3rd Clutch In Texas Heat Was A Success

Only one hatched out of 4. The mother bluebird vanished and dad bluebird took over raising the lone baby. He did a great job. The baby survived several days of 100+ degree days with the heat shields and the mister set up on it. This year we had 7 of 14 hatch and all 7 fledged. Not a bad year. Good work bluebirds. 

Toes out and ready to go. 

Dad Blue in the background watching over his baby. 

3rd Batch Of Bluebirds In Texas Calls For The Super Heat Shield

Momma Bluebird decided to go for a third batch and layed egg number one today. It is June in Texas which means it will be getting hot so I had to step up the original heat shield. After researching the Bluebird Nut Cafe archives we decided that styrofoam could be the best solution to this heat problem. We zip tied the shields to the current, thin shields. Hopefully the styrofoam will hold up well and that the doldrums of summer can hold off for a little while longer. 

Here We Go Again

The new and improved house (Texas Bluebird Society TB1-C with heat shields). Roof heat shield is 3/4" cedar and the west facing shield is made of 1/8" plastic painted with several coats of exterior white latex paint to eliminate the opaque quality of the plastic. 

I also purchased a mister for those really hot Texas summer days.

Working on a spooker to put up today.

*****Update*****

I was too late with the spooked. When I went out to make sure everything was the right size I found an egg outside of the box with the < > beak mark or the house sparrow. When I looked inside I found this.

I am so frustrated. I am also wondering if it was the heat that killed the previous 4 babies or if it was a house sparrow attack that didn't leave any signs on the 2 day old baby birds. Note to self, put up sparrow spooker as soon as that first egg is laid.