First Time In Four Years As I have mentioned before in my Dark Legacy post, for the last four years or so I have had a bluebird pair with some type of genetic defect. This theory was backed up when Julie Zickefoose suggested I crack open an unhatched egg and confirm there was no viable chick in it. They would build a nest in my box, lay eggs and then the heartbreak began. … [Read more...] about A Landmark Bluebird Achievement
Bird Conservation
My Bluebirds Have Made A Nest
Update 5/15/10: The feeding frenzy finally came to an end so I thought I'd check the box today. As far as I can tell all 5 bluebirds successfully hatched and fledged the nest. I'll have another post this week about it as this is an historic moment in my bluebird stewardship! … [Read more...] about My Bluebirds Have Made A Nest
Rest In Peace Little One
I wish that I were writing this under happier circumstances. I wrote previously about my little titmouse patient where I told you how he seemed to have bonded with me. He would come to the window and land in the pane so he could see if I were there. He had degraded from coming down for a treat and flying away to coming down and hanging around on my patio which … [Read more...] about Rest In Peace Little One
My Little Titmouse Patient
The House Wrens Have Returned
House Wrens Return! Sort of... As I had posted last week, it seemed like my house wrens had disappeared. They had built a nest, incubated eggs, fledged young and even rebuilt a nest for a second brood. Then, they were nowhere to be seen or heard. If you've ever had house wrens during mating season in your backyard then you know it's impossible to miss … [Read more...] about The House Wrens Have Returned
My Dark Bluebird Legacy Lives On
I was so thrilled when a pair of bluebirds finally decided to make a home in my second bluebird box again this year. I hoped that my resident pair had moved on or died as cruel as that sounds. The reason is it is heartbreaking to see all their work go for near nothing. Thanks to Julie Zickefoose, I learned the pair probably had a genetic problem of some kind. These two have … [Read more...] about My Dark Bluebird Legacy Lives On
My House Wrens Have Disappeared
Where Have My House Wrens Gone? After my house wren pair set up a nest, laid eggs and fledged their first brood, I mentioned that I saw the male cleaning out the nest. Then I saw the female putting new soft nesting materials back into the nest box. When I checked around I was told this is how they do it and all was well. Convinced that they were just getting … [Read more...] about My House Wrens Have Disappeared
Bluebirds Have Eggs In A Nestbox
After spending about a week visiting the nestbox everyday, the bluebirds have built a nest and now have eggs in it. I'm very happy to see them make the commitment to the box which has also been looked over by my house wren male just in case nobody else wanted it. … [Read more...] about Bluebirds Have Eggs In A Nestbox