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
bluebirds
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
What To Do With My House Wrens
I Needed Some Expert Birding Advice The house wrens in my back nest box are filling that thing until it's spilling out the front. I emailed Julie Zickefoose, writer, artist and birding expert to ask what I should do about them. Julie told me as long as the house wrens are allowed to build their nest back there I won't have any problems. The only thing I needed to do … [Read more...] about What To Do With My House Wrens
Bluebirds vs Chickadees – It’s A Draw
Nobody Takes The Nestbox Earlier this week, I was looking out my office window at my backyard when I saw something suspicious. A mottled gray looking bird perched atop my closest bluebird box. Once mom showed up, it didn't take me long to figure out that my resident bluebird pair had decided to nest elsewhere. It was funny to see the little one sitting on top of the box … [Read more...] about Bluebirds vs Chickadees – It’s A Draw
Tell Me Your House Wren Stories
It Started With A Song I noticed this morning that there was a new but vaguely familiar bird singing in my backyard. I get passers-by all the time so I didn't take any notice of it at first. Later, I noticed the bird was still singing repeatedly and loudly. He had been at it for over an hour when I decided to take a closer look and see if I could figure out … [Read more...] about Tell Me Your House Wren Stories
The Bluebirds Make A Last Minute Charge
If You Snooze You Lose OK. Things are heating up in the backyard. Less than a month after reporting the chickadees had staked their claim , the bluebird pair shows up and won't hear any of that noise. Late last week, I started hearing bluebirds chattering in my back yard. Since I almost never hear that sound unless they are nest building, I had to take a look. Sure … [Read more...] about The Bluebirds Make A Last Minute Charge
And The Winners Are … Chickadees
Bluebirds As Year Long Landlords For the past few years, I've had my bluebird pair that comes back from time to time to make sure the nesting box is in good repair and hasn't been destroyed by squatters. They spend up to thirty minutes about once a week looking at and in the box to make sure it will be ready for them when nesting season comes. … [Read more...] about And The Winners Are … Chickadees