What’s new

I know that this is difficult to see, but the reality of what this invasive species can do couldn’t be explained any better. Discussions about what to do with house sparrows often alienates people. But this photo explains why we need to take difficult actions very well.

Season 23 of John Trombly’s nestbox cam is off to a great start! Tune in to watch - there are 5 eggs in the nest now.

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In Woodstock, NY, and need help to figure out what's going on!? Nest completed mid-March. It was not as tall or high in the box as ones in past years. Then...
1st egg: March 20
2nd egg: March 21
3rd egg: March 22
Then I noticed all the eggs were gone. If you're thinking predators, no... there are no snakes, or HOSPs and the Bluebird pair were around as I was feeding them mealworms.
A couple of days later, the nest was taller or higher in the box (more complete as I've seen in years past.)
Then...
1st (new) egg: April 1
2nd egg: April 2
3rd egg: April 4
4th egg: April 5
5th egg: April 8
On April 17, there are still 5 eggs in the box. Parents are around, eating, going in and out, female mostly sitting in the box looking out. April 22, still 5 eggs in the box. No change in parents' behavior.
Then...
April 27: 4 eggs in the box
May 1: 3 eggs in the box
Today, May 5: still 3 eggs in the box.
I have no idea what's going on. It has been colder than normal (mid-50s in the day, high 30's to low 40s at night,) and it's been very wet and rainy.
I wonder if the eggs are infertile and one-by-one the parents are removing them? If we take the last date of when there were 5 eggs in the box, that was April 8. Today is May 5 and that makes 27 days since the last egg was laid.
Should I leave these eggs another week just to be sure? I'm thinking the sooner I clear out the nesting box, the sooner they can start over?
The pair are still here and coming to my mealworm feeder. They do not seem to be going near the box. She is not sitting on the eggs and he is rarely now sitting on top of the box which he used to do a lot.
Thanks! ... See more

5th Egg laid and we're incubating now! (Woodstock, NY)

NYSBS County Coordinators and Bluebird Ambassadors~ this is a great time of year to host an educational presentation in your community, Perhaps at your local library, or if there is a wildlife center or refuge near you. County Coordinators have educational materials that can be used.

What are some of the twists you have thought of to enhance your presentations? As a musician I collect bluebird songs and will perform them as part of the presentation. But YouTube videos of the songs could also be played.

Jim gave me the idea to show educational videos, followed by a discussion. Please share some of your ideas for enhancing presentations, and for good locations to visit for this purpose.

And please contact me (Kim) to make a FB post to promote your events! Thank you and Happy Bluebirding! 💙 ... See more

A very important read as we gear up for the season.

Wishing everyone a safe and warm holiday.

Woodpeckers!
Building homes for our bluebirds and many others.