DEAR JOAN: What is the right time to remove a nest from a nest box after the nestlings have fledged?
I removed an abandoned nest last year that had four unhatched bluebird eggs. A new family built a nest and there were two babies. They are now gone and I’ve noticed other birds flying to the nest. Should I remove the nest so another family can start anew, or just leave it?
— Wendie, Los Gatos
DEAR WENDIE: It’s against the law to remove or disturb active nests, but once the chicks have fledged or it’s clear the eggs aren’t viable, it’s a good idea to remove the nesting materials and tidy up for the next users. Western bluebirds typically start nests anew.
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Bird nests can harbor a variety of unpleasant insects and residue, so to prevent it from infesting other birds, it’s best to get rid of it. Be sure to wear gloves and face protection. If the nest box is particularly messy, you can clean it with soap and water, or a diluted solution (10-to-1) of bleach and water.
Dispose of the nesting materials a distance from the nesting box to prevent attracting predators, which can lead to problems for future nesters.
Before removing the nest, make certain that the chicks have fledged and that other birds haven’t already moved in.
In the fall, it’s safe to give nesting boxes a good cleaning. While birds won’t use them for eggs, they will use them as temporary shelters from the cold and rain.
DEAR JOAN: I used to have lots of Argentine ants around my house. Every time I dug a hole in my garden I would hit a colony. Now I don’t find Argentine ants, but I have a lot of a larger one. The “tail” is bigger and it is much blacker.
Do you have any idea what kind of ant it is?
— Kristin, Danville
DEAR KRISTIN: Argentine ants are the predominant ants in California, and now that the temperatures are rising, we’re starting to see more of them outside and, unfortunately, inside our homes.
California does, however, have a few other types of ants including carpenter, pavement and little black ants.
From your description, I’d say you’re seeing carpenter ants. Carpenter ants can be all black or black and red, and they are the larger of the common ants. They have a distinct node between the thorax and abdomen, giving them the big butt appearance that you describe.
Carpenter ants are so named because they excavate wood to create nests.
Signs you have carpenter ants include seeing a lot of ants in and around the house, seeing winged ants in the spring, and finding a sawdust-like material known as frass around wood joints or holes in exposed wood.
Trim trees and shrubs away from your home, replace damp or decaying wood on your house, move mulch a few inches away from your home and limit it to no more than 3 inches deep, store firewood off the ground, and seal up any possible avenues in and under your home.
If you can find the nests, you can dust them with diatomaceous earth, being sure to follow application directions.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at [email protected].