All six of our bluebird nest boxes are spoken for, three have been claimed by Carolina Chickadees and three by bluebirds. Although there was minimal work done on two of the bluebird nests in the past week, just a few needles added and moved around a bit, the chickadees have been working in earnest. The little parids have completed three nests and in one instance began building on top of one of the bluebird nests before the bluebirds recaptured it.
There are no eggs as yet, but the chickadees will probably beat the bluebirds to the punch. I suspect there’ll be a few eggs by next week. I could be wrong, the bluebirds were first last year with eggs in at least one of their nests by the 26th of March. But, today being March 25, it seems unlikely that the bluebirds will meet last year’s egg date. Considering that none of the bluebird nests are complete it doesn’t look good for an egg date repeat. I guess we’ll just have to wait to see what happens.
In the mean time, here’s how the nests look (3/25/14).
The female chickadee constructing the nest next to the Bungee Jump has done a bit more work on her nest. I predict she will have an egg or two by next week’s inspection.
Empty last week, the nest box behind the Sail Boat Pond now has a completed nest inside its cedar walls. This nest has always been somewhat of a surprise. It has been occupied by House Wrens, bumble bees, ants, and chickadees, but no bluebirds. The nest box is backed by woods and faced by a group of wax myrtles and cedars, not as open as it should be to attract bluebirds. Will the chickadees follow through with their plans? Will House Wrens arrive early and evict the chickadees?
It appears as though the bluebird nest under construction at the edge of the Amphimeadow has seen work, that is, some work. The bluebird that’s building this nest has begun weaving the grass stems and pine needles into a spiral. Will she have it completed by next week?
The nest at the Picninc Dome was started by a bluebird, had moss added by a chickadee, and now it appears the bluebirds have reclaimed the nest box. Will the bluebirds follow through and finish what they started?
The Butterfly House nest is progressing well, It now has a bit of fur, a few feathers and a pocket has been formed in the center. Will there be eggs by next week?
There are so many questions. Only the passage of time will tell the answers.
Stay tuned, the best is yet to come!