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My bluebirds came back this morning! You all helped me keep hope! I couldn’t believe my eyes. They do seem “busy” at the box but most of all, I’m just relieved and overjoyed they didn’t forget me. Everyone on this forum knows how mad at myself I was, for putting on the hole extender and stringing taut fishing line–it was too much weird change for them. They are giving me a second chance!
Regarding our other thread–on feeding the bluejays–the last couple days I was having great luck with a cup seed feeder that was drawing chickadees, titmice, and cardinals. But the feeder is only about 12 feet from the bluebird box so I’ve stopped feeding. I don’t want all those “feathered friends” gathering too close. Those types of birds are fine, but eventually the seed will draw others …Good news, Sky. Can you locate your seed feeder out so sight of the bluebird nestbox – like in a side or front yard away from the blues?
David
Stafford, VAGreat news, Sky – I’m pretty sure that “guardian” AND the fishing line on the hole were the main problems – don’t knock yourself out – we all learn from errors!
Great news, Sky!! Really exciting. They remembered your good nesting box! It really makes your day, doesn’t it?
David,
You tempted me since I am missing my other birds … who came “nagging” today for seeds. They literally got on top of the feeder pole and complained to me. I moved the feeder to a spot about 20-25 feet away from the bluebird box, on a diagonal and not super visible (kinda in the shrubs and small trees) but my yard is small so it’s hard to find spots where it’s not still near the box.
I’d love to hear from others how close / if they keep seed feeders up near the boxes. Here I was preaching it’s not worth it, and it’s not, but it *was fun having all those birds around! Even cardinals were regular visitors, and they don’t come much to feeders.Any thing away from the box will help. Even though I have a large lot I do not have trees or shrubs on most of it. My bluebird box is about 75 feet away from the deck where my seed feeders are located, all in the clear. The blues seem to like the seed feeders as much as their mealworm feeder, but the other birds seem to leave them and their mealworms alone. There are trees and shrubs in back of and to the right side of the nestbox. The birds hang out there. Luckily I have not had House Sparrows around for several years.
David
Stafford, VAWHAT – David – you have no HOSP??? You sure are a lucky one!
Sky, the worm cage feeder for my bluebirds sits on top of the railing of our deck which is just outside our patio door. In other words the feeder is around 10 feet from my door, which is very convenient. And when they are feeding and other birds show up and the blues are not eating, I can just open the door a bit and they are chased off. In the spring/summer the only ones that can get in besides my blues are the HOSP, as the other smaller birds (juncos and white-crowned sparrows) are gone. I don’t believe I have ever saw a house wren try to get to the worms.Carol – I keep up on my “target” practice. I have not had HOSP that I know of for the past 2 years. They used to come to the deck where the feeders are, but have not seen them for quite a while. I don’t even see them in our neighborhood.
Julie – I use a “squirrel deterrent,” 6 perch feeder from Lowes. I use a combination of the Wild Birds Unlimited shelled sunflower and safflower seed with dried fruit and I mix in the premium Pennington seed (no milo, etc.) with fruit and nuts from Walmart. I have not been able to see what seeds or nuts the pick out of the feeder. They seem to spend as much time at the seed feeder as they do at the mealworm feeder.
Sky – are the Blue Jays staying away from the bluebirds?
David
Stafford, VA
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