Comments on: How do you get rid of ants in a bluebird nest? http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/2009/05/15/how-do-you-get-rid-of-ants-in-a-bluebird-nest/ Birds and other wildlife in my backyard and around central NC Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:10:39 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dave Heiser http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/2009/05/15/how-do-you-get-rid-of-ants-in-a-bluebird-nest/comment-page-1/#comment-1398 Dave Heiser Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:50:19 +0000 http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/?p=1101#comment-1398 <strong>Erin</strong>, I don't think they eat the ants, but I couldn't say for sure. I'm betting they just enjoy the perch. That's where ours like to sit, too! Erin, I don’t think they eat the ants, but I couldn’t say for sure. I’m betting they just enjoy the perch. That’s where ours like to sit, too!

]]> By: Erin http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/2009/05/15/how-do-you-get-rid-of-ants-in-a-bluebird-nest/comment-page-1/#comment-1386 Erin Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:07:22 +0000 http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/?p=1101#comment-1386 Good comments. I was trying to find out if bluebirds ate ants in general, since they are insects. I have a bluebird who loves to sit on my bird feeder/ hummingbird feeder pole. Ants are all over the pole going for the hummingbird food. I was going to put up a mote, but wondered if the blues were just perched there to eat the ants? I also have a shallow dish nearby with water and a standing fountain with a "spray" nearby. They LOVE bathing in both. I have seen fledglings even bathing. Good comments. I was trying to find out if bluebirds ate ants in general, since they are insects. I have a bluebird who loves to sit on my bird feeder/ hummingbird feeder pole. Ants are all over the pole going for the hummingbird food. I was going to put up a mote, but wondered if the blues were just perched there to eat the ants? I also have a shallow dish nearby with water and a standing fountain with a “spray” nearby. They LOVE bathing in both. I have seen fledglings even bathing.

]]> By: Joyce R. Lemery http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/2009/05/15/how-do-you-get-rid-of-ants-in-a-bluebird-nest/comment-page-1/#comment-1242 Joyce R. Lemery Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:35:16 +0000 http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/?p=1101#comment-1242 Lots of great information and such nice pictures. This is the second year bluebirds have used my box. Loving every minute of watching them. Had a little problem with blow worms or flies but took care of that and my babies are about to fly on their own. Lots of great information and such nice pictures. This is the second year bluebirds have used my box. Loving every minute of watching them. Had a little problem with blow worms or flies but took care of that and my babies are about to fly on their own.

]]> By: Mary Evans http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/2009/05/15/how-do-you-get-rid-of-ants-in-a-bluebird-nest/comment-page-1/#comment-1198 Mary Evans Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:20:18 +0000 http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/?p=1101#comment-1198 What a horrible surprise to peak in the bluebird box and see ants swarming around the nest with the baby birds so vulnerable. Luckily they were left the nest before the ants could cause too much damage. As soon as I seen they were gone, I cleaned out the box with water and lef the door open for a few days for it to dry. They built another nest that is swarming with ants. They have not laid any eggs. I was looking for help on this and ran across your site. I am going to try the Terro and hope for the best...THANKS! What a horrible surprise to peak in the bluebird box and see ants swarming around the nest with the baby birds so vulnerable. Luckily they were left the nest before the ants could cause too much damage. As soon as I seen they were gone, I cleaned out the box with water and lef the door open for a few days for it to dry. They built another nest that is swarming with ants. They have not laid any eggs. I was looking for help on this and ran across your site. I am going to try the Terro and hope for the best…THANKS!

]]> By: Carole@Fowlvisions http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/2009/05/15/how-do-you-get-rid-of-ants-in-a-bluebird-nest/comment-page-1/#comment-1193 Carole@Fowlvisions Sun, 31 May 2009 11:26:02 +0000 http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/?p=1101#comment-1193 I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts and looking at the pictures. I just love bluebirds and have hosted a family in my yard also but I haven't been able to get any good photographs like yours. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts and looking at the pictures. I just love bluebirds and have hosted a family in my yard also but I haven’t been able to get any good photographs like yours.

]]> By: Dave Heiser http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/2009/05/15/how-do-you-get-rid-of-ants-in-a-bluebird-nest/comment-page-1/#comment-1158 Dave Heiser Mon, 25 May 2009 15:21:32 +0000 http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/?p=1101#comment-1158 <strong>Dianna</strong>, that would not be common and definitely a sign for concern. How long have the eggs been there? Bluebirds do lay one egg a day and don't start sitting on them until all eggs are laid. So, it's possible that the female could still be laying eggs and leaving, and that's why you're not seeing them around. Still, my experience is that they stay close to the box to guard the eggs and check on them. They most likely are just abandoned (but be very sure before you remove them and the nest). Have you checked the box for ants or wasps? Here's a good link for other ideas: http://www.sialis.org/eggsunhatched.htm Dianna, that would not be common and definitely a sign for concern. How long have the eggs been there? Bluebirds do lay one egg a day and don’t start sitting on them until all eggs are laid. So, it’s possible that the female could still be laying eggs and leaving, and that’s why you’re not seeing them around. Still, my experience is that they stay close to the box to guard the eggs and check on them. They most likely are just abandoned (but be very sure before you remove them and the nest). Have you checked the box for ants or wasps? Here’s a good link for other ideas:

http://www.sialis.org/eggsunhatched.htm

]]> By: Dianna Barbee http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/2009/05/15/how-do-you-get-rid-of-ants-in-a-bluebird-nest/comment-page-1/#comment-1155 Dianna Barbee Mon, 25 May 2009 12:12:50 +0000 http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/?p=1101#comment-1155 Dave, I have a bluebird box with eggs in it but no bluebirds around. Is that common? I think of eagles never leaving the eggs....Does the same hold true for bluebirds? Dave,
I have a bluebird box with eggs in it but no bluebirds around. Is that common? I think of eagles never leaving the eggs….Does the same hold true for bluebirds?

]]> By: sue http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/2009/05/15/how-do-you-get-rid-of-ants-in-a-bluebird-nest/comment-page-1/#comment-1141 sue Fri, 22 May 2009 00:14:57 +0000 http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/?p=1101#comment-1141 You know, Dave--I asked my biologist brother-in-law about the beetles, and he said they were scarab or dung beetles, and that they were probably beneficial, as they were helping to clean out the birdhouse! Go figure. Learn something new every day. I felt better knowing they weren't doing harm. You know, Dave–I asked my biologist brother-in-law about the beetles, and he said they were scarab or dung beetles, and that they were probably beneficial, as they were helping to clean out the birdhouse! Go figure. Learn something new every day. I felt better knowing they weren’t doing harm.

]]> By: Dave Heiser http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/2009/05/15/how-do-you-get-rid-of-ants-in-a-bluebird-nest/comment-page-1/#comment-1122 Dave Heiser Wed, 20 May 2009 14:22:24 +0000 http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/?p=1101#comment-1122 Thanks, Lexi! Thanks, Lexi!

]]> By: Lexi Meadows http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/2009/05/15/how-do-you-get-rid-of-ants-in-a-bluebird-nest/comment-page-1/#comment-1119 Lexi Meadows Wed, 20 May 2009 13:09:58 +0000 http://dheiser.myncblogs.com/?p=1101#comment-1119 Oh, and putting hardware cloth in the bottom of the nest boxes help with blowflies. Here's some useful info: http://www.virginiabluebirds.org/pages/new_monitor1.html Oh, and putting hardware cloth in the bottom of the nest boxes help with blowflies.
Here’s some useful info:

http://www.virginiabluebirds.org/pages/new_monitor1.html

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