I am thrilled to report I have a pair of blue birds building a nest in this box. This is an old photo but it's mine.
Another old bluebird photo of mine. I need to put up this box somewhere.
An illustrated quote I made but it's not my photo.
More good news -- Mother Robin is back in her old corner. I'm sure there must be eggs by now but I haven't looked. I was worried she wouldn't return since all of her old nests were removed when my deck was power washed last summer. Robin nests are very messy and just thrown together and held in place with some mud.
She couldn't decide what cubicle she wanted so she tried several before deciding on the second from the right. See all the dried grasses hanging down? I worked on pruning the boxwood in back of my barn/garage cutting back dead wood and clipping with my shears. They look so much bette and I left lots of little sticks on the ground for the birds in case they want easy pickings for nest materials. I've been busy away from home and had an office meeting this morning. There was another one after lunch but I stayed home and worked outside instead. xo
12 comments:
Thanks for the 'sticks' mention. Luckily that's one self-generating task the garden does on its own.
Also, hair from my brush goes into the garden..........
As my mother-in-law was dying with hospice, at home, I had put together a cluster of pots/plants out her window view. Including her hair, into some begonias.
Indeed, she told me of seeing a bird come get some of her hair a few times one afternoon.
Life is these moments.
Tara Dillard -- Tara, When I clean my hair brush I too save the hair for the birds. They need all the help they can get and I'm here to lend a hand. xo, Rosemary
Hi, Rosemary — I tried to keep hands off this year while the bluebirds were busy building a nest, laying eggs, and then taking turns delivering food to the babies. I still don’t know how many eggs were laid, but I know that one did not hatch. As of Sunday, when I decided to take a peep inside, one baby was still trying to work up enough nerve to jump out. Later Sunday afternoon I discovered he was gone and once again, I had missed getting to see the big show.
It is always fun watching them carry in the long pine needles through the tiny little entrance. We have plenty of those in my neck of the woods. Don’t think I’ve ever seen them carry in anything but that. I happened to have some dried mealworms on hand and put some out in a small terra cotta dish. Mom and Pop would eat some and then carry some to the babies. I soon ran out of the mealworms, which was just as well as our state bird, the Brown Thrasher, began trying to horn in and eat them all.
All that is left is a somewhat messy nest. In another week or so I will open the door, dispose of the unhatched egg and pine needles, and then hose down the inside so that all will be clean and ready to welcome the second brood around late June/early July.
Keep us posted as to how your brood is coming along. xo, J
Thank you so much for the photos of the bluebird. We don't have them here in England and I so wanted to see one when I was little because 'Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly ....' was my mother's favourite song. I had to wait nearly 40 years before seeing a bluebird while on holiday in New England. It was worth the wait. I hope you have many happy moments watching your bluebirds in the garden.
I am so happy to hear that your bluebirds and robins are settling into their customary spots near your home. It's like having old friends come to visit, isn't it? I had never thought of leaving sticks and hair for the birds, but I'm going to start! Great idea.
I love that you save hair for the birds, Rosemary. Such a sweet and thoughtful thing to do for our feathered friends. I saved a bird's nest which my electrician removed from the top of a security light. Unfortunately the bird somehow shorted out the light when building the nest. The bird has not returned to that spot this year, but I can't bring myself to part with the old nest. I would really love to move it to another spot so that, hopefully, new tenants will move in.
Lisa D. -- I emptied my hair receiver (a tall jar) that I keep in one of my cupboards in the bathroom this morning in the back yard. The clumps look like giant dandelion fluff. The pine needles sticking out from the bottom of my bluebird box were the first signs of a nest in progress. I have a giant white pine and lots of needles too. As I mentioned, I have yet to do any mowing and I think the birds are appreciating the peace and quiet. I think NO MOW MAY is going to be a tradition if it means getting bluebirds. They did not nest in my box last year because the house wren took it over. I had to empty the wren's dummy nest early in the year and the box remained completely empty until this week. I am over the moon with Bluebird Happiness and I'm glad to get your news from your nest in Georgia. xo, Rosemary
Pam -- Sticks and hair are always welcome nest building supplies for birds. They can get to work laying eggs if supplies are close by, Glad you like this idea. xo, Rosemary
Tasha T -- You have those adorable English Robins that I enjoy seeing in snowy photos on Instagram and you must have another bird that rivals my bluebirds. I will be posting another bird story before I go to bed for your Friday morning reading. I love your mother's favorite song too. xo, Rosemary
JudyMac -- Judy -- I posted several comments meant for you in my reply to Lisa D.'s comment. Thanks so much for telling us about your Bluebirds that have already come and gone. I am not going to monitor my box either this year as long as the activity going in and out of the opening continues. I have been so busy away from home lately and the birds have had my place all to themselves. I am thrilled my bluebirds won the box this year instead of the wrens who can nest anywhere. Bluebirds need a box or a cavity in a tree as they are cavity builders. Woodpeckers make a new cavity each year so their old ones can be used by other birds.
I put my overwintered geraniums on the balcony yesterday and they look beautiful. Have a great Mother's Day this weekend. xo, Rosemary
Such sweet news. It's nice you make the effort to put up bird houses, and ones designed specifically for bluebirds. Do you, by any chance, follow Thomas Dambo? Today he announced he's coming to south Jersey and going across the country building bird houses. Just a little reminder to everyone about handling bird nests. When I was a teen, a neighbor took me along when she went to a friend's house to photograph birds. The friend gave her a bird's nest she found. Later my neighbor told me of her distaste for the well-intentioned gift. She pointed out that birds often carry lice. Disposable gloves would be a good idea, I think.
mia -- Thanks for the Thomas Dambo recommendation on Instagram and the advice about wearing gloves when handling bird nests. xo, Rosemary
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