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Big changes! The bluebirds were visiting the feeder, as I wrote, and not really sticking around. They also were not visiting in numbers. More important, they were not eating the food I put out. It seemed they would come to feeder and then fly away disappointed. I have switched food again and now the back yard and feeders are crazy with bluebirds. This morning, we even watched a male enter the nest box, followed by a female, while other bluebirds buzzed around the nest box chasing each other. I don’t know if it just took time, or if the food really has made the difference. However, I’ve tried several different foods now (as well as feeders) and the difference was black and white in a period of 24 hours.
The food I’m using now is a mix of Sunflower Kernels, Safflower Seed, Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae, Dried Raisins, Dried Cranberries, Dried Mealworms, Dried Darkling Beetles and Dried Cherries, along with a number of supplements. I’m adding in a small amount of the suet nuggets, and something is eating those. The important point: The birds are eating the food.
The bluebirds don’t spend but moments on the feeders, but they are around more than before. They will be perched on the arms of the feeder pole, on the fence and on the ground. They don’t stay in one spot for long.
One last point, in my experience the type of feeders with small entry points have not worked out. I’m sure they work for some people, but not for me.
Bluebirds are visiting the new feeder more often. Activity is highest in the morning around sunrise and an hour or two after that. Then, it is the occasional bluebird or two the rest of the day. I have finished the WBU BugBerry Blend and now feeding a mix of suet nuggets and dried mealworms.
The Bluebird behavior I described and questioned seems to be the rule. They will perch on the arms of the feeder pole, look around, turn around and face the other direction, look around some more, and then, after a time, drop down to the feeder, grab something, and fly off. Sometimes they will fly in and land directly on the feeder, grab something and fly off, but most of the time, it seems, they want to survey the surroundings for a while. I’m actually happy with what they are doing because that is really the only way they allow time to look at them, compared to them hitting the feeder and dashing off.
The small finches also visit the feeder, and they will spend time there. I don’t mind them, but I’ve lowered the dome to try and keep the larger birds away from the food. The Starlings still sometimes mob the feeder, and they find a way to squeeze under the dome four at a time. There is also a Woodpecker that visits, but it doesn’t do any harm other than scare away the other birds while it is there. I saw Mockingbirds at the feeder initially, but I don’t see them now since starting the new food. The Cardinals and Bluejays do not visit.
I’ve ordered another, larger feeder of the same style — dome over bowl. I’m giving up on the blockhouse style feeder and the other enclosed feeder with the plexiglass sides and holes for access. I saw small birds in the blockhouse feeder once, and I think they were finches and not Bluebirds.
The House Sparrows (another story) haven’t come back yet. I’m sure they are around, so maybe they aren’t attracted by this food. Fingers crossed.
I believe we have migratory Purple Martins come through our area, but I haven’t noticed them. Maybe it is because they typically stay up high and I’m not looking for them. I do notice the Robins, of course. Who could miss the Robins!
Thanks for the tip on the jailhouse style feeder. I’m going to look for one ASAP.
Thanks.
I’m figuring out how to feed dried mealworms. I have one of those feeders with clear sides and round openings to limit access to bluebirds and smaller. I tried removing one of the sides to hopefully allow the bluebirds to more easily figure out that food is present inside, but the mockingbirds immediately cleaned out the dried mealworms. I think if I use an open type of feeder, the same will happen.
The other day when I noticed the bluebirds, I also noticed one perched on top of this feeder. I didn’t see him investigating, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t when I wasn’t looking.
Update: It has been a week or two or three since I took down the feeders and plugged the opening in the nest box. I opened the next box around a week ago. No house sparrows. They appear to have moved on. No bluebirds, however.
I’ve noticed only one bluebird lately. It perched on the wooden privacy fence and dropped down to the yard to grab something, then back to the fence, then flew off. I’m certain this was one of the pair nesting next door. But I’ve seen more regular activity than I’m seeing now. I wonder if the issue is the pair next door chasing away all the other bluebirds right now. (And what this mean for my nest box attempt?)
@TimC thanks for the response and ideas.
Right now, I’m just figuring out if what I have is going to work. I’m in a residential lot without the space to move around that would make a difference. If it turns out there is conflict between the birds, I’ll take my box down.
The trail idea is perhaps a project for later.
Thanks.
My nextdoor neighbor has had a nest box several years now and has nesting bluebirds. When I talked to her about setting up a nest box myself and mentioned I was worried about sparrows, she said she has never had a sparrow problem. There is a clue there, but I haven’t figured it out yet. (She has a recycled plastic box. Mine is cedar. I’m wondering if the sparrows avoid the plastic boxes. I’ve read about a PVC box discouraging sparrows.)
Edited to add: I’m aware of the issue of spacing between nest boxes and that line of sight can be a factor. There is a tall privacy fence and tall shrubs between us. I can’t see her nesting box from my yard. I’m hoping that will make a difference and the bluebirds won’t have an issue with nesting boxes in neighboring yards. But will see how it works out.
