Earlier this spring when I put up a nest box, one decorated with a bluebird etching, I prayed that last year's tree swallows would return. They did. The morning I noticed them, each one perched on a blue bottle on the bottle tree, there were sparrows going in and out of the box. You just have to know that the cavity nesting tree swallows do not mess around once they make a choice. They clearly let those sparrows mess with them a bit, then ran the pair off.
It was glorious to watch the nest building as both parents gathered and tucked. Have you really ever marveled at the artistry of birds building their nest with the raw materials of nature? Peeking proved the egg-shaped nest was now lined with feathers, a mark of the swallow. Twice I looked and one time caught the mother, who hunkered down into the feather bed as if to tell me to get lost.
Towards the end I discovered four wee duplications of the parents. While weeding along the stretch where the box was placed, the male swooped at me. He fluffed the hair in my bangs. He was asking me to get away. Insistent, relentless were his efforts. This was not a new experience for me. It revealed that the day of fledgling was near.
That same afternoon, eastern bluebirds landed on the other box, acting interested. This was one of my highest hopes for this ruptured COVID-19 virus summer. There they were and in a simultaneous nesting with swallows. Life became much better somehow. In two days the bluebirds had dried grasses organized high in the box. I halted investigations knowing that the female would lay one egg a day. Egg laying is an innate skill based on the availability of potential food for the wee ones.
Three days later the swallow box lacked activity. I checked and one little one was hugged by feathers. I got a photo and was just about to lift him up when he zoomed out, flying south easily. That was fledgling day!
A few days later a hawk was perched smack dab on top of the bluebird nest box. Oh crap, I thought. Did he get one of the parents? The male landed on the empty swallow box and peeked in as if hunting his partner. Those were sad moments. Then, a couple of days later, Mr. Bluebird landed on top of the box, an insect in his beak. He fluttered into the opening. Just that quickly he exited. This confirmed no hawk killing of the precious blues.
The female spends approximately 60 percent of her time on the nest. She is maintaining an incubation temperature of around 99 degrees. The male feeds her all types of insect life for two weeks until hatching begins.
When it was quiet, one afternoon, I climbed on a stool and photographed four perfect eggs. It will soon be 14 days and a clutch of naked babies will fill the nest as both parents come and go, poking insect after insect down open beaks. So much energy goes into this stage.
To have had both cavity-nesting, insect-eating species in our yard at one time has been a morale booster. I am so proud that our bluebirds chose the box flanked by native plants such as orange and white butterfly weed, swamp milkweed, bergamot, Joy pye weed, boneset, and penstemon.
Other members of the Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club have reported box activity. Cheryl Corney put up a new box from the Ohio Bluebird Society auction. Immediately bluebirds laid five eggs. Admitting to being a poor monitor, Cheryl says that a second nesting is underway. That is typical. Susan Coffman usually has bluebirds, but every time sparrows show up she opens the box to discourage them. June Gebhardt knows that bluebirds did lay eggs in one box but does not know if they succeeded. Barn swallows were around her home.
Susan Monroe has two boxes anxious for the blues, which she and Mike saw in the park. Alas, they have had swallows and blues looking around. No nesting. Her neighbors, the Camerons, have fledged five eastern bluebirds. Joy Lauthers notes that bluebirds look the box over but do not claim it; sparrows nested. Beverly Sipe had barn swallows nesting. She photographed them and a hummingbird nest.
Gardeners attract and support bird species that devour many insects. Native plants attract critters, so this is a wonderful demonstration of supply and demand.
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July 15, 2020 at 10:16PM
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Over the Garden Fence: Blessings in bird nestings - Mansfield News Journal
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