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Wow, Chris – keep up the good work on those HOSP! I just seem to catch too many natives, plus I am not overrun with HOSP but sure have more than I want.
We might as well get it (cold/Winter) over so we can look forward to nesting season. Our winter birds, which are mainly juncos and white-crowned sparrows, have not arrived yet, as we are still having very nice fall weather here in Mid-Missouri. I do feed the suet (crumbles), which are homemade ,to my blues and put out the seed feeder for all others, mainly cardinals, blue-jays, finches, etc. Yes, the family of blues are here every day and are seeming to be well.
Hi, Julie & welcome! Not much activity here on the forum as most everyone’s nesting season is over. But winter is exciting, also, to watch all of nature trying to survive. So, yes, many people have birds roost in their boxes during cold weather. I, personally, have not had my blues (which overwinter here) roost in their boxes, but I know some people have. Sure know that the HOSP (house sparrow) like to roost in them, also. Yes, you would need to clean out your boxes and just leave them up and see what happens. I do remember finding a dead downy woodpecker in my box one winter while trying to survive I guess, and did not make it. Leaving them up all winter is also good, as scouting sometimes begins as early as January and February.
Susan, glad your blues have returned! That is always a fun time. As far as how close the cage feeder should be to their House (is that what you mean?), I don’t believe it should be real close as that draws other birds and they may remember come nesting season. Mine is mounted on my wooden deck rail on my own home, where my nectar feeders are. But a shepherd’s hook is good, just not too close to the box, maybe 20-40 feet or more, whatever room you have. I have a tree where they always perch about 25′ away from my deck & about 25 or 30′ from their house, and that works great because they maybe eat awhile and then wait for the rest of the family in the tree, but not too long, as they usually have them all gone in less than 5 minutes. You & they will figure it out. P.S. The deck railing thing is great because I just step out the patio door to feed – great in the winter!
Cari, sorry about the one not making it – I imagine we are all lucky to have had any survive that one week of 98-100 degrees. Yes, he will probably be spoiled by the parents & siblings.
You can safely take it off now, Lisa. It does make feeding the bigger babies easier with the guard off, as they can feed them from the hole easier. Plus, you will want it down a few days before fledging date so they can “peek” at this big world! You say it provides some shade – does your box face the west or something? Good luck with the fledging. P.S. I’m sure glad mine are out of the box and in the trees now!
Sure – this is Cher’s (our administrator on this forum) recipe – I have used for 10 seasons now.
Bluebird Nut’s (Cherie Layton) (taken from the Sialis.org website under Feeding)
•2 cups crunchy peanut butter
•4 cups quick cook oats
•4 cups cornmeal (NOT cornbread mix)
•2 cups lard (not artificial shortening)
•2 cups white or whole-wheat flour (wheat best)
•2/3 cup sugar
•Optional: chopped nuts, raisins, dried fruit, up to 2 cups. (I don’t use – too costly)
Melt lard and peanut butter in microwave, add remaining ingredients. Form into softball-sized balls. Store in freezer until ready to use, then microwave for 15-30 seconds, and crumble into dish or on platform feeder.
Yields about sixteen softball-sized balls from a double batch.I just keep out enough in the refrigerator to use for a week or so so I don’t have to thaw it out. Then just take more out of the freezer for the nest week. Actually I use it up enough that I just keep it all in the fridge. You will need to let is cool somewhat before you make the balls so it will stick together, but not so long that it will not stick. It might take a time or 2 to get the hang of the consistency. Like I mentioned they will balk at the suet at first but when it is cold and they want something to eat, they really go for it. Yes, put the suet in the cage feeder or else EVERY bird around will get it.
Cardon, a lot will depend on where you live – whether the blues migrate or not. Where I live in Mid-Missouri my blues do stay here all winter, have all 10 years I began this venture. If you want to go to the expense of the worms, they will eat them. You would have to be careful not to let them freeze, there again, depending on where you live. I do switch to homemade peanut butter suet around November through early March, and they love it. However, it does take them awhile to get the idea that there are no more worms – here is your treat! There again, I put out just enough of the worms or suet for the blues to eat very quickly after they are here. Otherwise, all the winter birds I have (Juncos, white-crowned sparrows, etc) can get in the cage feeder & eat everything up, but the cage feeder is great for excluding the larger birds, like starlings, blue jays, etc. I usually put out seed in a different location for desirable birds in the winter.
Oh YES, the HOSP will eat them!!!!!! The only way I keep them out is to put out just enough worms so that my blues eat them up in a about 2-3 minutes. I feed them in the morning and early evening. They will come to my whistle (try to feed them approximately the same time each day) and when I see them I put the worms out. If you have HOSP around and just put out the worms, they will get them. I’ve even been known (shush, shush) to stand at my patio door and shoo the HOSP away, and the blues will do this if they are around.
Brad, just curious – what photo sharing site are you using to post here – Photobucket is not let us post “3rd party” any more without paying a huge fee. That is what I use and a lot of others here.
Brad, how does this exclude large birds? Looks like it is mainly to keep moisture off the seed. And remember the worms need to be in a slick container or they will crawl out in a heartbeat. Can’t tell if this container is glass or what. Yes, robins love worms or any sort.
You have probably just missed seeing papa, but that the mama is incubating is a good sign. IF the daddy is truly gone, she will be able to raise the babies by herself, although it will be difficult – helping by feeding mealworms would be beneficial to her. It is not uncommon for the papa to seem to disappear while she is incubating, although he should be seen around some, usually guarding the nest. It is important for the mama to accept the spooker, and it apparently she has. I really believe he is still around unless you have true reason to believe otherwise. Are you able to really watch for him a lot? As far as a nest in July, my pair did have their 3rd nest in late June, and they just recently fledged about 5 days ago. Your location would determine this I imagine. P.S. Yes the TRES will definitely dive bomb you a lot more than the blues. Very common.
Cari, I cannot pull up your picture either – get that same error message “need to update for 3rd party posting” or something like that. I am sure you can see it because this is your PB site. I’m glad you explained about your two different nests & locations. Sure would like to see your setup, like Gin says.
So sorry, Cari – I just posted on your other thread about moving the box and thought you had come up with a good solution. You tried your best.
Good news, Lisa – yes our temps are down this week also. I’m putting in my order for 10,000 worms in a moment. We just went through 10,000 in a couple of months, but with the previous juveniles and this new group of 4 which fledged a few days ago, I really need to win the lottery! And I am really conservative about feeding the worms.
