New babies in PA

[nhhawk6]

Hey, Connie! Glad your guest left empty-handed! I would not be surprised if they return, however. Every day is a school day, in the life of a baby bear, so mama bear will most likely bring her cub back to your classroom, before too long. Be safe, yourself, above all else. I haven’t seen my bears all Spring, but we have been thoroughly entertained by the red fox teaching her two kits to catch chipmunks over the past three weeks. Their den is only 100 feet from the house, so we are able to watch them come and go all the time. They have never bothered my nest boxes, however, and I do not feed my birds during nesting season.

Randy
Bedford, New Hampshire

[Sassy]

Hi Gin:
No I do not have a raccoon baffle on the pole, not sure a raccoon can climb a 3/4 inch pole, but by the time I read about adding one it was too late to do that, but when these babies fledge I will make sure one is attached somehow in case they do another nest. I think the problem was the fence and bowl they gave that nasty critter a foot hold. Both those items are now eliminated.
Connie (PA)

[Sassy]

Hi Randy:
I am sure you are right about the bear, I know one has been here 4 times, not sure it is the same one but never the less I keep a close watch before I step out the door. One was on our deck a few weeks ago at night and we didn’t know it till we went to leave the dog out and he and the bear had a run for the hillside. The fox family sounds like lots of fun, I love watching wild animals and I have lots of chipmunks that a fox could chase, but I have only seen one here in the yard a few years ago. I can understand not feeding the birds while nesting, but I bring the dish in at night, so as not to attract some other critters. I hope I am doing the right thing.
Connie (PA)

[nhhawk6]

I honestly believe we are ALL doing the right thing, and that is, we are trying to help. There is no such thing as a completely right or completely wrong approach. The best part about this forum is that it affords us all the opportunity to ask, share, learn, and then… try again!

Randy
Bedford, New Hampshire

[Lisa]

Great thought Randy!

[verachuckdave]

Hi Connie: I also reside in Pennsylvania (south central — close to Harrisburg). I have ordered meal worms from Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm, and have been very pleased with the quality. The prices are good too! I am sorry to hear about your bluebird babies. At least you have babies left who will be peeking out of the hole in no time. :-D

Susan
Pennsylvania

[Sassy]

Hi Susan:
I thank you for the name of a reliable supplier of mealworms. I will write that down in the journal I am keeping on the babies, and will try that business on the next go round. I am located in the Western part of PA, north of Pittsburgh along Rt. 80. I spent a good part of an hour trying to locate wheat bran and finally located some at a bulk food store.
Connie (PA)

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Yikes, Connie – I just now noticed your post about your mealworms arriving in bad shape, that is lots of dead worms. You should have called your worm company and they would have probably replaced at least some. Most reputable companies have a live guarantee, that is, they guarantee them to be alive upon arrival. Of course, you need to be home when they arrive & not let them sit outside in the heat. My two worm companies I use put a “HOLD AT POST OFFICE FOR PICK UP” just in case I am not at the house and can get them at the P.O. Yes, if they smelled, that would mean lots of dead worms. If have had to have about 3 or 4 shipments replaced because of this. They don’t charge for the worms, only for the shipping, and one time I didn’t even have to pay this, as the shipping route got all fouled up. Since you are in PA I don’t know what to recommend in the way of worm distributors, but I do know most will replace them if not arriving live. That is why sometimes they will not ship during a real bad heat wave here in the Mid-West – because they don’t believe they would arrive in good shape because of the heat during travel. P.S. I am sure you know this, but the worms do have to be refrigerated, right?

[Lisa]

My post office automatically holds them when it’s hot, too. I hate stinky mealworms! I order mine on Amazon. Will have to check what company…

[Sassy]

Hi Carol:
I ordered the mealworms from a company on Amazon. I left feedback and will see what they intend to do.
I was here to receive the delivery, but even the mailman mentioned the smell, he kept them in the back seat trying to eliminate the odor from his seated area.
I tried separating them but after an hour I gave up.
I fed them and left them sit in a container with holes in the top for air for a day then refrigerated.
Connie (PA)

[Sassy]

One more set back, yesterday before I left the house I saw both Mama and Papa sitting on the electric wire and then yesterday evening I noticed only Papa going back and forth to the box. I thought maybe because of the rain storms we were getting Mama was staying inside to keep the babies protected. Well today there is only Papa around, feeding the babies continually, no Mama, a repeat of last year. It saddens me so to see this happen again. The babies are 10 days old so hopefully they will make it. We are not expecting any cold temperatures and if Papa can hang in there all will work out.
Connie/PA

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Connie, sure hope you are just miss seeing your mama blue, that would be sad. However, since they only have about a week left in the box I’m sure papa blue can take care of them especially with your help with the worms. I believe we “landlords of bluebirds” have more stress over missing parents than the other parent, since sometimes they get another mate in a day or two. Hope you hear something about those dead worms – smelly, smelly . . .

[Sassy]

Hi Carol:
Wish I had good news and could tell you that Mama BB was still around, but there has not been anything but Papa here for 3 days. He is feeding the little ones and I hope they are mature enough to get through the chill we are experiencing, only in the low 70’s today and pretty chilly and by Tues. the temps are supposed to be around 50 degrees at night in Pittsburg meaning we may drop into the 40’s. No sign of a new female, but I hoping he will find a new mate once this family is raised, and that they will honor me with a new clutch. No word from anyone yet about those mealworms. I left feedback on Amazon, so others will not fall into the same trap.
Connie (PA)

[dogsandbirds]

Connie, those chicks are plenty old enough to keep themselves and each other warm at night. No worries there.

Gin
Atlanta, GA

[Sassy]

Thanks Gin, I am glad to hear they can make it through this cold spell. I worry too much.
Connie (PA)

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