Comments on: About Christine http://woolwinehousebluebirdtrail.com CONSERVATION of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and NATIVE CAVITY NESTERS in SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA USING NESTBOXES. WELCOME! TAKE A WALK ON MY TRAIL .... and say along with me .... "WOO-HOO FOR BLUE!" Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:09:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Woolwine House Bluebird Trail http://woolwinehousebluebirdtrail.com/about/#comment-504 Woolwine House Bluebird Trail Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:09:00 +0000 #comment-504 DO apply the DE puffs very carefully innside center of the nest underneath the eggs but not near the eggs and BEFORE the eggs hatch--best time is to do it in the afternoon when the female is most likely to be off the nest looking for food. Try to do it a few days before hatching to give the dust a chance to settle in the nest before the babies hatch. The larvae are there growing and waiting for the nestlings to hatch so they can latch onto them as soon as they hatch. Do just a 1 to 3 small puffs, being careful not to have the dust go all over the box.....I do center inside the nest and one or two puffs underneath the nest next to the wood floor. This is the areas the larvae sleep during the day. They go up at night to latch onto the nestlings when the parents stop feeding the nestlings. If you see larvae by lifting the nest slightly, try to take a brush and brush as many as you can out without disturbing those eggs. They are fragile and can crack. If you can collect them in a plastic bag and not brush them out to the ground will help keep the smell of the nest off the ground (attracks ground predators like snakes). Once the nestlings fledge, DO CLEAN OUT THE OLD NEST and make sure the box is completely cleaned and washed inside from fecal matter and all larvae and all dust, including rermaining DE dust. I use a damp rag to wash the boxes and leave them open a day to dry out and then I go back in a day to close and secure the boxes again. Most old nests will have bacteria and possible parasites....not good for them to nest on top of an old nest. Also, it's all part of the female's building a new nest in the nesting cycle. A clean nest built by her is better all around. You may not get another nesting this late in the season, but it's good to be prepared in case you do! DO apply the DE puffs very carefully innside center of the nest underneath the eggs but not near the eggs and BEFORE the eggs hatch–best time is to do it in the afternoon when the female is most likely to be off the nest looking for food. Try to do it a few days before hatching to give the dust a chance to settle in the nest before the babies hatch. The larvae are there growing and waiting for the nestlings to hatch so they can latch onto them as soon as they hatch. Do just a 1 to 3 small puffs, being careful not to have the dust go all over the box…..I do center inside the nest and one or two puffs underneath the nest next to the wood floor. This is the areas the larvae sleep during the day. They go up at night to latch onto the nestlings when the parents stop feeding the nestlings. If you see larvae by lifting the nest slightly, try to take a brush and brush as many as you can out without disturbing those eggs. They are fragile and can crack. If you can collect them in a plastic bag and not brush them out to the ground will help keep the smell of the nest off the ground (attracks ground predators like snakes). Once the nestlings fledge, DO CLEAN OUT THE OLD NEST and make sure the box is completely cleaned and washed inside from fecal matter and all larvae and all dust, including rermaining DE dust. I use a damp rag to wash the boxes and leave them open a day to dry out and then I go back in a day to close and secure the boxes again. Most old nests will have bacteria and possible parasites….not good for them to nest on top of an old nest. Also, it’s all part of the female’s building a new nest in the nesting cycle. A clean nest built by her is better all around. You may not get another nesting this late in the season, but it’s good to be prepared in case you do!

]]> By: Nick http://woolwinehousebluebirdtrail.com/about/#comment-503 Nick Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:38:08 +0000 #comment-503 thanks for the response. I ordered and have recieved my DE. I still have two Bluebird houses with fledglings to come, they are both on their 3rd brood, amazing! The one box has three young ones that will fledge probably with in the next two days and the other is sitting on 4 eggs. When i inspected them this morning both boxes had little grubs/larvae at the bottom of the nest, the bottoms of the nest do not look like the pictures you posted though. It is very "dusty" per say at the bottom of the nest, so i'm going to try the DE. I guess i was really just curious as to where and when specifically you apply the DE, i would think i should do it before the eggs hatch right? Also how much, two or three puffs? at the bottom and middle of the nest? Do you clean out your boxes after each fledging or let the bluebirds nest right on top of the old nest? Thanks a lot for your help. Nick thanks for the response. I ordered and have recieved my DE. I still have two Bluebird houses with fledglings to come, they are both on their 3rd brood, amazing! The one box has three young ones that will fledge probably with in the next two days and the other is sitting on 4 eggs. When i inspected them this morning both boxes had little grubs/larvae at the bottom of the nest, the bottoms of the nest do not look like the pictures you posted though. It is very “dusty” per say at the bottom of the nest, so i’m going to try the DE. I guess i was really just curious as to where and when specifically you apply the DE, i would think i should do it before the eggs hatch right? Also how much, two or three puffs? at the bottom and middle of the nest? Do you clean out your boxes after each fledging or let the bluebirds nest right on top of the old nest? Thanks a lot for your help.

Nick

]]> By: Woolwine House Bluebird Trail http://woolwinehousebluebirdtrail.com/about/#comment-494 Woolwine House Bluebird Trail Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:00:40 +0000 #comment-494 Hi, Nick, thanks for posting your question. Yes, I've seen a reduction in the aftermath of what the blowfly larvae can do to the nestlings, but I cannot keep blowflies from going into nestboxes and laying their eggs there. That’s what the blowfly has been doing for centuries—nature’s way, if you will. The Diatomaceous Earth is an organic, silica-type finely-ground powder that kills the larvae after they hatch inside a birds nest. The powder causes the larvae to breathe in the powdery substance and basically they suffocate. I find blowflies enter into most of my bluebird boxes every year--this year even on first broods, which is a first on my trail ever. Usually it's the second and third broods. I think because our Spring was warmer earlier during the first nesting cycle, the blowflies were also earlier. Here is how I do it: I apply a few puffs of the DE with a special applicator made for using DE inside the nesting material and near the bottom of each nest and centered underneath the bluebird eggs BEFORE they hatch--say around 4-5 days before predicted hatching dates. On my trail this year, it worked marvelously. I do not recommend using any insecticide inside a bluebird nestbox--too dangerous for the adult birds and even more for growing bluebird nestlings. I hope this helps answer your question. If you'd like to discuss this further with me, I'm happy to Email you privately. Just let me know! Hi, Nick, thanks for posting your question. Yes, I’ve seen a reduction in the aftermath of what the blowfly larvae can do to the nestlings, but I cannot keep blowflies from going into nestboxes and laying their eggs there. That’s what the blowfly has been doing for centuries—nature’s way, if you will. The Diatomaceous Earth is an organic, silica-type finely-ground powder that kills the larvae after they hatch inside a birds nest. The powder causes the larvae to breathe in the powdery substance and basically they suffocate. I find blowflies enter into most of my bluebird boxes every year–this year even on first broods, which is a first on my trail ever. Usually it’s the second and third broods. I think because our Spring was warmer earlier during the first nesting cycle, the blowflies were also earlier. Here is how I do it: I apply a few puffs of the DE with a special applicator made for using DE inside the nesting material and near the bottom of each nest and centered underneath the bluebird eggs BEFORE they hatch–say around 4-5 days before predicted hatching dates. On my trail this year, it worked marvelously. I do not recommend using any insecticide inside a bluebird nestbox–too dangerous for the adult birds and even more for growing bluebird nestlings. I hope this helps answer your question. If you’d like to discuss this further with me, I’m happy to Email you privately. Just let me know!

]]> By: Nick http://woolwinehousebluebirdtrail.com/about/#comment-492 Nick Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:23:02 +0000 #comment-492 HI, So i'm curious if you have seen a reduction in Blowflies with the Ditomaceous Earth treatments. i have recently lost 4 Bluebird hatchlings from what i think is blowflies. i have some insecticides available to me, but i would prefer to not use them. So far it's been a good year for our Bluebirds here, but i'm irritated with the loss of a few new ones recently. Thanks for your response. Nick HI,
So i’m curious if you have seen a reduction in Blowflies with the Ditomaceous Earth treatments. i have recently lost 4 Bluebird hatchlings from what i think is blowflies. i have some insecticides available to me, but i would prefer to not use them. So far it’s been a good year for our Bluebirds here, but i’m irritated with the loss of a few new ones recently. Thanks for your response.

Nick

]]> By: Woolwine House Bluebird Trail http://woolwinehousebluebirdtrail.com/about/#comment-445 Woolwine House Bluebird Trail Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:33:09 +0000 #comment-445 Hi, April. YES! I attended the NABS conference in September 2009 and learned from the incoming NABS President, Harry Schmeider, during his presentation about Diatomaceious Earth. I have ordered mine and will use for 2010. It's the organic DE which I ordered a 2 lb bag and a "pest pistol" which will aid me in getting the right amount (not too much!) inside the nest so as not to hurt the nestlings eyes as they grow. I will still keep a few clean used bluebird nests on hand anyway for other emergencies (one each: pine needles and soft grasses). I may not need them this year. Hope not. Thanks for your note. Hi, April. YES! I attended the NABS conference in September 2009 and learned from the incoming NABS President, Harry Schmeider, during his presentation about Diatomaceious Earth. I have ordered mine and will use for 2010. It’s the organic DE which I ordered a 2 lb bag and a “pest pistol” which will aid me in getting the right amount (not too much!) inside the nest so as not to hurt the nestlings eyes as they grow. I will still keep a few clean used bluebird nests on hand anyway for other emergencies (one each: pine needles and soft grasses). I may not need them this year. Hope not. Thanks for your note.

]]> By: april http://woolwinehousebluebirdtrail.com/about/#comment-444 april Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:22:44 +0000 #comment-444 Do you know if Diatomaceous Earth is ok for nests? We are expecting our purple martins and have huge problems with blowflies last year Thanks April PS or how to use it? Do you know if Diatomaceous Earth is ok for nests? We are expecting our purple martins and have huge problems with blowflies last year
Thanks
April
PS or how to use it?

]]> By: Woolwine House Bluebird Trail http://woolwinehousebluebirdtrail.com/about/#comment-369 Woolwine House Bluebird Trail Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:58:44 +0000 #comment-369 Hi, Char. Thanks for your note here. I'll write to you privately, as I have your Email address. The two-hole test has not started yet, but will this Spring 2010. Updates on the test will be posted on the tabbed page on this site as results come in. We are still inundated with snow pileup, now frozen solid--we're still digging out! I believe our resident bluebirds have flown south some mileage to find more readily-available food sources...fruits mostly. I have not seen any bluebirds surrounding our property, even now, February 14, which is strange. The past several years, I see the males showing up on or around February 1st. It's just been too harsh of a winter here in SW Virginia, extremly unusual for our location. House Sparrows and House Wrens are a very large problem on bluebird trails, depending on location. Stand by for an Email from me. I hope this site helps you in some way, and thanks for the post. Hi, Char. Thanks for your note here. I’ll write to you privately, as I have your Email address. The two-hole test has not started yet, but will this Spring 2010. Updates on the test will be posted on the tabbed page on this site as results come in. We are still inundated with snow pileup, now frozen solid–we’re still digging out! I believe our resident bluebirds have flown south some mileage to find more readily-available food sources…fruits mostly. I have not seen any bluebirds surrounding our property, even now, February 14, which is strange. The past several years, I see the males showing up on or around February 1st. It’s just been too harsh of a winter here in SW Virginia, extremly unusual for our location. House Sparrows and House Wrens are a very large problem on bluebird trails, depending on location. Stand by for an Email from me. I hope this site helps you in some way, and thanks for the post.

]]> By: Char Gigante http://woolwinehousebluebirdtrail.com/about/#comment-367 Char Gigante Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:14:27 +0000 #comment-367 Hi, Came across your site while researching blue bird nest boxes. I live in a suburban setting but there are a few wooded and small farm lots near but not adjacent to me. I put up a box last year and think I saw a bluebird investigating but next thing saw house sparrows move in. Cleaned out that nest and then a house wren moved in, which I left. I dont think this box is as good as it shoud be since reading more on good box requirements. So I have been investigating on the web. Had read about 2 hole mansion and then found your site and your 2010 trial and would be interested in the progress. Also saw there is a modified 2 hole box plan that I believe has a larger slanted roof. Other designs that I saw included a dropped floor with a wire grate on bottom to discourage blowflows I think. Was looking for a combination of all these in one box but guess you have to make your own. I am very new to this but would like to go with a better design and take down old box. I did purchase a bluebird feeder box and plan to put out mealworms. Other than starting to plant for bluebirds and birds in general, I have mostly been researching in books and on the web. Funny I remembered the name of Woolwine when planning a trip through Virginia to North Carolina. Did not have the opportunity to stay there but considered the Mountain Rose B&B and see that you have a nestbox in that very location. Good luck and wish you much success in helping the blue birds. Look forward to hearing about the progress of this 2 hole mansion. Aside from the holes, I would like to see if the deeper dimension and wider floor space are advantageous. I will read your observations of this trail and other comments on blue birding. Thank you for helping them and thinking about something bigger than yourself. I think the proverb is Chinese and says one generation plants the tree and the next generation gets the shade. Like that one. Maybe one generation can make sure there are blue birds for the next. Best wishes and warm regards, Char Gigante Hi,
Came across your site while researching blue bird nest boxes. I live in a suburban setting but there are a few wooded and small farm lots near but not adjacent to me. I put up a box last year and think I saw a bluebird investigating but next thing saw house sparrows move in. Cleaned out that nest and then a house wren moved in, which I left. I dont think this box is as good as it shoud be since reading more on good box requirements. So I have been investigating on the web. Had read about 2 hole mansion and then found your site and your 2010 trial and would be interested in the progress. Also saw there is a modified 2 hole box plan that I believe has a larger slanted roof. Other designs that I saw included a dropped floor with a wire grate on bottom to discourage blowflows I think. Was looking for a combination of all these in one box but guess you have to make your own. I am very new to this but would like to go with a better design and take down old box. I did purchase a bluebird feeder box and plan to put out mealworms. Other than starting to plant for bluebirds and birds in general, I have mostly been researching in books and on the web. Funny I remembered the name of Woolwine when planning a trip through Virginia to North Carolina. Did not have the opportunity to stay there but considered the Mountain Rose B&B and see that you have a nestbox in that very location. Good luck and wish you much success in helping the blue birds. Look forward to hearing about the progress of this 2 hole mansion. Aside from the holes, I would like to see if the deeper dimension and wider floor space are advantageous. I will read your observations of this trail and other comments on blue birding. Thank you for helping them and thinking about something bigger than yourself. I think the proverb is Chinese and says one generation plants the tree and the next generation gets the shade. Like that one. Maybe one generation can make sure there are blue birds for the next. Best wishes and warm regards,
Char Gigante

]]> By: Paul Barnes http://woolwinehousebluebirdtrail.com/about/#comment-306 Paul Barnes Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:46:32 +0000 #comment-306 Congratulations to my very creative sister! Congratulations to my very creative sister!

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