Dear subscribers,
I've been a silent (and admiring) reader for the last few months, and am now
seeking help.
A few years ago we put up a nesting-box for Eastern Rosellas, and they bred
successfully for two years or so. But last year the box weas invaded by a
swarm of bees after the rosellas had laid, but not hatched, their eggs. The
parents were driven out and the eggs deserted.
We cleaned the box out and reinstalled it for this year, not too worried
because the parent hive of the swarm last year, had been destroyed by the
collapse of the old redgum in which it was housed. Also, we thought it would
be pretty bad luck for a passing swarm to coincide again with the rosellas.
But the same thing has happened this Spring, to our and the birds' great
distress.
I don't feel like putting the box up again, unless someone can suggest a
treatment for the box which will (a) repel future swarms; and (b) not be
detrimental to the birds. Someone suggested that propping the lid up for an
inch or two during the nesting season might not worry the birds, but might
discourage bees.
Any suggestions please? We are situated at Diamond Creek, on the northern
outskirts of Melbourne. AND we too, had a visiting Cockatiel hanging around
in our goat-paddock, for a couple of weeks recently!
Barbara Sturmfels
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