Vicki Welsh Bird Nest Box

Bird Box Update

4/19/2016

I spent all day yesterday grouting my mosaic wall and I should be sharing photos of that today. But I was too tired to take and edit photos. Instead I'll catch you up on our bird boxes.

For new visitors, we have 3 bluebird nest boxes on our property and have been "hosting" bird families since 2008. We mostly get Eastern Bluebirds which makes sense since the boxes are designed for Eastern Bluebirds. But we have also hosted Tree Swallows, Tufted Titmice and Carolina Chickadees. Some years are great years and some not so great but that's how nature works.

We also have a Carolina Wren nest in our propane tank every year and an Eastern Phoebe that nests at the top of one of our gutters.

The Eastern Bluebirds are nesting in box 1, the most popular box. Six eggs is a large clutch for our birds. We usually have 5. These should start hatching later this week or weekend.

Box 3 has either a Chickadee nest or a Titmouse nest. We aren't sure but think it's a Titmouse. There's a Mockingbird that hangs out near this nest and sometimes runs the nesting birds off. Hopefully these will get to stay.

Tomorrow I'll have the mosaic update. Today I'm cleaning up the huge mess that is the basement.

Karen link

4/19/2016 11:42:49 am

so nice to see the bird eggs again this year - I think they are so pretty

Tina in NJ

4/19/2016 12:21:14 pm

It's got to be spring! First bird box report of the season!

Becky in VA

4/19/2016 03:16:44 pm

Love your bird posts and hope you have a bird nest on you list of ideas for your wall.

cindy oneal

4/19/2016 05:35:16 pm

I have been feeding meal worms to the bluebirds since l moved back to Virginia last spring. l put up a bluebird house this spring and they started building a nest the next morning. I also had 6 eggs. Thought they usually lay 3 to 5 so quite surprised when l checked that day thinking we would start the countdown to hatching. We got several days of freezing weather so l worried they wouldn't survive but all hatched exactly 2 weeks after last egg was laid. They are adorably ugly right now and growing visibly each day. I take a quick photo each day to send updates to my grand daughter. The mama is very tolerant. I am tickled blue. C

Vicki link

4/19/2016 06:42:15 pm

I love the adorable ugly stage. I tried mealworms once but the grackles and crows ate them before the bluebirds could get to them!

Mary Anne link

4/19/2016 06:29:18 pm

I have yet to be lucky enough to see a bluebird in person. There's a reserve north of us and lots of nest boxes and I keep hoping that I will catch a glimpse when we go by, but haven't been successful yet. Hope all yours hatch and fledge successfully! (this comment left on the post that arrived thru inoreader)

4/19/2016 06:42:53 pm

I hope you get to see one. They are beautiful!

Gene Black link

4/20/2016 08:15:09 am

What a delight to have so many birds nesting near you. I have bluebirds that have nested in my gutter - which is a bit uncommon for bluebirds, but I don't mind it at all.

I have heard what I think is a pileated woodpecker in the area, but I haven't seen it yet. I hear the call and a very loud rat-tat-tat pecking. I am hoping to catch a glimpse of it. It has been years since I spotted one.

I had no idea that the titmouse and chickadee eggs are so alike.

4/20/2016 10:08:03 am

I hope you get to see the Pileated. They are such pretty birds! Glad you have your own Bluebird family. If they are successful you can expect them back every year.

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