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I have a plastic gourd that I hung out for a bird to nest in but when they didn’t I put dried meal worms in and the bluebirds went in to investigate for building a nest but then they found the meal worms. It is on a nail and actually swings a bit when they enter. I also had to put an ant mote to keep ants out. I also have a wooden bluebird house they build their nest in. A gourd is really for martin’s, I think. No other birds have ever tried to enter.
I know many people use the feeders you refer to but I guess it just takes time for them to figure it out.
I’m glad you are seeing bluebirds/bluebird again. Its in the 30’s here in Alabama. I saw about 5 or 6 bluebirds checking out my bluebird house a few weeks ago. They were actually trying to run each other off. I feel like it is some that nested this season and they are territorial and try to run the others off or maybe its the fledglings. I do have mealworms in a plastic gourd that a pair visit every day. I do limit the dried mealworms but I see them off and on all day. Happy Bluebirding..
Hi Carol happy to hear about your hummingbird’s. That is a lot of hummingbirds at one time.
At times I see 5 or 6 bluebirds at a time as of today they seem to be trying to run each other off. Not sure if it is the bluebirds that nested. They nested twice this year and I’m not sure if it was the same pair because during the nesting season there were several times that bluebirds were trying to run another set off. Thank goodness the parents dodged the hawks this year and stayed safe. I had 2 fledge the first nest and 1 fledge the second nest.
Happy bluebirding Carol.. No apologies needed. I think you did the right thing for the bluebird daddy. We have had hot weather here also. I have a fall bluebird house and a summer bluebird house. The summer bluebird house has screen and wire on one side at the top about two inches so air can come through and a big top so water doesn’t come in. I had a camera in my bb house in the past and I can truly see the baby birds trying to get air when its in the 90’s. I also put out dried meal worms in a gourd because last year my daddy bluebird came up missing and the female spend 13 days alone feeding two baby birds. I did offer live mealworms but she wasn’t used to them and paid them no attention. Some may not agree with the necessities of dried meal worms but it can help if one parent comes up missing. I do limit the meal worms but now I see both parents coming to the gourd to eat. All of the baby bluebirds are on their own now. First nest I had 2 eggs hatch and second nest only one egg hatched. All three fledged.
I’m so sorry to hear that something has happened to the mother bluebird. I have also had heart break and cried for days. When my mother bluebird came up missing a year ago and unfortunately my baby bluebirds were 8 days old. The Daddy bluebird spend a day and a half calling the female. I have had good years and sad years. I can’t say what should be done but it’s better that they haven’t hatched.
It sounds like a happy ending. yes, YAY Thats a very interesting fledge. You actually got to pick up a baby bluebird. thats neat.
Oh Goodness, I don’t have the answer because I’ve never had them leave the nest box unless they fly straight to a tree. Hoping they have made progress since your post.
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.
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. 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.
Hi Carol, 4 acre pasture is wonderful. Happy you can keep the bluebirds coming. I have decided my property is not good for bluebirds. I live in a heavily wooded area and since I have retired the open property I have disturbs the bb’s since I am in my yard so much more. Also a hawk has been harming the parents several years in a row. I will surely be here to cheer you and your bluebirds on. Hummingbirds are the one thing I can keep as not much yard space needed for them.
Thats interesting because I notice the same thing. After they fledge I usually see them after about two weeks at the bird bath. I do not have feeders. I’ve also noticed that in the spring when I go outside I hear birds everywhere but the last few weeks when I go out I only hear one or two birds. No bluebirds or any birds at all.
Hi Lisa, I’m not as knowledgeable as others on this site and have had bluebird houses for about 7 years. 19 days does seem to be a longer time than normal. Someone will get back to you. I had a male come up missing on day 3 the baby bluebirds hatched and I do get very attached and anxious when I see something is going wrong. The mother did continue to feed the baby BB’s thank goodness and they did fledge.
