest intact including squirrels and House Sparrows. (Eggs are sometimes thrown to the ground and eaten before keepers see them). If you don't already have one a stovepipe baffle works well for deterring climbing predators , including snakes, and bird netting above the baffle provides extra protection. Squirrels are usually only a problem if the box is mounted too low or near trees or other structures. They can jump really very far when motivated!
Last edited by TheSmiths on Fri Mar 23, 2018 9:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Craig Dyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 2:24 pm
- Location: Nevada, TX
- Martin Colony History: Area is rural. Offer 28 compartments...metal housing (Lonestar Goliad) & Supergourds all w/crescent entrance holes. Purple martins are abundant here and eager for quality, well maintained, safe housing. Expect near 100% occupancy this season.
I once witnessed a male house sparrow removing purple martin eggs from a nest cavity. He was pecking holes in the eggs. This enabled him to pick them up. I watched him fly off with one & drop it about fifty yards away.
Craig Dyer