Bluebird Update 6/24/14

We currently have one nest with four yet to hatch eggs, and one nest with four nestlings. There are three empty nests. One nest has failed.

The Cow Pasture eggs finally hatched. All four nestlings look to be in good shape.

Four healthy bluebird nestlings at the Cow pasture (6/24/14).
Four healthy bluebird nestlings at the Cow pasture (6/24/14).

When I opened the side door of the nest box at the Bungee Jump I expected to see four bluebird nestlings inside. What I found were two ant covered, dead nestlings and two unhatched eggs. There were no adult birds in the area.

A late season failure for the bluebirds (6/24/14).
A late season failure for the bluebirds at the Bungee nest (6/24/14).

The Bungee nest is the nest pictured in last week’s Bluebird Update with a female hanging out of the box panting from the heat. Nothing more to do here. I cleaned the nest box, tossed in a clean berry basket and moved on to the Sail Boat Pond.

A paper wasp nest was hanging from the ceiling of the Sail Boat Pond nest box (6/24/14).
A paper wasp nest was hanging from the ceiling of the Sail Boat Pond nest box (6/24/14).

This nest box, the Sail Boat Pond nest box, has seen its share of odd characters. Nuthatches, wrens, chickadees, ants, spiders, bumble bees, and more have used this box at various times. This time a paper wasp nest greeted me as I peered into the box. I cleared the box of wasps and shut the door.

Both the Amphimeadow and Picnic Dome nest boxes are empty. The Butterfly House box is a different story. It, now contains four bluebird eggs. Four seems to be the magic number with second broods.

A new start for the Butterfly House nest (6/24/14).
A new start for the Butterfly House nest (6/24/14).

So, we currently have one nest with four nestlings and one with four fresh eggs, all bluebirds. The remaining four nest boxes are empty.

What will greet me next week as I gaze into the nest boxes? Will the nestlings at the Cow Pasture still be in their cozy little nest? Will the eggs at the Butterfly House have hatched by then? Will there be a new nest started at the Bungee Jump or one of the empty nest boxes?

I can’t wait!

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