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Tammy, yes I use lard, as the other things like Crisco are more artificial. Actually, I have been using Cher’s recipe since 2008, which I began bluebirding! Merry Christmas to you & your family.
Yes, they are only investigating. My blues are doing the same thing – checking out the box for roosting or just checking it out. True scouting will begin in February, or even January, depending on the weather. At least here in Missouri, that’s what they do. You know, the male will usually pick out a box, BUT the female has to approve it, and that sometimes takes time (ha, ha)!! I agree with Cher about the placement of your “perch” – don’t what others to chase away the blues. The bluebirds will usually find some kind of natural perch – overhead utility lines, trees, buildings, etc.
Not familiar with where you live – I don’t recognize any, but there are several different species there – something HOSP love! Is this your place? – if so, suggest you don’t put a BB house anywhere close to these, as they are probably house wren territory, also. Get out your sparrow trap!
I ready on one website that you must have a permit – don’t know about it being legal in Missouri or not – this was just a Google search on mist netting. Doesn’t sound too safe to me – catches lots of good birds – they use this mainly for research purposes I believe. P.S. It wasn’t hard to find it on the web – just Google mist netting and it comes up.
Bob, your blues should stay around in southern Missouri. Here is recipe for peanut butter suet – they love it but takes them a while to get used to it when switching from worms. Once they get the fact there are no more worms, they devour the suet.
Melt in microwave: 1 cup real lard (not shortening like Crisco) & 1 cup crunchy peanut butter & then stir in 1/3 cup sugar.
Add: 2 cups regular oatmeal
2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup flour, (wheat is better)
Mix all together – let cool and then break up until crumbly – it will get more crumbs as it cools – want it about in pea sizes. You need to store it in refrigerator or part in freezer. It takes about one recipe to get hang of the consistency. I feed about 1/2 cup to a family of blues, 2 times a day. The lard (fat) helps them keep warm, peanut butter is good protein for them & the small amount of sugar gives them energy (so the books say). This is our administrator’s (Bluebird Nut Cher) recipe & I have used it going on 9 seasons. Of course, you could continue with the worms, just be sure they don’t stay long enough to freeze, but I really like to take a break from the expense of worms.Bob, I believe you live in Missouri, as I do (Mid-Missouri). My blues have always overwintered with me since 2008. I switch from worms to peanut butter suet (which I make) around November or December, because cheaper & the worms won’t survive our cold weather too well. I too have a heater for my birdbath, small cheap one that works well. I also leave up my bird houses, but I have never seen them roost in them – but the HOSP will – VanErt trap is always ready! Good luck with yours staying around!
Thanks Gin & all – yes it has to do something with making it dark inside the garage. I’ll read up more on it this winter. I do remember whatever I did several years ago, worked. One thing I did get was that they are attracted to the red on the pull cord handle (on the manual opening rope for the door) & suggested putting black tape around it. I did this and haven’t had this problem until last week.
Nicole, thank you – and hope your babies do the same tomorrow! It really is a relief when they fledge, but of course we know that all that fledge will not survive, but we have helped as best we could for their increased population.
Congrats, David – nice picture – although they are not the prettiest things when they are newborn, are they? But, boy, they sure get gorgeous soon!
Hi, Dibby, and welcome to this great forum! It is normal for the new fledglings to beg for food from their parents for 2 or 3 weeks. If you are feeding mealworms, they should start eating on their own after that time. Now, according to my Field Guide book on “Birds of North America” I don’t believe bluebirds will stay in your area through the winter – just too cold. Looks like robins are on the border for resident birds there. Since I live in the Midwest I’m not that familiar with your area. Cher, our forum Administrator, lives in New York I believe & would be more knowledgeable about this. But I do believe your new blues would stay a little longer in your area- give them some time & keep feeding your worms (in moderation of course) & I bet those new ones will eat on their own very soon. Congratulations on this successful nesting. Planting those bushes is great – hopefully there will be something there to eat the berries in the winter.
P.S. The website http://www.sialis.org is our bible here for information on bluebirds & other cavity nesters. I have been watching my parents feed 4 new babies this morning – nothing quite like watching nature.
