Competition Among Cavity Nesters (between species)

From: Crystal Hill [mailto:crystaljhill"at"msn.com]
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2004 7:42 AM
Subject: This morning...

Well the male EABB returned this morning unfortunately to the TUTI nestbox. I saw him perched right on top wing waving and singing. I did not see the female EABB. A little later I heard the TUTI alarm call, went to look out the window and observed one of the TUTI and the male EABB midair in battle I assume. They broke up rather quickly, the EABB perched a top the hook for the mealworm feeder chattering as if mad, the TUTI in the nearby Bradford pear tree, stiff as could be (looked scared to death). They just sat there. The other TUTI flew up as if to observe and sat. A few minutes passed and the EABB flew off. The TUTI just sat. One of them flew off and the one that was fighting went to the nestbox went in checked things out then flew up to the oak where the other TUTI flew up as if to check on his/her mate. I can't tell the sexes apart so I don't know who was taking up for the nestbox....All is quiet now......... Crystal Social Circle, GA

From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [mailto:txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2004 8:51 AM
Subject: birds fighting over nestboxes Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas a cool sunny 50*F morning

When birds are fighting over nestboxes in your yard or along your trail then there is a shortage of quality nestboxes at sites they want to use. There may be wasps or other insects in some of your boxes when they go to inspect them for a potential home. The birds might see predators near some of the nest sites and reject these sites. We don't know why they reject some boxes in some locations so you just need to place different styles at different heights and utilize different floor sizes for the smaller birds. Try some of the smaller entrance holed nestboxes for the smaller birds. Remember that Chickadees will use cavities as small as 2" in diameter and bluebirds won't. Titmice will use cavities as small as 3" diameter (occasionally so will bluebirds) and Eastern Bluebirds will often use nestboxes 3&5/8" in diameter when there are MANY other sizes of nestboxes available in the same yard. In three days members of this list have seen bluebirds kick out two families of chickadees and they probably will run off the titmice at a third spot. What we see is simply a larger stronger bird taking what it wants from a smaller more timid bird. These smaller cavity nesters are far more rare than bluebirds on nearly every nestbox trail. (This bullying is "natural" in the animal world and is common in humans when they think no one is looking!) Nestboxes spaced 100 yards apart in this area assure that bluebirds will continue to multiply and put even more pressure on the small cavity nesters for nestboxes next year. Pairing two nestboxes within 15 feet of each other in areas with high Tree Swallow numbers also ensures that these two species will dominate each location increasing their numbers for next year and creating even more problems for the smaller species each succeeding year. Be sure to add nestboxes in woodland areas adjacent to your "bluebird" trail to give the smaller cavity nesters an area to fall back on when they get driven from the "bluebird" boxes. KK

From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net]
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 1:44 PM
Subject: Who trumps who

Keeping in mind never say never or always, what would you say the general order would be for which bird wins out in a bid for a nestbox? Here’s my guess for who trumps who:

1. House sparrow (early nester, aggressive, persistent, big strong crushing beak)
2. Bluebird (early nester, persistent)
3. Tree swallow (persistent, but usually nest later than bluebirds so blues get first choice)
4. House wren – not sure where to put them in the sequence. Later nester, but very persistent and aggressive.
5. Titmouse (before or after chickadee?)
6. Black capped chickadee – pretty much gets kicked out by everybody.

Bet

Bet and Bluebirdsters: Here in southern Missouri and southern Kansas the Carolina Chickadee begins nesting earlier than the Tufted Titmouse. Therefore CACH may trump ETTI here for that reason.

Good birding, Larry H. Joplin MO.

We were at South Bass Island this weekend (on Lake Erie) and I saw an amazing sight. Maybe this is common, but I have never seen it. There were 4 TRES swooping around one of my nestboxes. Inside, scowling in the shadows, was a male HOSP. Each time he stuck his face out a little, they swooped and tried to peck him. One time, he stuck his face out too far and a TRES knocked him the rest of the way out of the box and took him to the ground. He sort of pounced on the HOSP and pinned him with his feet. Then, he spread his wings out - very similar to what I have seen a hawk do when it has prey on the ground. What does this behavior mean in the bird world? I felt a little like an exuberant referee at a wrestling match. Unfortunately, the HOSP flew away. But, very interesting.

Another interesting observation is that the TRES's on the island are more
aggressive than the ones by my little farm pond in central Ohio.

....Paula Z
Powell (Central) Ohio
South Bass Island (far northern) Ohio

Bet, two out of three years on my trail, the Carolina Chickadee held its own and did not let the Bluebird take the nest. In fact, the first one took over a nest nearly finished by the Bluebird. In all cases, we paired the boxes quickly. I have them nesting as neighbors right now, Chickadees with babies, Bluebirds with eggs. The Chickadee took the nestbox first though.

Evelyn

Tree swallows won't nest in boxes that are as close as 5 ft apart - however we've had tree swallows nest in 2 boxes, 10 feet apart. So, when I pair them, I put them about 5 feet apart with the openings turned away from each other.

One year the tree swallows were giving our bluebirds a particularly hard time and I put up a lot of extra boxes - far enough apart that the tree swallows could claim all.

Then I put the bluebirds' favorite box up close to our house and put a paired box with it for a tree swallow. Once the competition for boxes died down as the tree swallows decided which ones they wanted, they then allowed the bluebirds their favorite box.

It was a little nerve-wracking.

Kathy Johnson
Flemington, NJ

I know Tree Swallows are not usually known for their aggressiveness, but so far in my yard they have chased every bird away, including sparrows, bluebirds, BARN swallows & wrens. I've seen them rolling on the ground fighting with male sparrows. At Bet's suggestion I paired the box they seemed to prefer, and that only worked for a day - now they are back to ruling over all the boxes. They even come within inches of the top of my head as soon as I get within 40 feet of one of the boxes. They go after my timid bluebird pair at the mealworm container; I haven't seen the bluebirds
now for days.

All three boxes are being aggressively dominated by TRES - so, any suggestions on deterring them from at least one box would be appreciated, otherwise I'll have no bluebirds this year. Would temporarily removing a box until later in the season help?

Thanks.
Gail
SW Ohio

With that many TRES, it might not be very effective, but you could try removing incomplete nests (someone correct me if that is illegal). I was under the impression that until a nest had a cap or cup, as in still under construction, you could remove it legally. Maybe if you did that to at least some of the boxes, for example one of two that were paired, maybe the TRES would give it up after a while? You might have to be quite dilligent, however.

Kathy Haines
Central Ohio

From: Kathy Johnson [mailto:krj"at"patmedia.net]
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 10:36 AM
Subject: Re: Who trumps who

In our little neck of VT, where we had a huge tree swallow colony that returned every year and usually only one or two bluebird pairs, the tree swallows always got their pick of boxes, but would let the bluebirds nest in paired boxes. So, it may also partly depend on the relative size of the populations of the birds.

Kathy Johnson, now of Flemington , NJ

Interesting points!

So would it be fair to say that who trumps who may depend on these factors:
- aggressiveness (wonder if you could even say beak size/ type - e.g., crushing beak for house sparrow, egg piercing beak for house wren.)
- local population size
- pressure (number of nesting sites available - e.g., if there are plenty, they may not compete. But still need to look at who gets first choice/best sites)
- resident vs. non-resident (related to next factor)
- timing of arrival (for non-residents)
- timing of nestbuilding (e.g., if one bird species starts nest first, other species may not even try to take over the box)
- time to build nest (e.g., a house wren is fast, can take over a box quickly. Tree swallows take forever to construct a nest - end up being away from the box for long periods of time)
- others?

And does NOT depend on:

- bird size (e.g., house wren is puny, house sparrow is smaller than bluebird)
- ability to nest in NON-cavities (e.g., doesn't deter HOWR or HOSP)

So if I reorder:

1. House sparrow (early nester, aggressive, persistent, big strong crushing beak. Odd, I have not heard of HOSP duking it out with HOWRs....)
2. House wren - not sure where to put them in the sequence. (Later nester, but very persistent and aggressive, will remove eggs and nesting material, and fill up boxes with dummy nests, making them unavailable)
3. Bluebird (early nester, persistent)
4. Tree swallow (persistent, but usually nest later than bluebirds so blues get first choice. IF THEY ARRIVE EARLIER, MAY TRUMP BLUEBIRDS.)
5. Black capped or Carolina chickadee - pretty much gets kicked out by everybody
6. Titmouse (nests later than CACH) Will a titmouse kick anybody out? Are they more or less chicken then chickadees?

Bet from CT

Thanks, Kathy - I'll give the 5 ft. pairing a trial. They'll still probably fight over who will sit on top of the box posts. But you're right....it is nerve wracking! The thought of going a whole year without a bluebird family is too much to bear.

Gail
SW Ohio

It had been our experience in VT that TRES kept away not only hosp, but hawks, crows, starlings - anything that could bother TRES (or happily bluebirds) was chased away by TRES. I'll never forget the day I saw one lone tres keep attacking a hawk from above it in flight until the hawk
left the vicinity.

Kathy Johnson
now of Flemington, NJ

With that many TRES, it might not be very effective, but you could try removing incomplete nests (someone correct me if that is illegal). I was under the impression that until a nest had a cap or cup, as in still under construction, you could remove it legally. Maybe if you did that to at least some of the boxes, for example one of two that were paired, maybe the TRES would give it up after a while? You might have to be quite dilligent, however.

Kathy Haines

As I understand the laws protecting migratory birds, this is illegal except in the case of imported species like the house sparrow. I will try to find the exact wording of the law and post it to the list, unless someone else has it handy.

Kate Arnold
Paris, TX, 100 mi NE of Dallas

I know that you can remove dummy HOWR nests, dummy nests being defined as NOT having a cup made by the female. I assume because I thought I read this in my Monitor book that this is extrapolated generally to all nests - you can remove incomplete nests. However, a confirmation
would be appreciated.

Kathy Haines
Central Ohio

Here you go...

Specific provisions in the statute include: (Migratory Bird Act of 1918)

Establishment of a Federal prohibition, unless permitted by regulations, to
"pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture or kill,
possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for
shipment, ship, cause to be shipped, deliver for transportation, transport,
cause to be transported, carry, or cause to be carried by any means
whatever, receive for shipment, transportation or carriage, or export, at
any time, or in any manner, any migratory bird, included in the terms of
this Convention . . . for the protection of migratory birds . . . or any
part, nest, or egg of any such bird." (16 U.S.C. 703)

Also just FYI, technically it's illegal to retain/possess a nest (i.e.
Bluebird nest) unless you have a salvage permit issued from the USFWS/USGS
(and if needed your state wildlife agency). Not saying you're going to be
sought out, but the Mig Bird Reform Act also added the provision associated
with many previous points as a "know or should have known" clause. Salvage
permits are not difficult to get as long as you have a reason (and BB trail
monitoring might likely qualify, but you'd need to see) and go through the
paperwork process (this is what takes the most effort).
--J

---Kathy wrote:
<clip>
Does this include or not include removing but not
posessing the very beginnings of a nest, such as twigs
from a HOWR, or the beginnings of another nest, like a
TRES? And to be clear, I mean CLEARLY the beginnings,
such as the first day, so very minimal material?
<clip>

My boss is very specific about House Wren nests. Any
that are clearly dummy nests are OK to remove. Once
the female starts the grass lining, it's an active
nest & cannot be removed, even if there aren't any
eggs yet.

Tree Swallows don't build dummy nests -- If they build
it, they're intending to use it. Therefore, TRES
nests cannot be removed at any building stage.

This is one of those issues where if we say anything
patently illegal, the Cornell folks will gently
correct us.

Torrey Moss
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo, MI

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas
Harry Krueger in Ore City Texas had Eastern Bluebirds and Carolina
Chickadees laying eggs in the same nestbox. One bluebird baby hatched out
with the Chickadee incubating and the chickadees raised the female bluebird
to fledging. Harry Banded the female bluebird baby in the nest before it
fledged but it never showed up in any of Harry's nestboxes in later years.

Last year I had Tufted Titmice and Chickadees laying eggs in the same
nestbox at the same time. Titmice young can reach a lot higher than a baby
chickadee so they get most of the food. I think all of the eggs hatched but
one by one the baby chickadees disappeared out of the nest. I got some
pretty good photo's of the size difference in these two species of young
birds.

These birds lose nests to predators, storms and other events. The
mothering/feeding instincts run very high and birds have been known to feed
Koi or large goldfish when these fish "beg for food" at the waters surface.

I have found an adult Carolina Chickadee killed by a titmouse or at least
the chickadee was killed on an active titmouse nest and the titmouse
continued to incubate the eggs and raise the titmice young to fledging time.

Bluebirds very often build their nests over the tops of chickadee and
titmice nests. I have seen adult bluebirds remove and kill young Carolina
Chickadees with the adult chickadees trying to defend their young. I have
opened up a nestbox to find a male bluebird camped out on top of chickadee
eggs and to find both adult chickadees inside the box attempting to drive
out the larger bluebird. I heard a lot of noise in this box and was
expecting to find a snake in the box with the chickadees.

Anyway if a pair of bluebirds will not defend their nestbox from another
bird species nature will probably select this pair for dying out without
adding their poor mothering/defending skills to be passed on in the gene
pool. MANY species of birds have differences in what they feed their young
at different stages of infancy and after fledging! Instead of being worried
about finding something unique happening in your nestboxes you should be
thrilled you were able to witness this!

The hardest part of nestbox monitoring is allowing one native species to
take over a nestbox you placed to attract your favorite native species.
Sunday morning early I was checking my in town nestboxes in parks and along
city streets while listening to church sermons. Here I was trapping and
removing a few House Sparrows when a beautiful solo floated to me over the
airwaves about how God watches over every "Sparrow" so I know he watches
over me!

The longer you monitor nestboxes the more things you will find that force
you to make a decision on doing this or that to help one creature over
another or you find nature made the choice for you while you had your back
turned. KK

Bet,

Great summary of our cavity nesters. A few thoughts to add from my
experience:

1. I've never heard of HOSP duking it out with HOWR either. This could be
because the HOSP usually corners it's prey in the nestbox and the HOSP would
have to maneuver through a mountain of sticks to get to the HOWR.

4. If boxes are paired correctly, I have not had TRES trump EABL. If boxes
are not paired, this can certainly happen.

5. Poor little chickadees. I have had success by using nestboxes with 1
1/8" hole which eliminates competition by HOSP, EABL, TRES, etc. Wren guard
then protects setting chickadee once she has laid her clutch.

Paula Z
Powell (Central) Ohio

Interesting about HOSP vs. HOWR. I would think HOSP would hang out near
brambles also. Has ANYBODY here had a HOSP: HOWR conflict?

I'm thinking another factor might be how "committed" the birds are to the
area or the box. E.g., if they have an egg, they might fight harder. If
they are not resident and have not started a nest or egg, they might wimp
out and move on.

Sounds like EABL and TRES are pretty even. I'm noticing that here, while
the TRES persistently swoop over boxes with bluebird nests in them, they are
not attempting to build their own nests, even in boxes that have been
abandoned by the bluebirds.

Speaking of abandoned by bluebirds, the pair is my yard is on their third
nest (first they "claimed" a Peterson, then moved to another Peterson nearby
and built a nest, then built a nest in the original Peterson, and finally
built one in a Gilbertson box in the back yard). They FINALLY laid an egg
(more than 2 weeks after they started nest building.)

Bet from CT

From: Paula [mailto:PaulaZ"at"columbus.rr.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 12:38 PM
Subject: Subject: RE: Who trumps who

Interesting discussion on the TRES front. My trail in central Ohio has TRES
and EABL. There are boxes that do remain empty each year so we are not
inundated with either species. I do have more TRES than EABL, however.
These boxes were paired at a distance of 5 feet for 4 years. In 4 years,
all of these paired sites had either an EABL or a TRES in one of the boxes
while the other box remained empty. The resident bird would not allow
another bird to nest that close on my trail. This year, I have spaced the
boxes about 15 feet apart and it looks as though it will be more successful.

I think the EABL I have on the trail are the same ones I have had for past
several years. They always choose the same boxes and have learned to
tolerate the TRES for the most part. I have 2 female EABL sitting on eggs
right now. While they are sitting, I often see a TRES perched on top of the
EABL's box. They both are tolerating each other well.

Maybe the 5' pairing will work in heavy TRES areas. It hasn't worked for
me. I do think the TRES may tolerate each other a little closer in heavily
populated TRES areas, but am not certain of this - any studies done on it
does any one know?

Gail, it is also good to remember that TRES generally nest only once and
EABL will have 2 or 3 broods so you may get them second go around if the
TRES are giving them a hard time this spring.

Paula Z
Powell (Central) Ohio

Paula - good to know about the TRES single nesting....it gives me hope.
Also, like you I found that the paired boxes needed to be at least (in my
case) 30 feet apart. The TRES are also fighting each other for a spot, so
at this point NONE of the boxes contains a nest of any kind.

The bluebirds in my yard this year appear to be very timid, definitely not
the same aggressive, confident birds I had last year, so maybe with a little
bit of experience with other birds' behavior, they will be successful &
learn to take possession of a box early.

I keep trapping sparrows, and new ones arrive to replace them!

Gail
SW OH

It might be a habitat thing more than a personality
thing that's keeping them apart.

I don't have HOSP out at the state park (no houses or
barns) but there's enough HOWR that they take boxes
even in "too open" habitat. At the golf courses, HOSP
are practically everywhere but there's no brush so
there's no HOWR.

Residential areas might have different "house to
brush" ratios, which might bring these species into
conflict. Even tho i've had people talk about their
wrens, i've never had anybody mention a wren-sparrow
conflict. I'll keep my ears open.

Torrey Moss
Kalamazoo Nature Center
Kalamazoo, MI

I checked my bb house this morning and found one egg in a new nest. Not sure if it was laid yesterday or this morning. This is the same pair who had a failed nest a few weeks ago due, I think to freezing temperatures. This morning I noticed a pair of swallows showing a lot in interest in the box. Male bb did a lot of chasing and so did I. I just checked the box a short time ago and that single egg is on the ground in front of the box. Would the swallows do this? There are two other boxes available - one about 25 feet away and the other about 200 feet away. Will the blues lay more eggs or give up?

Lynn near Bernville PA.

Hi listers!

I just had to share an incident on my trail this year. On May 7 I had a nest of 4 EABL eggs and all was well. When I checked the box on May 15 there were only 3 eggs. On May 20 the eggs were all gone and there were sticks on top of the Bluebird nest. I was just sick! On May 26 there were grasses on top of the sticks, and on May 31 there was a completed nest with 5 EABL eggs in it! The Bluebirds truumphed over the House Wrens!

Another heart warming story. I was visiting a friend who was recovering from a total knee surgery. They had built in a new development that had been farm land, but had just had some good sized trees planted in their yard. As we were talking, she said,"I see a blue bird in that tree!" Sure enough, there was a male Eastern Bluebird! She had never seen one there and said, "you even bring the Bluebirds with you!" I had bought a extra Gilwood box at the recent Bluebird Recovery Program of Minnesota conference, so her husband came that evening and I gave him the box and pole and instructions in where to put it etc. The following Monday the EABLs were building a nest in it!
You all know the excitement this brought to my friend. She is hooked already and her husband is building a box to give me for the one I gave him, and an extra to pair with the first one. I couldn't have planned that one better myself!

Mary Roen, River Falls, WI

Hi, Mary.

A successful second nesting's definitely a victory but not necessarily a triumph. House Wrens tend to arrive farther north after our Bluebirds nest for the first time. When the male HOWR chooses a territory, he tries to take over every cavity in that territory, pecking and removing eggs that he finds, then building a nest of sticks in every cavity to try to impress a female enough to stay.
Once the HOWR pair chooses a cavity and the female completes lining the nest, the male usually stops his total domination of all the cavities in his territory and starts to concentrate on keeping other male HOWR out of his territory. It's a matter of timing. I've lost first clutches to HOWR but not second (I've not recorded a third successful nesting by EABL here).

> Another heart warming story. ...[snip].. She is hooked already and her
> husband is building a box to give me for the one I gave him, and an
> extra to pair with the first one. I couldn't have planned that one
> better myself!

Fantastic! I love the enthusiasm of folks who've just discovered the joys of hosting native birds.
It rubs off, renewing my own enthusiasm when I start to feed down about a lost nest or over- whelmed by trying to keep up. Oh, and her husband is hooked, too. Been there. My wife likes the looking and taking photos. I build and install the nestboxes and keep the records.
It's a nice fit that works.

Take care,

R J 'Tree' Greenwood
Catlett VA

Three weeks ago, I asked my husband, Roy, to move a couple of bluebird nest boxes that were too close together. With some considerable grousing, he removed the nest boxes and rehung each nest box three hundred feet away from the nest box in the lane (which has 3 hatchlings in it as of today!). One box was hung on a metal post on the fence row in the hayfield, while the other was hung on a metal pole along the dry creek bed. A few days later, I was disappointed to see a little house wren fly out of the dry creek bed nest box, and upon checking, found the nest box filled with the tell-tale twigs and sticks of a house wren nest. Today, about two weeks later, Roy and I were riding the ATV this afternoon and I saw that brilliant blue flush from nearby the dry creek bed nest box. On a whim, we stopped to check it.
The bluebirds had built a nest on top of the wren's "dummy nest" complete with three little blue eggs! What an unexpected delight! This brings the known total of Pischer Pfarm bluebirds up to three pair! I pulled several twigs and sticks away in order to lower the bluebird nest, and hung a predator guard on the pole as well. Tomorrow I will take the grass clippers and cut the tall grass away from the pole that holds the nest box.

Trudy Pischer
Willard, MO

From: Autumn L. Kruer [mailto:autumnk"at"iglou.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 9:52 AM
Subject: RE: Tres & Bluebirds

Tree swallows and bluebirds will compete for boxes sometimes. Pair boxes and it will usually solve the problem and also create extra protection against HOSP as both species defend the territory. I’ve found if my bluebirds are already nesting, they’ll run tree swallows off their box. Tree swallows are also native cavity-nesters so you certainly do not want to harm their nests in any way.

Autumn in Kentucky

...
The spectacle of a pair of Bluebirds and a pair of Tree
Swallows joining forces to attack and drive off a House Sparrow (Rat Finch)
is something to behold. The sparrow doesn't stand a chance.

Bruce Burdett

From: charlene anchor [mailto:charleneanchor"at"msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 2:05 PM
Subject: House Wrens and box placement

Charlene Anchor, Illinois

I think when someone puts up a trail that it's a good idea to be prepared for anything to happen, even things that aren't supposed to happen. Some of my boxes are over 200 ft away from trees, bushes, etc., sitting on a prairie, and STILL the House Wrens nest there! This summer I had House Wrens that tore out a HOSP nest, chasing them away, and then successfully fledged. (This also happened last year!) In another spot they tried that and the HOSP came back and killed the HOWR. Best thing to do is read and learn as much as possible beforehand. Then you'll find out how much you don't know when reality sets in. (at least that's how it's going with me) But Bluebird-L is here to help! And then there is nothing compared to experience to help increase the learning curve.

With all that being said, I feel that the closer to the trees and bushes the boxes are set, all the more certain the wrens will take them over. (I'm not familiar with any woods that don't have wrens...but there may be some) I tried this year to close up my boxes as soon as I could without endangering other nesters in nearby boxes to try and reduce the HOWR population. I was only successful in reducing the numbers nesting by a small amount. But I will continue to do that every year and hopefully reduce their numbers a little.

Hi... I'm new and have been lurking for the last week trying to learn more.

A few days ago, I saw 3 or 4 Eastern bluebirds in and out of a nest box colonized by tree swallows during the Spring. If these birds stay through the winter, will they be pushed out by the tree swallows when Spring comes back. ...

David
Old Chatham, NY

David,

Welcome to the list!

Since you had Tree Swallows (TRES) in your nest box last year, they will almost certainly return next spring. The Eastern Bluebirds (EABL) often start their nests before the TRES migrate back, but those TRES can be formidable when they return and want to nest. What has worked well for me and many others, is to "pair" another nestbox with the existing one. I have experimented a little with spacing. A placement of the second nest box about 12 to 20 feet from the first one should work well. On my trail, if I place them closer than this, both species refuse to nest simultaneously. If you place them farther than say 25 feet, you could end up with two pairs of TRES instead of the EABL. TRES will not allow another pair of their species to nest within about 25 feet, so the second box is available for your EABL.
The TRES pair that does nest will help to chase away any other TRES from the EABL box as well as other dangerous birds such as House Sparrows (HOSP).

In central Ohio, I have EABL overwinter with me and I feed them a homemade suet mix. I feed a few mealworms in the spring/summer months when I have one pair nesting at home. The mealworms are only a treat and not a main food source for them. During the winter months, EABL tolerate each other in groups once more (no territorial nesting disputes) and I have counted 20 EABL at the feeder at one time. If I were to feed them mealworms during the winter, it would be very expensive. The birds that eat the suet mix include quite a variety and they will go through one or two cups per day when the snow flies. I mix up Bluebird Banquet - recipe is at:
http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/ljrecipe.htm

...

Paula Z
Powell (Central) Ohio

...

As to competition, I have had a couple of cases of a Bluebird taking a box away from a chickadee but I have never seen that happen to a Titmouse they are pretty feisty.

Bernie Daniel
Ohio Bluebird Society

From: Dottie, Hickory Hollow, Brown County, Indiana [mailto:yumyumkatts"at"voyager.net]
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 11:23 PM
Subject: Bluebird

A male BB flew up to the feeder tray yesterday just when Red-belly woodpecker and a Starling were fighting over the Gourmet Bird Delight. Red-belly had his beak open and his head down and was going at the Starling. The Starling was jumping up and down and flapping his wings. Mad as heck. BB watched them for a minute and then decided to find his breakfast elsewhere. Red-belly won.

Dottie, Hickory Hollow
Brown County, Indiana

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"a"bayou.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 8:57 PM
Subject: House Sparrow Story

A new LBBS member in South LA wrote me this morning saying "Help, a House Sparrow is running my bluebird off. What can I do?

I started asking her questions. I asked if she got a close look at the House Sparrow and she said she didn't get that close of a look. I told her to go look at the nest and come back and describe it to me. She did and she described a Carolina Chickadee nest. I asked her if she thought the bird had a black cap and she said it was a little too far to tell.

I explained that she needed to really watch close as I thought she had a Carolina Chickadee and told her how to pair the boxes. She said her boyfriend bought her a pair of binoculars and brought them to her last night. She said she could hardly wait for daylight to watch from her breakfast room to see what came to the box. Sure enough, she saw the little Carolina Chickadee. slip in and out of the box. She wrote me that they were headed to get another box and material for guards.

I think she is hooked.

Oh, and no sign of House Sparrows. I wish for her that it stays that way!

Evelyn, Dehli LA

I wonder if Carolina Chickadees are more assertive than black-capped chickadees. I think a bluebird would beat the snot out of a BCCH. They certainly always seem to get kicked out of their nests by competitors (especially house wrens.)

Bet from CT

From: elizabeth.young"a"spotplus.com [mailto:elizabeth.young"a"spotplus.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 2:21 PM
Subject: RE: House Sparrow Story-CACH

Ok, here goes my long story.
I have a Gilbertson PVC that the Carolina Chickadees have grabbed first two years in a row. I glued a restrictor on it last year because bluebirds were harassing the CACH which already had eggs. Blues went somewhere else even though I put out the extra PVC house. This year, the CACH got started early again. But this time I put the PVC in a different location and a new couple of EABLs moved in immediately. Last weekend ANOTHER pair (I think are the same fickle pair from last year) were trying to get into the CACH PVC that has the restrictor. Even though they couldn't get in they wouldn't let the CACH alone. The CACH was dive bombing the female EABL and she turned on him and attached him. The male EABL also got into it and they had the poor CACH pinned to the ground. I started yelling and they wouldn't stop. I started throwing stuff out of the window and they finally let go, but did not let the CACH in the house. I love EABL but that really scared me. The female EABL had a big beak of CACH feathers. Later they left and I checked and the CACH started fussing at me, so I guess he was ok.

By the way, I have another PVC ordered! Hoping EABLs will leave the CACH alone if I get them their own. They are sticking their beaks up at my wood boxes.
6 years of trying to get bluebirds and all of a sudden two pairs!

Good news first! My EABL nest with the "missing eggs" has one egg as of yesterday! (I do believe that the egg is a little lighter blue than the missing egg which was a deeper blue than I've seen. Since I recently read here that females do lay eggs of different shapes or hues, that leads me to believe it was not "Molly" -- my BB of the last three years. (Is it possible that she could have removed the other eggs??? I would not have expected
that...) The new egg is exciting since I was afraid the Blues were not going to nest in my yard this year (yikes!).

What is disturbing is that, of my three boxes, the Bluebirds have twice evicted a Chickadee pair using one box (totally removing their nests). I know they (the BBs) think it is their box... all three boxes have been used by the same pair in the past. It's hard to watch the Chickadees work so hard, however, just to have their nest emptied. ...They are currently avidly working on their third nest and chasing away the Bluebirds that occasionally stop to peak in.

I suppose there is nothing I can do....

MaryThomson
Chattanooga, TN

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 9:25 AM
Subject: Re: Bluebirds Evicting Chickadees

You mention all three of your bluebird boxes. I don't know how far apart they are, but if you will place a unit about 10 to 20 ft. from your bluebird boxes, that will give them both a chance to be good neighbors. It is called pairing. It works!!! Do not place them any farther from the bb boxes.

Do it now!

Evelyn

If you have an active chickadee nest, you can make a hole restrictor with a 1-1/8" hole to allow the chickadees to enter their nestbox and to keep the bluebirds out. You can remove it after the babies fledge so the bluebirds can use the nestbox if they want to later. You can add another nestbox nearby as Evelyn suggested, if the bluebirds seem to like that particular part of the yard.

Otherwise the chickadees don't have a chance.

Kate Arnold
Paris, TX

I had to put a hole restrictor on the box the Dees selected last year because I had the same thing happening. I got mine at WBU for just a few dollars. I selected a metal one that I could bend because I have Gilbertson PVC houses and I glued it on and put tape around the edges until the glue dried.

Thank you Evelyn. Two of my BB boxes are about 20' apart (I'll have to
measure) and the third is about 70' farther away (presently housing the
BBs).

I think (if I remember correctly) that Bruce B says no farther tha 20 ft. apart for pairing. Mine are closer than that. For EABL it 100 to 150 yards is recommended.

[subsequent posts] The reason for the more space between the Bluebirds is for foraging purposes (especially to feed their young). This is not to say they won't nest closer, but they do need more feeding room. A couple of years ago the recommendations for EABL was increased to 135 yards to 150 yards instead of the 100 yards apart.

I have two nesting in my 3 acre yard for the second season. It took seven years before that happened. The years of 03 and 04 nothing nested as the Mockingbird ran them off. However, this more aggressive pair and their offsprings have turned the tables!! Am I happy about that!! Well, I re-read your message and it seems that all your bluebird houses are fairly close together. This may be the problem. It seems you may have boxes close enough for Chickadees and Bluebirds to nest, but you may not have enough boxes far enough and out of sight of each other for the Bluebirds to all nest. Most of the times, Bluebirds do seem to prefer at least 100 yards or more between their nestboxes. If your yard or property is not large enough to place them that far apart, maybe you could find neighbors that you could place them that distance.

I am just making a guess here as it seems you have all three within 70 ft. or less of each other

Evelyn...

Thank you, all who sent suggestions!

Yes, Malinda, that suggestion did come up and I am so grateful. I was
leaving town yesterday, could not find any reducers in stock locally but was
able to make one make-shift just before we left. My husband and I cut the
1-1/8 hole in balsa wood, sanded smooth and tacked it in place (with the
bottom of the reducer level with the bottom of the original hole).

So far, my family has not yet seen any chickadees back in the box... but I
am hopeful!

Mary Thomson
Chattanooga

Hi All,

Apparently, my Chickadee pair were spooked by the addition of the hole
restrictor. I have seen no activity (other than BBs checking it out).
Perhaps if I had added it before they experienced so much difficulty
completing the nests....

Mary Thomson
Chattanooga TN

Mary,

Let me start by saying I love chickadees. Most of my boxes are way out in open mowed grass habitat so I have only had them once in a wood edge box I have here at home. Unfortunately, the House Wrens evicted them before I could get a HOWR guard on the box.

There is something you can do. Once the chickadees pick a box, why not install a hole restrictor on the box. Since a chickadee is a smaller bird than the EABL, a 1 1/8" hole restrictor should keep the blues from evicting them. If they get far enough to lay their eggs and the House Wrens come into your area, you can put a House Wren guard on the box too. Both strategies have been known to work very well. Websites such as:
http://www.birdwatchersgeneralstore.com/birdhouse.htm sell hole reducers.
If you scroll down on this one, you will find what you need.

Paula Z
Powell (Central) Ohio

What size hole restrictor did you use? It was recommended by others that
you use a 1&1/8" hole restrictor but you could use a slightly larger 1&1/4"
restrictor instead.

Linda Violett
Yorba Linda, Calif.

My understanding is that a house sparrow can enter a 1&1/4" hole but a 1&1/8" hole will generally keep both house sparrows and bluebirds from entering.

Kate Arnold
Paris, Texas

From: plkldf"at"comcast.net [mailto:plkldf"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 9:04 AM
Subject: re: bluebirds evicting chickadees

Paul Kilduff
trail at Oregon Ridge Park, Cockeysville (Baltimore Co) MD

I ordered a 1-7/16" Forstner bit from http://www.woodworker.com The customer service was great -- I checked first to make sure it was in stock, which was listed right on the page. I'm assuming 1-7/16" will keep out the bluebirds -- if you're trying to keep out HOSP I'm not sure 1-1/4" will do it. If HOSP aren't a problem, you might want to try 1-7/16". I've set up three boxes in HOWR/CACH territory, each with sawdust in the bottom (supposedly a
CACH attractant) and each with an electrical box over the hole which I cut with tin snips so that it has a flap hanging down "guarding" the hole (supposedly HOWR don't like to enter the hole from below), and the 1-7/16" hole (which I think would be like a garage door to a chickadee). It's the mad scientist in me.

Hopefully waiting for moss nests!
Paul in Baltimore

No more EABL Chickadee-eviction! Thanks to all of you for your wonderful suggestions and advice.

I stopped by the BB nestbox just now (with a mirror) to see how much of the cup the Chickadee may have filled today, if any. I did not expect to see much since the nest was still only two inches high at best. I lifted up some of the fluffy stuff she had on the top of the nest and --low and behold!!-EGGS!! Not sure how many, at least three. I was afraid of disturbing the nest too much.

I do believe that these eggs were only recently laid...at least I did not see the down/hair in the cup of the nest until yesterday.
MaryThomson
Chattanooga TN

Hmm, if the chickadee is still going in and out, maybe they won't give up? I
hope not! They are pretty secretive during nestbuilding, which can take 3 or 4 days up to 2
weeks.

I forget, do you have another bluebird box up near it that the pesky bluebirds can use?

Bet

From: Ruth
Sent: April 12, 2006
RE: Need more boxes?

Currently I have three bluebird boxes spaced on my one acre property. A female EABL built a nest in the one box, almost completely finished except the for the final center cup. Now I see her carrying material into another box nearby. Do they sometimes change their mind and start a second nest? I don't want to pull out the first nest that she made just in case she goes back to it. I wish she would make up her mind. ha! Now for my second dilemma. That leaves one box left and I have a Tree Swallow and a Black Capped Chickadee arguing over the third box. Should I put up a 4th box to accommodate everyone??
Thanks.

Ruth
Souderton, E. PA

Yes, I have three bluebird boxes total.The BBs are nesting in one (5 eggs).
Yesterday, I discovered several Chickadee egg in their box!! :) Since the
nest was less than 2" high, I was quite surprised. ...I guess she ran out of
time and energy after having her other two nests removed. ...Now everyone is
happy!

Mary

I am using a 1-1/8" restrictor. I now see the chickadees entering the box
and there are several eggs!! How exciting. ...The bluebirds continue to
investigate and attempt to enter.

Mary

Thanks, Linda! Yesterday I checked the chickadee nestbox and, sure enough, the eggs are warm! There appear to be four. (I am assuming that it is okay to touch the eggs as we would with BBs..?)

And there is still one box left for our Bluebird pair's next nest--sadly, not Molly & Ben (at least, not Molly, I know)-- to investigate and claim for their next clach.

One house with 5 BB eggs and one with 4 (+?) chickadee eggs. ...It's a good life!!

From: David Gwin [mailto:David.Gwin"at"cityofcarrollton.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 5:26 PM
Subject: When CACH/CAWR Move Into a "McMansion"

Howdy, All:
Any feedback on the following would be greatly appreciated ...
I maintain approximately 35 boxes on my Trail specifically for the six species of woodpeckers we have here in North Central Texas that are known to use nest boxes. However, over the past few years, I have had CACH and CAWR move into several of the much larger boxes (All with 2" to 2.5" openings) first ... this despite the fact that they have more "appropriately-sized" housing available nearby. Since they often start to nest much sooner than the woodpeckers, they just get going with their nestlings when woodpeckers begin to claim the boxes and start their own breeding season.
I say all this because the woodpeckers easily eject the smaller species, dispatch the nestlings and, in the case of CACH, often destroy their only brood for the season. I have really struggled with whether I should let nature take its course in this regard ... or take action to reduce the size of the opening in favor of the much smaller species.
Among my fellow conservationist friends, we have a running and hot debate as to whether or not we should actively intervene in this very natural process. After all, it is one thing for us to take action to help natives against non-native species ... but should we be actively involved in helping species that have not yet figured out that they cannot defend a huge box with a 2.5" opening against larger competing species? There are many that think this is nature's very real way of eliminating the "less-intelligent" from the gene pool.
Other opinions or viewpoints in this regard are most welcome.
Thanks,
David

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 7:48 PM
Subject: Re: When CACH/CAWR Move Into a "McMansion"

David, it would be no problem for me to decide. I would reduce the size of the opening by putting the appropriate size on there. >From what I have read, you would not have a great abundance of Chickadees would you? Don't they nest several miles apart? Or at least, some larger distance that for Bluebirds? Now, the CAWR may nest closer and take more of them.

However, I think it depends on your own outlook and nature to how you would handle the situation.

Kenny K just sent me the most adorable picture of his Prothonotary Warbler babies, four of them and one egg not hatched. I loved seeing the color of the egg. Now, I am smitten with that little bird. If it built a nest in something with a hole to large on my trail, I would be there "Johnny On The Spot" to save their little lives!

Evelyn

From: David Gwin [mailto:David.Gwin"at"cityofcarrollton.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 9:44 PM
Subject: Re: When CACH/CAWR Move Into a "McMansion"

Evelyn:

Thanks for your thoughts.

In reference to your question, I actually have a lot of CACH and for some reason mine don't follow the "10 acre rule" per all the reference materials. In fact, in several sections of my trail, CACH nesting much closer to each other than a 1/4 mile apart.

CARWs actually nest much closer to each other than most other cavity nesters. BTW - If you ever get a chance to view one of their nests built in a much larger box, take it. With its much longer funnel, it is one of the most interesting nests in this much larger cavity.

Take care,
David

P.S. - I think I have shared with you that my trails actually focus on the PROW as my primary target species. I am very partial to this species. Generally, less than 25% of my trails are utilized by EABLs.

From: David Gwin [mailto:David.Gwin"at"cityofcarrollton.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 9:56 PM
Subject: Re: When CACH/CAWR Move Into a "McMansion"

Jimmy:

Thanks for the feedback. Up to this point, I have just let nature take its course. I am one of those that believe that nature has a way of dealing with these kinds of things ... that is, when we are talking native to native.

Take care,
David

P.S. - Yes ... It is CARW, not CAWR.

CACH don't adhere to the 10ac rule here either... more like .5-1 ac. And the male will start building in every box until the female chooses one -- 1 trail is dispersed across both open grassy to heavily forested areas.

CARW have so many nests b/c the males are not monogamous. They court one female, get her brooding and then "run off" to find the next rarely (VERY) helping raise young at all. They're too busy with the "other women". I've had as many as 6 CARW nest within ~125 yds and only one male singing over the territory running all others off as soon as they open their beaks.

Take care --J

Jimmy Dodson
Asst Forest Manager -- NCSU Dept of Forestry & Environmental Resources
Campus: 3024B Biltmore Hall, Raleigh, NC

Jimmy:

Same behavior exhibited for both species here on my trails.

In fact, over the years, I have become a great observer of CACH. They are fascinating when foraging as a flock in the trees ... especially when that flock is comprised of an adult pair and the latest bunch of fledglings from one of your very own nest boxes.

Take care,
David
North Central Texas

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 5:15 AM
Subject: Re: When CACH/CAWR Move Into a "McMansion"

My trail where the CACH nest is on 80 acres. I've never had but one nest. One nest failed at one site and they never came back three years ago. For two years, they nested at the same site in another place paired beside the Bluebird. This year, they have not nested at all in the boxes. They have nested here before in natural cavities and I do think they have done a lot of that and still do. I see them come to the puddles of water and drink in the hot months so I know they are here.

Evelyn, Dehli LA

At the wildlife refuge where I monitor nestboxes, tree swallows are usually the first to nest (we do
have a few bluebirds nesting now, but it's the trees that have the run of things at this time). They
only raise one clutch and then leave the nestboxes all to the bluebirds.

I enjoy the tree swallows, watching their antics and doing their aerial acrobatics while feeding
for insects... but especially when the birds sit and peek out of the entrance holes to check on the
outside world. They are a big hit with our visitors, many of whom are not familiar with the
species.

Tree swallows are pretty cool too!

--rudy

rudy benavides
randallstown, md

Interesting! In NE CT, I had the first blue-babies hatch around last Friday and don't have a single
TRES egg yet. Bluebirds usually are househunting here in Feb/March - TRES don't even show up until
April.

Bet from CT

All about tree swallows: http://www.sialis.org/tres.htm
Who trumps who: http://www.sialis.org/competition.htm

Barbara and Bluebirdsters:

Twice now I have had Tree Swallows in
EABL boxes.
Both times my notes stated at1st entry:
"EABL nest no eggs." Then, here come
the feathers.
I wonder if both of those times I was
wrong and the TRES built that grass nest instead of taking over an EABL
nest...
Barbara, what I'm saying is I wonder if your "bluebird nest" was a TRES nest
all along?

Good birding, Larry H. Joplin (sw) MO

....

I've had an interesting new development. Tree Swallows and a new EABL pair showed up simultaneously. The EABL's are harrassing a pair of House Wrens in an EABL box and even tried bringing food to the 12 day old babies in the other EABL's box. That caused a fight between both sets of parents but happened so fast I couldn't get a picture. The Tree Swallows and new EABL pair are having their usual duels but there are enough new nest boxes spread out across the property that they will hopefully each find suitable digs.

Thanks,
Rob Barron
Warrenton, Virginia

From: plkldf"at"comcast.net [mailto:plkldf"at"comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 8:05 PM
Subject: TRES and EABL: fundamental timetable differences?

Paul Kilduff
trail at Oregon Ridge Park, Cockeysville (Baltimore Co) MD

…

I finally found a dead TRES in a box that DID have a TRES ladder installed - first time ever on our
trail, as far as I'm aware. However, this wasn't really typical, because it was damaged or diseased
in some way -- I don't think that counts. The feathers on its neck appeared to be disheveled, and
the top of its head was bald and very red -- I thought maybe a tumor.... I did not see invasive
damage that I would associate with an attack by a HOSP -- no wounds, just this bulbous, discolored
head and the damage to the feathers. I left it in the freezer at the Nature Center and asked our
Angel of Mercy rehabber to take a look at it next time she was by, so if I hear anything from her
I'll advise.

Meanwhile, I am thinking of something that others may take for granted, but maybe not.

We have two boxes 22' apart, which both have TRES nesting in them. This is another *exception to
what I thought was a rule*. My first reaction was, "I'll have to move them a little closer
together," but then I thought, "Why? All the bluebirds which wanted to nest had done so before the
TRES started building theirs."

But I take it that this is not true in more northern climes. So what I'm speculating is that TRES
migrate north at about the same time*, whether they're migrating to MD or NH or CT or WI, while
bluebirds seem either to move with the climate, and/or not build nests until the weather allows. So
while TRES precede EABL in NH, for example, they follow EABL in MD. This would lead to a different
strategy here, wouldn't it? I don't have to worry about TRES taking all the boxes, leaving none for
the bluebirds, because the bluebirds had first choice, and once the TRES get done, all the boxes
will be available for EABL second nestings. Whereas, farther north, the TRES might well take every
box unless they're spaced in such a way that one box of a pair will remain available.

Is this a sensible idea?

Paul in Baltimore

* as witness the differences in trapped TRES in CT or WI, for example, and here in MD. Here, if
they're trapped, it seems universally true that they are unable to get out of the box, whereas in
CT, for example, TRES are found dead in Petersons with saw kerfs under the entrance hole - a
*turtle* could make its way to that hole! Is this because when the TRES timetable tells them to
migrate, they either haven't flown as far to MD, or there are more likely to be enough flying
insects to sustain them? While those that migrate farther north would have to fly farther, through
places that have less food? Thus leading to starved birds finding a place to die in nestboxes in
the north, while here where I am if they have a way out they'll take it.... Hm?

I do think the biggest problem in CT is weather. We tend to have extended periods of cold wet
weather in the Spring that impacts availability of flying insects, and I think results in starvation
or perhaps makes nestlings more susceptible to death via hypothermia.

Here Eastern bluebirds start house hunting in Feb. or March. TRES don't show up until April. This
year my first bluebird egg was 4/10, and my first TRES egg was almost exactly a month later on 5/11.
TRES generally lay their eggs synchronously (within 7-10 days of neighbors) but with the weather,
they have been disappearing (they may leave nest for days, going up to 20 miles away to forage) and
some TRES nests had no eggs as of Monday.

So anyway, HERE EABLs get first pick of nest sites for the FIRST brood. But then a lot of boxes are
taken when the blues are ready for a second brood, so they seem to re-use the same box or go for a
vacant one (I always have extras.)

I don't have many paired boxes yet, but am finding either the second box goes unused, or gets a TRES
nest (I don't know yet whether they are just building a nest and not using it, or whether it's a
second pair.) That's the case even though the boxes are <20 feet apart. Bruce indicates he pairs
8-18 feet apart or TRES will take both. Nesting pairs occasionally breed only 3 to 8 or 10 feet
apart (Harris 1979, Boone 1982).

I think your point about different locations and migration schedules is key.

Bet from CT

From: Donna [mailto:spraydm"at"earthlink.net]
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 2:34 PM
Subject: poor Chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee - a question

I just saw the bluebird male evicting a Chickadee from the BB house. One or the other checks it daily, and today they caught him in there. The poor Chickadee flew from tree to tree nearby fussing up a storm, while the blue stayed on the house. I've never heard him be so verbal!

I LOVE the Chickadee, he has only recently attractacted a female. He keeps checking out the other box out front, but hasn't done anything with it. Perhaps that location is undesirable.

My question is, will the blues tolerate another house nearby for Chickadees the way they do with TRES?

Donna in Virginia

Yes, Yes, Yes. Pair it exactly the same way! Hurry! :<))

Evelyn

From: Donna [mailto:spraydm"at"earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, May 29, 2006 9:13 AM
Subject: Re: poor Chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee - a question

We moved the extra house to within 16-18 feet of the BB house the same evening, and we've watched for a few days. The Chickadees have not made another attempt that we have observed.

Now the BBs are trying to get into the new house with the 1.25" restrictor! Sheesh!

Donna

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Monday, May 29, 2006 9:23 AM
Subject: Re: poor Chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee - a question

Have the bluebirds built yet? Seems like they are the dominant species in this case and when they build, usually they will not bother the other box. I put mine closer together than that, don't know if that makes any difference or not.

The Chickadees may decide to move on.

Evelyn

Not yet, but I think they are getting ready. The fledglings are about 2 weeks out of the nest, and when Mom and Pop come back to check the house he is doing a lot of that wing-waving.

I got to see all five fledglings for the first time this morning. They've been staying in the tallest treetops where I can't see them, but today they all landed on a pretty bare pine tree not far from one of the parents. One took a short unsteady circle flight out and back to the same tree - seems to still be a bit of a novice at that.

...

Donna

From: Donna [mailto:spraydm"at"earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: almost had a second pair of EABL today

Just as I was going to ask my husband if he would move the birdhouse back to the front yard last night, he got sick with a stomach virus. Sooooo, I drove into town to the bird store and bought a new outfit. I now have a third house, placed in the front where the original pair down in the back can't see it.

We'll wait to see if the new pair shows any interest, hope it's not too late.

By the way, I wonder if I caused the EABL conflict of yesterday. When the Chickadees failed to return and claim the second box, a week or so ago I removed the 1.25" restrictor to see if other birds would take it. The original pair of EABL had initially put nesting material in both boxes and completed a nest in one. There was precious little material in the second box - I'd say about a dozen pine needles.

In my zeal to attract other birds, I cleaned out the pine needles yesterday morning. Perhaps the new pair of EABL saw this as an available house now that there was no nesting material? Is this what some of you have referred to as claim straws?

Donna

From: JBrindo"at"aol.com [mailto:JBrindo"at"aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 5:13 PM
Subject: need an experienced opinion

Hello everyone,
A week ago while monitoring my boxes I discovered a Wren nest. No big deal - I usually get one or two. This nest had 6 Wren eggs in it as one would expect. Yesterday I discovered 3 of the Wren eggs were missing and replaced with three Tree Swallow eggs and a bit if field grass in the nest. If Tree Swallows have taken over the Wren nest, what will happen if both species of birds hatch out and are nesting in the same box? Will Tree Swallow parent raise Wren hatchlings? Anyone else been down this road and have a word of wisdom to offer?
Thank you,
Jay K. Brindo
Northeastern, Ohio

From: bridget mcgann [mailto:lilbmcg"at"gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 2:34 AM
Subject: My summer thus far (mostly TRES)

Finallly I have some time to sit down and share with you all about my first birding season. I live in Granger, IN which is just N/E of South Bend, very near the MI border. I live on one of those man-made subdivision lakes. I started out eager to get me some bluebirds and ended up with a pair of TRES. Some of you might remember me posting here regarding an incident where a bluebird flew in out of NOWHERE and challenged the tres for the box and was chased away -- All of this happened in a flash of just a few seconds and I happened to have my camera and got some (for me, anyway) amazing shots, which some of you used to help me confirm that it had indeed been an EABL.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinkertart/sets/72057594119387558/

SO lucky. If I hadn't had the camera, I'd have never known it was a EABL, because it all happened so fast! Maybe about 10 seconds, he'd come and gone. It was particularly exciting because it was the first time I had ever seen a bluebird in real life before. While it was happening, all I could see was a blue blur but it was so blue I knew it HAD to be a bluebird, and I was so lucky to have the photos to confirm it. These birds are so gorgeous!

It raised my spirits about getting bluebirds, but the HOSP spooker has since fallen off the 2nd house and I've been too busy to fix it. I hope to work on that tomorrow, though. I was thinking it was too late for BB's but you guys are still talking about seeing them checking out your boxes so I guess there is still time! I'm psyched. (But at the same time I am trying not to get my hopes up TOO much...)

Anyway, Mr. and Mrs. TRES ended up laying five eggs, and I think they hatched somewhere around the 7th or 8th. All five hatched and all five seem to be doing well! I feel so lucky for a first-timer! I have been documenting it here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinkertart/sets/72157594147072714/

Pretty much all of the individual photo pages have accompanying comments and observations.

I check the nest every evening, and at first I was really freaked out by the way the tres circle around above you and swoop down now and again. But in my internet research I'd read that no one's ever actually been HIT by a tres except by accident, which comforted me. And after I did it a few times they seemed to chill out.

...Today, though, it was warm out and I felt chipper so I went out in the morning, around 9am, with the intent of making a point to check under the nest for blowfly larvae (which I hadn't done yet). But I suppose I didn't have my wits about me and approached the box too fast because the moment I had the front of the house off, I felt and heard a tres DIVE BOMB me with an angry "tut-tut!" It scared the living daylights out of me and I RAN for my life, dropping F-bombs while they were doing dive bombs, chasing me all the way back up to my house! I got the neighbor kid next door, (who happened to have a golf club in his hand, lol) to be my "look out" while I put the door back on. Being about 6'7" tall (compared to my 5'2" frame), all he had to do was stand there and they seemed to back off. Or at least in my head I felt safe enough to screw the door back on and get out of there lol.

In the evening I tried again, and they were still aggressive but luckily they were away when I approached and didn't notice me until I'd finished and was already walking away -- and then of course they dive-bombed me again, and this time I got some of it on video. Of course it's not great because it's so hard to follow birds like that with a camera and keep them in the frame, but I managed to catch some scary bits -- one of a very close swoop and then another where you can hear (but not see) one squawk as it dive-bombed me again, and you can see the camera shake from my startled reaction as I'm trying to make my way back up to the house. I haven't uploaded it to my computer yet but when I do I'll try to edit it and share it if it seems worth sharing.

So I am wondering, is this normal? Is it okay for me to keep monitoring or should I leave them alone? Any advice (or reassurance that I won't die) would be appreciated.

Also, as a side note, here's a link to my general backyard brag book:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinkertart/sets/72057594105111844/

Well, thanks for letting me share. I'm off to bed...with a little trepidation about what sort of nightmares I might have after the freaky day I've had!

Bridget McGann
Granger, IN

In upstate NY I witnessed some fairly violent appearing fights between EABL's and TRES to the point of rolling around on the ground, but they always seemed to sort it out within a few days and I never saw them fight again. The EABL's were, in my opinion, in their first nesting attempt in life and had been driven away from all existing boxes by more experienced EABL's and found new nest boxes I put up for arriving TRES and both were scouting out homes at the same time. I had TRES nest in multiple boxes anywhere from 15' to 100 yards apart, but they were all separated by trees or other landscape features.

Like Paula, I have two active Bluebird nest boxes less than 75 feet apart here in northern Virginia, but on different sides of the house and one pair is new and about 5 days ahead of the other pair's second batch of eggs on the same nest box. There are hundreds of acres of foraging territory surrounding each nest which must reduce their "feeling" of not enough food to go around.

I've never seen a second brood in TRES that wasn't a renesting effort.
I'd chalk it up to global warming or evolution.

Rob Barron
Warrenton, Virginia

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