Blue Birds

[ovrszd]

We have never seen tree swallows destroy a bluebird nest.
Wrens will.
Coons will.
English sparrows will.
Snakes will.

Once a nest is destroyed swallows or whoever will try build on the old bluebird nest.
Unless you saw it with your own eyes how do you know who did the destruction?
Seeing swallows going in after the fact is no proof.

Another reason for the thick door hole is to keep coons from reaching in to the babies.

I watched the Bluebirds build the nest and saw eggs. The next day I saw swallows attacking the Bluebirds at the nest. Bluebirds tried to hold them off and were successful the first day. The second day the Bluebirds gave up. Swallows instantly moved in, rebuilt the nest. That's when I plugged the hole.

Same with my Purple Martin nests. I use hanging gourd style. Purple Martins came and started building nests. Tree Swallows ganged up on the nest cluster and would run off the Purple Martins every time they tried to access the nests. Purple Martins finally gave up and left. I took down the nests.

I'm not talking about a couple rougue birds here. I'm talking about a flock of approximately 50 Tree Swallows. They dominated and controlled my entire nesting area. I plugged all the nests and they finally left. Not sure what will happen this year. I know they hatched no eggs here last year.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I watched the Bluebirds build the nest and saw eggs. The next day I saw swallows attacking the Bluebirds at the nest. Bluebirds tried to hold them off and were successful the first day. The second day the Bluebirds gave up. Swallows instantly moved in, rebuilt the nest. That's when I plugged the hole.

Same with my Purple Martin nests. I use hanging gourd style. Purple Martins came and started building nests. Tree Swallows ganged up on the nest cluster and would run off the Purple Martins every time they tried to access the nests. Purple Martins finally gave up and left. I took down the nests.

I'm not talking about a couple rougue birds here. I'm talking about a flock of approximately 50 Tree Swallows. They dominated and controlled my entire nesting area. I plugged all the nests and they finally left. Not sure what will happen this year. I know they hatched no eggs here last year.

Feral cats are the worst problem I've had. I may have to relocate mine from the tree to a pole...the squirrel shield on my bird feeder works great for everything except Mr. Racoon...he muscles his way over it and scatters the seed everywhere. I am not aware of racoons getting the eggs, though.

 

[ovrszd]

I'm surrounded by open pasture and hay fields. The only trees are in my mowed area around the buildings. I never have racoon problems and rarely see a snake. I had a squirrel a couple years ago but he died prematurely trying to chew into a nest box. I think that's why I have so many nesting birds. I had a great variety until the Tree Swallows showed up. Ruined the neighborhood.

 

[ovrszd]

I hate the B-Martin. They will crowd the blue birds and other birds out. They will also empty bird feeders of food.

Finally someone with similar experiences as mine in regards to the B-Martin.....

 

[ovrszd]

Richard,
As I cautioned you on your other thread, your entire bucket is exposed, to the WWW. the way you are showing your pictures.
IE. Thanksgiving 2011 and the entire string of folders and photos down the left column.
I just looked at that one to give you an example. Stacked Cans.

Thanks, I'll adjust my methods.

 

[pacerron]

I watched the Bluebirds build the nest and saw eggs. The next day I saw swallows attacking the Bluebirds at the nest. Bluebirds tried to hold them off and were successful the first day. The second day the Bluebirds gave up. Swallows instantly moved in, rebuilt the nest. That's when I plugged the hole.

Same with my Purple Martin nests. I use hanging gourd style. Purple Martins came and started building nests. Tree Swallows ganged up on the nest cluster and would run off the Purple Martins every time they tried to access the nests. Purple Martins finally gave up and left. I took down the nests.

I'm not talking about a couple rougue birds here. I'm talking about a flock of approximately 50 Tree Swallows. They dominated and controlled my entire nesting area. I plugged all the nests and they finally left. Not sure what will happen this year. I know they hatched no eggs here last year.

Wow.
50 adult swallows; your property should be bug free.:laughing:
The picture I posted was of young swallows. They don't nest the first year and most don't come back.
They don't raid our bluebird boxes either.

If you have 25 pair of adult swallows there is something very particular about your property. Study up on swallows and find out what it is
making you so lucky. Get your county extension agent out there to see if that is common in your area.
Build more boxes before spring.

Enjoy the birds. When you get old you may not even be able to hear them sing.

 

[ovrszd]

Wow.
50 adult swallows; your property should be bug free.:laughing:
The picture I posted was of young swallows. They don't nest the first year and most don't come back.
They don't raid our bluebird boxes either.

If you have 25 pair of adult swallows there is something very particular about your property. Study up on swallows and find out what it is
making you so lucky. Get your county extension agent out there to see if that is common in your area.
Build more boxes before spring.

Enjoy the birds. When you get old you may not even be able to hear them sing.

I think my location is perfect for birds that feed on the fly. As I said, I'm surrounded by pastures and hay fields. When we are cutting hay the sky is littered with barn swallows, tree swallows and martins. I also think Wrens and Bluebirds like it here because they have very few natural enemies. No cats, racoons, squirrels and only a rare snake of the small garten variety.

I'm not totally opposed to the swallows. I actually have three boxes on fence posts that are away from my yard area 200yds. I left them open for the swallows to use but before they hatched anything I closed them. By then I realized I had to completely run these birds off if I was going to have any other varieties.

I don't see any way to control the swallows. I'm not opposed to a nest or two of them around. But I will not tolerate them running off every other species. I normally have Bluebirds, Brown Thrush, Turtle Doves, Wrens, Purple Martins and Robins all sharing my location. Last year I only had a late nest of Bluebirds because I opened a nest after the swallows left, a wren nest and a Turtle Dove nest.

 

[lockhaven]

I had to change my bluebird boxes because of bears. They will break the post off and rip the house to shreds to get at the eggs or young birds. I have attached the boxes high on the deck post out of reach and this spring plan on a concrete block house to stop Mr Bear.

 

[Xfaxman]

We have always had several pairs of Bluebirds here at our new place in central Oklahoma. Don't know where they nest, no boxes around here. The closest neighbors are a quarter mile away, no boxes there.

 

[Travelover]

We have always had several pairs of Bluebirds here at our new place in central Oklahoma. Don't know where they nest, no boxes around here. The closest neighbors are a quarter mile away, no boxes there.

Bluebirds are cavity nesters. So, in the olden days before people put up fancy nest boxes, they nested in holes in trees. I'd bet yours do, too.