The Bluebirds have successfully fledged!
Now to get those Titmice out of that low to the ground tree hole, they are all vocalizing in adult fashion now and have been for many days. Any day now, hopefully this morning! :fl
The Western Bluebird babies should be fledging the nest box any day now, 4 of them. They are loud enough to hear across the yard. They are about 20 days old today.
The Juniper Titmice decided a nest box wasn't good enough for them and are raising their brood of 4 in the crack of a tree too low...
My hummingbird counts have been going down every year for 25 years. I used to go though 2 gallons a day, 7 feeders, 75+ birds. Last year I had 4 feeders, 20+ birds and only went through a half gallon a day. :(
I hate nest box wars. :hmm I have 4 boxes up, 2 of which get claimed every year by a Bluebird pair and a Bewick's Wren pair. The other 2 boxes get fought over by Chickadees, Juniper Titmice and Ash Throated Flycatchers. Although this year one box is still empty, I think the Flycatchers are...
I saw one once years ago ground feeding beneath the feeders here in NM. I had never seen one before, had to pull out my bird ID book to be sure! :D They are gorgeous!
Do you have the Rose-breasted Grosbeak there? They are pretty too. Once in a while they will wander this far west, I've seen a few over the past decades, most likely migrating north as they don't stay long.
Unfortunately I don't have any photos but here is the male, the female is more dull looking. The male has a very melodic colorful call, very pretty song!
Western Bluebirds are already nesting in one of the boxes, same box as last year. I need to go peek one of these days and see how many eggs the female laid. She usually lays 5.
We get Canyon Towhees trying to build nests up in the rafters of our porch, similar ledge to yours. We put rocks up there on the ledge, seems to deter them. Just don't let the rocks fall on your head. 😂