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Hello, I’m new to this site and find it quite interesting. I’ve had bluebirds next in a box I built just for them. They had 6 fledglings this year and 5 survived and one accidently jumped in a water feature we have a drowned. I’ve learned the hard way to drain it from now on before they fledge. The reat made it to the trees and were up there for 14 days as the parents always return for mealworms to feed them. I’m amazed at how quick the babies travel around the woods in the area. they were behind my home and are now in front of my home. But everyday they seem to come less and less to the feeders for the mealworms. today I’ve seen none. I live in Maine and I guess they don’t stay here till fall liked i’d hoped they would. I figured as long as they had a supply of food they would stay. Just two days ago the male brought a baby male to the feeder and the baby sat on the feeder asking for food when it was right there in front of him. He waited for dad to pick them up and give them to him.so I thought maybe they would start coming with the babies but now it seems they have just disappeared. Is this normal? Are they just going to move on. I planted my whole yard in hopes of helping bluebirds and robins. Viburnum, Mulberry, Elderberry, Crabapple, berry heavy plants for winter for robins. It seems by the time my elderberrys ripen there won’t be any bluebirds even around. Any thoughts on this, Im kind of interested in other peoples opionions about this.Love bluebirds and am trying to do the best for them
Hi, Dibby, and welcome to this great forum! It is normal for the new fledglings to beg for food from their parents for 2 or 3 weeks. If you are feeding mealworms, they should start eating on their own after that time. Now, according to my Field Guide book on “Birds of North America” I don’t believe bluebirds will stay in your area through the winter – just too cold. Looks like robins are on the border for resident birds there. Since I live in the Midwest I’m not that familiar with your area. Cher, our forum Administrator, lives in New York I believe & would be more knowledgeable about this. But I do believe your new blues would stay a little longer in your area- give them some time & keep feeding your worms (in moderation of course) & I bet those new ones will eat on their own very soon. Congratulations on this successful nesting. Planting those bushes is great – hopefully there will be something there to eat the berries in the winter.
P.S. The website http://www.sialis.org is our bible here for information on bluebirds & other cavity nesters. I have been watching my parents feed 4 new babies this morning – nothing quite like watching nature.Thanks for your response. I got hooked on bluebirds 5 years ago when a pair moved into our martin house which is just for show, No martins around here. I read up on them and built houses just for them. I think it must be to cold here for them as i only see bluebirds the first week of june every year. A male always comes and calls on my houses but there doesn’t seem to be any females around to respond, so he we eventually give up and move on. So this year a female did show but didn’t seem interested so I studied even more and realized i made my house 5 x5 and sialis.org recommended 4×4 inside so I tore apart the house made the inside smaller and just like that they moved right in. My wife says i’m obsessed and that may be true, I’ve watched them everyday they have been here. So your right there is nothing like watching nature. Love my bluebirds.
You are right! There is nothing like watching nature.
Here’s the thing about migrating birds. When they are going to move on, they just go. Food doesn’t influence them when they feel the need to leave. I don’t think they have left your area just yet, though. They might have moved the chicks a little farther away but they’ll be back. The lure of mealworms is strong. Few can resist a handout.
Don’t you love watching a fledgling begging for food? They always remind me of teenagers.
Gin
Atlanta, GACongratulations on your fledge. The Blues are always fun to watch as they grow. What is more fun is to see them when they return the next year.
I just posted elsewhere on my new hatch of 5.
David
Stafford, VAGin, teenagers usually beg for money first, then maybe food!
And then a car and a later curfew.
Gin
Atlanta, GAHi dlibby –
Welcome! I live in Pennsylvania and didn’t have a nesting this year unfortunately. I’m thinking I got my new nestbox up alittle too late. Bluebirds here start nesting in April. A lone male bluebird showed up at the end of June. He stuck around for about 3 or 4 weeks but wasn’t successful in attracting a female and has since moved on. I’m hoping for better luck next year. Congratulations on the fledging on those baby “blues”!! And again welcome to the forum!Dana
Lancaster, PAWell it’s official, my bluebirds have left the area for good. Haven’t seen or heard any in over a week now. Nothing is touching the meal worms anymore. Starange thing in maine is you wake up every morning in spring and the woods are alive with bird noises everywhere and just like someone flips a switch and august first everything goes quiet. it’s like they all just get up and go all at once. I figure where my blues never show till first of june they must be migrators like the rest. Show up and nest and leave when it’s over. It’s wierd cause I live in south werstern maine and I know i’ve heard bluebirds in south eastern maine as late as november. I guess it’s just warmer at the coast in winter. Loved having them and am hoping where they had success they will return here next year.
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