I checked bluebird boxes last week and found a new bluebird nest. I thought it was late, and doubted that the female would lay eggs. But this week when checking, the female flew out of the box as we approached, and I found four eggs in the nest! I checked my records, and the latest egg laying I could find was July 16, 2009. Most years, there is very little activity in the boxes by mid-July. I usually would have stopped monitoring boxes by now. But it looks like I will continue monitoring at least one box to follow the progress of these bluebirds.
This year, mice have been using the boxes all summer. When I find a mouse nest, I usually leave the door to the box open. That allows the mice to relocate on their own. The following week, I remove the mouse nest and close up the box.
