Yesterday, I went to monitor blue bird boxes at a local county park. We checked about seven boxes and found three with nests. One nest belonged to a Carolina Wren. The other belong the a Nuthatch. The eggs of those two birds look exactly the same so you have to identify by the type of nest. Nuthatches have a shallow nest with pinestraw and mulch. The Carolina Wren was much deeper. Our last box contained a blue bird nest with six eggs!
This is a abandoned nest from the Eastern Blue Bird. The blue bird can have 3-7 eggs at a time, though 4-5 is the most common. They can have up to three nests a year. Blue Bird eggs can be light blue or white.
When you are checking a Blue Bird box always come from the side. Knock to let the birds know you are there. It might help if you bring a mirror to see in a deep nest. Watch out because blue birds, will try to dive at you to scare you away.
Monitoring bird boxes sound like so much fun! I think a program is starting in our area, I will definitely follow up on it for the boys now that I see what fun it can be (oh and don't forget educational). 8-)
ReplyDeleteI love this post.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you got to see so many birds and their nests. Yesterday I set up for the Rowan County Wide Yard Sale. At the Rowan Co Fairgrounds. Today It's Sell, Sell, Sell.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful that you are able to observe how certain birds live. I have enjoyed watching the doves that come each year and make a nest on my front porch. Now I can also watch the birds that come to our feeders.
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