I don’t know when your bluebird started laying but it’s at least possible that she hasn’t finished laying them - the bluebirds nesting in the boxes that I monitor in a state park usually don’t start incubating until the female’s laid five eggs. Purely anecdotal observation on my part.
Tom Gilde > On Jul 20, 2024, at 11:41 AM, Rebecca Field <rebeccafiel...@gmail.com> wrote: > > We had a pair of Eastern Bluebirds in a box on our hillside. Then suddenly > they weren’t showing up anymore. I checked the box yesterday and there was > a bluebird nest with 4 incubated blue eggs in it. The same thing happened > with our Tree Swallows. They claimed their box in the prairie, and when I > checked it yesterday, there was a nest with an unincubated egg in it but > the nest was invaded with ants. I don’t know when the ants showed up - > before or after the swallows left. > > We have the usual helicopter drop pellets over our marsh on the northwest > end of Long Lake every summer. I’m wondering if the birds have been > poisoned. Or if the severe weather events had anything to do with their > departure. > > Where is Rachel Carson when we need her? > > Becky Field > >> On Sat, Jul 20, 2024 at 10:43 AM Sue Keator <chickadeede...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> I have the same number, 1 or 2, that I usually get during summer. They >> visit about every day. I'm in Edina. A female or youngster was just here >> and chase off a House Wren that got too close. >> Sue Keator on Melody Lake >> >> On Fri, Jul 19, 2024, 7:34 PM Nancy Steinhauser <nancyhu...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> I have been recording hummingbird activity here for 28 years. No red >> dye. >>> Cleaning and refilling feeders every 2-3 days. I know the populations go >>> up and down depending on what they're doing in their breeding and life >>> cycle. But this year has been an anomaly. And the same with neighbors >> and >>> friends. A very scary anomaly. Everyone is bewildered up here. How can >>> we all get the "normal" big, medium or low numbers arriving back in the >>> Spring, and then have them all disappear? I'm watching 6 out my window >>> now. A large number arrived in the Spring but there are very few left. >>> And the recent uptick is fledglings. >>> I'm asking about bird flu. Have ruby-throated's succumbed to bird flu? >>> Does anyone keep track? >>> Or - is there something else happening that's killing them? >>> Thanks for all the info. >>> >>> On Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 10:49 AM Rebecca Field <rebeccafiel...@gmail.com >>> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> I would add that we should not put out sugar water with red dye in it. >>> Just >>>> sugar and water - 4 parts water to 1 part sugar, or 3 parts water to 1 >>> part >>>> sugar. Too high a ratio of sugar to water can damage their kidneys and >>>> livers. The nectar should be changed every 1 to 4 days, depending on >> the >>>> weather conditions. >>>> >>>> Rebecca Field >>>> >>>> On Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 10:37 AM marshall or janet howe/mcmillen < >>>> howe.mcmil...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> There may be something unusual going on here, but don't forget that >>>>> hummingbirds normally vacate feeders during the period when they are >>>>> feeding young. At these times they are feeding almost exclusively on >>>>> insects. When the young become independent, the numbers at feeders >>>>> typically skyrocket. >>>>> >>>>> Marshall Howe >>>>> >>>>> ---- >>>>> General information and guidelines for posting: >>>>> https://moumn.org/listservice.html >>>>> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >>>>> >>>>> During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice >>> social >>>>> distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. >>>>> >>>> >>>> ---- >>>> General information and guidelines for posting: >>>> https://moumn.org/listservice.html >>>> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >>>> >>>> During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice >> social >>>> distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. >>>> >>> >>> ---- >>> General information and guidelines for posting: >>> https://moumn.org/listservice.html >>> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >>> >>> During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social >>> distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. >>> >> >> ---- >> General information and guidelines for posting: >> https://moumn.org/listservice.html >> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html >> >> During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social >> distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. >> > > ---- > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social > distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. ---- General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
