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It’s been a very strange winter up here on the WI/MI border. No snow until the end of the first week of January and by the end of January it is mostly gone. Last year we had snow cover from late November to March, then a big blast in April to finish off the season. May 16, 2023 was first spotting of BB for me. I can only wonder when the beginning of BBs will be this spring. I have to get on the stick and dust off the nest boxes, poles, etc. and be ready for the ground to thaw.
I heard a couple robins last week and my wife saw one on the front yard. I know nature takes care of itself but I’m a little concerned that our local wildlife will be stressed this year with our on and off winter.
Looking forward to another BB landlord season, though I am going to downsize my trail offerings as 20+ boxes was a little too much to monitor. I have a BB talk at our local library next month. I am just going to describe my first rookie year as a bluebird landlord. I hope I get some interest in helping create a couple more trails in our community.
Building my first Gilbertson Bluebird PVC nest boxes. I’m anxious to see if that design will work here. Also building two Saw Whet Owl nest boxes. I’ll put them up on a local tract of private land along the Menominee River. I’m told by Saw Whet experts that I am in the middle of Saw Whet breeding range so I hope for some success.
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Hi there, I live in Alabama and see bluebirds on and off all year. They visit the birdbath but the cold weather keeps it frozen in really cold temperatures.
Hummm, I gotta google what Robin’s sound like but I do believe I saw one last week. I can tell a BB easy but thats about it for me.
Happy BB talk at the library sounds like fun.
I have heard of the PVC nest boxes but not to much. I’ll google that too. That is a lot of BB boxes to keep up with but that is awesome.
Good luck on the owl nest boxes.
Well, I really believe now that spring is very near – As I was walking around our subdivision today we saw a pair of bluebirds climbing around in the trees which are just barely starting to bud out. This is a most joyous sight for we bluebird lovers. I have seen my pair from last year a time or two and it just pumps my heart – I have learned how to tell my birds from previous years and know that they are the same ones. COME ON SPRING!!!
Carol, thats neat that you can identify from year to year. Last year I found an old gourd and put an opening in the side thinking a bird may like to use as a home but they didn’t . This year I had some dried mealworms that bluebirds didn’t eat one bite of last year
. I decided to put the meal worms in the gourd this year and the blue birds have gone in and out several times a day eating them. I only put about 20 in per day because I have read they lack nutrients that bluebirds need. It seems controversal but I feel like I don’t over do it. I’m dusting off my Bluebird gear and scoping out some new locations. I know we are probably a couple months away from seeing bluebirds but I don’t know if this weird winter will stay weird and encourage them to migrate early.
ILB said…
… I decided to put the meal worms in the gourd this year and the blue birds have gone in and out several times a day eating them. I only put about 20 in per day because I have read they lack nutrients that bluebirds need. It seems controversal but I feel like I don’t over do it.
I tried live mealworms last year. After getting about 3000 of the little buggers and putting a small handful out every few days at several of my Bluebird trails I decided that they were not a necessary supplement. I think natural prey is plentiful enough for my bluebirds to find. Your geographic location is different and supplements might be helpful.
I’ve read articles by a couple “experts” that feeding dried mealworms while hatchlings were present doesn’t provide any hydration for those young birds. The moisture in naturally acquired worms and other bugs is enough to contribute to their development. Eating too many dried mealworms seems like a poor substitute for natural food. I think it is more important to provide the adults and the fledglings a source of clean water.
I have also read that mealworms are deficient in calcium. Some add powdered calcium supplements to the mealworms which may help. Still, a natural source is probably better.
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I have certainly read the bluebird Audibon regarding the warnings. I’m sure the mealworms benefit me more than the bluebirds. The gourd is outside my window and I can see them frequently during the day. I will certainly need to switch to live mealworms as soon as they start building a nest. I also feed limited dried mealworms daily.
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