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Yesterday 3/14/19 I had a pair of BB’s checking out my front box, but I guess it did not come up to standards for Mama and they moved on, but maybe I will get a pair earlier this year and they will have more than two nests. I just was so thrilled to see them up close again. Hope they or another pair or two take up residence soon.
Connie (PA)
The first prospects of the year is always exciting! I have been able to keep my blues all year. Yesterday they started hinted that they would like their box now! They took to it with in minutes of installation!
Chris
Rochester, NYN
Hi Chris:
Keeping your Blues all year round is wonderful. I thought maybe I would try to do that this year if I am lucky enough to get a pair or two to settle in, but with those bitterly cold days we had a few times this winter I am not sure they would survive should that polar vortex show up again this coming winter. I am happy the blues were ready to settle into their homes. Where are you located Chris? I am in Western PA.
Connie (PA)Hi Connie!
I’m in western NY, just south of Rochester and north of you! Many people are quite surprised that they stay or survive here during the harsh winters. I would not believe it if I did not see it- every single day! In fact they spend MOST of the day here, often leaving for only 30 minutes at a time. It turns out that the colder it is the more they are here. It is utterly amazing and awesome to watch them all, nearly all day. I still worry on those bitter, sub zero days! The down side is the commitment- time and money. As close as I can tell we are feeding more than 2 doz blues. This year was record setting for worms…around 11 pounds of dried and 10k live, monthly. Fresh water twice daily. I dont know why birds deficate IN the water they drink??
Fortunately our resident/ dominant pairs have begun chasing the others away this week and claimed their box! I’m ready for only a couple of pairs!
Be careful what you wish for…!Chris
Rochester, NYN
Wow Chris, that is amazing. No I would not have thought the Blues would stick around in such freezing temps, but goodness they are expensive to keep. I take it you have a heated birdbath, that is another expensive item to maintain. I have never seen a BB around here in the winter, but I never gave a thought to what it would cost to get involved. My pair that investigated the box the other day did not return, but today I saw one pair and a single male down the road. Others will probably show up in a few weeks.
I too could not figure out why birds deficate in the water they drink and bathe in but we can attest to the fact that they do. They are so good about keeping the box clean when the little ones are still in there. Go figure.
I did see hundreds of robins in the fields as we traveled over to our cabin, so I am assuming the blues will not be far behind. I will give a lot of thought to trying to keep the blues here this winter, not sure I want to give that much commitment or money to doing that. That being said I think it would be exciting to see them year round, maybe I will have to make a visit to Rochester just to see them.
Thanks for the info.
Connie (PA)I never see my blues in the winter in coastal Alabama. It’s as though they migrate north in the winter!
I do have 5 shiny blue eggs as of March 15 so we are off to a good start.
Mine reliably leave for the winter and magically reappear in February. Now that I’m logging I can see how close to the date they return every year. It’s uncanny how they come within 1 or 2 days of the prior year.
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