I put up a bluebird box on my garden fence early this spring. A pair of bluebirds moved in right away, which was wonderful! I believe they are currently raising/feeding their second clutch of babies. During the raising of the first clutch, I was rarely in the garden and there were no problems.
However, I am finding it rather stressful for the both of us now that it is summer and I want to garden and they want to feed their young. Last night was such a pleasant time to be gardening, which is what I did, since it was cool. The problem is that the parents are fearful of being in their box when I am around. The second I walk toward the garden, they fly out. As the evening progressed last night, the parents and babies were crying so pitifully to be with one another, my heart almost couldn't take it! I provide them with a basket of mealworms beside their nest box. I was hoping they would get accustomed to my presence. Do bluebirds eventually relax around humans? Is there a maximum length of time that the babies can be without their young without dying from hunger or stress, while I garden? Does anyone know? I don't want them to move out! Thanks for any knowledge anyone can share my way! Poppy -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --