Hard to believe that our resident pair of Eastern Bluebirds are already laying eggs, but such is the case. Mom started with her first egg on March 27 and subsequently laid one egg-per-day until March 30th. She skipped a day probably due to very low temperatures on the 30th, but laid her fifth and final egg on March 31st. This is about one week earlier than most years.
These early nesters have the benefit of not having to deal with black flies but have to contend with cold snaps that can also cause mortality.These early nesters also play upon the heartstrings of their loving B&B owners who bring them mealworms every day and cover the nest box at night with a heating pad to keep the eggs from freezing. Eastern Bluebirds as well as most songbirds do not begin incubating their eggs until all eggs have been laid.
And there lies the crux of the problem. On March 28th and 29th, temperatures went below freezing and she was not on the nest overnight. So…I decided to keep the eggs from freezing by wrapping the bluebird box with a heating pad. Then on the night of March 30th, temperatures went well below freezing and she sat on four eggs all night. Whew! I thought she was done laying, but on the 31st she laid her fifth and final egg.
We shall see how things progress. The eggs are due to hatch on April13th or April 14th if all goes well.
Since we are on the subject of eggs, Sandhill Cranes are starting to build their nests and incubate their eggs. On Saturday, April 6th between the hours of 11am and 4pm, the first egg was laid on a nest that we watch in the area. It appears other pairs are about to do the same. I hope they will do okay with snow in the forecast.
Spring is always an “eggstraordinary” time around here!
⏤Alan Stankevitz