First bluebird of the season in SE PA

[phillyblues]

So excited to see a female bluebird checking out the scene on my little trail just outside northwest of Philly! However, another snow storm coming this week. So depressing. This winter will not leave us be in PA. Last year was a dud…found a dead female in a box early in the season and got nothing else that year. Praying for a comeback year here. Not a lot of bluebirds where we live. This is important.

• This topic was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by phillyblues.

[Sassy]

Hi Phillyblues:
So sorry your weather has been so lousy out in that area of PA, we have not had the massive snowstorms you have been getting out here in Western PA, but it has been bitterly cold from time to time. We are expecting an inch or so today. Hope this is the last for all of you out that way and the end of winter for all of us.
I saw my first male BB at one of my boxes this AM, what a gorgeous sight to see on the first day of Spring. I get so excited when I see them, and then I anxiously wait to see if they are going to take up residence and shower the joy of watching them raise a family on me.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your female last year, wishing you better luck this year. I am sure you will see more as the weather gets warmer.
Keep warm and keep safe.
Connie (PA)

• This reply was modified 5 years, 8 months ago by Sassy.

[tamsea]

Hope you have success this year Phillyblues.

Tammy

[Lisa]

Wishing you a great season! Feeling a bit guilty at having a whole nest who should fledge soon, but the summer here is so miserable, I don’t know what is worse!

[Dana]

Hi Phillyblues,
Keeping my fingers crossed that this year a pair of bluebirds make a home in your nestbox. And you’re right the weather has been horrible so far (I’m in Lancaster). That’s definitely going to delay things. Put out some mealworms in the meantime. Hopefully the bluebirds will come around.

[phillyblues]

Thanks Dana, Tammy and Sassy! I really hope I can entice some looking fir mealworms this collld spring! I don’t know what else to do. They hang out literally across the golf course which is half a block away…but never venture into the neighborhood! What does it take?

[verachuckdave]

Hello! I live in south central PA, and I am sick and tired of cold and snow. My blues stayed around all winter. They visit my bird feeder twice a day for dried meal worms. All winter, there were 5 birds–three males and two females. As spring approached, the number decreased, and now I have a male and female who visit each day. They have checked out the house, but they haven’t started building because I have been overrun by HOSPs. The sparrows keep trying to nest in my bluebird house and my tree swallow house. I just keep pulling their nests out and throwing them away twice a day. Trapping them would be useless–there are hundreds of them everywhere. Last year I did this, and eventually the HOSPs got frustrated and left. I had two successful bluebird broods and one tree swallow broods after they left.

Susan
Pennsylvania

[phillyblues]

Good luck to you, Susan! Second week of April and still in the 30s!! I wish I could entice blues to my yard. I git tree swallows to nest last season for the first time ever so I imagine it is a matter of time before bluebirds take a shot. Do you ever mix live ones in with the dry mealies? I would love to get some to feed here! So lucky.

[Sassy]

Hi Susan:
I think by now we are all fed up with snow and cold, but little we can do about it. I heard BB’s singing a few mornings ago, but could not put an eyeball on them. Nothing lately around the BB houses since I saw one male on the first day of spring except a black bird every now and then trying to find a place to lay it’s eggs. Thank goodness they cannot fit in the opening in the BB box, but they do try. We are due for some warm weather this weekend so maybe we will see some activity. I have never seen any BB here in the winter, but then all my husband puts in the feeder is black oil sunflower seeds and I have never heard of BB’s eating those.
If I get a nesting pair I will get an order out for some live mealworms. I wish you lots of luck with the HOSP problem, so far I have avoided having those nasty birds and hope it remains that way.
Good luck to everyone in this Spring season with lots of BB’s at your boxes.
Connie (PA)

[verachuckdave]

The only time I have used live meal worms is in the summer when my mama and papa are working to feed their babies. It gets extremely hot here in July and August, so I like to help out with live worms.

Susan
Pennsylvania

[phillyblues]

Looks like nest building has begun just as the temps finally broke 60s!!

[Sassy]

Phillyblues that is wonderful news. I keep looking out at my boxes but not a blue in sight. I am very happy for you.
Connie (PA)

[nhhawk6]

Mama & Papa Blue from last season have officially reclaimed the nest box and begun nest building. Very rainy and cold here in NH, but they have begun, nonetheless. Same exact branches, habits, and routine. They even come, multiple times each day, to the spot on the ground beneath the beech tree where I placed their mealworms last year. I don’t put any out until they have nestlings, but they remember the spot. Cute couple. Nest is only 25% finished. Can certainly tell that they are taking their time, due to the cold.

Randy
Bedford, New Hampshire

[Sassy]

Hi Randy:
So glad you have a nest started, slow this Spring is good for the BB’s. We just got an inch and a half of rain, and I figured that was one reason I have not seen any blues, but that does not seem the case since you have them with the same type of weather. It has started snowing on and off, we are supposed to get an inch over night and cold weather for the next few days, temps down in the 30’s the next few nights.
I know it was May before I had my nesting pair last year and the year before so maybe that is how it works around here since I do not see any blues in the winter, even though they are probably some that stay, not just in my particular area.
Keep us informed on the progress of your pair.
Connie (PA)

[nhhawk6]

Hi, Connie! I hope your blues arrive soon! Our weather is miserable, as well; snowed again last night, heavy rain all day, today. Disappointing start to the Spring, and to the nesting season. I’m traveling all week, but this weekend I plan to put some mealworms out for my pair; they deserve a little help in these horrible conditions.

Randy
Bedford, New Hampshire

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