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Hi, Connie! I hope your blues arrive soon! Our weather is miserable, as well; snowed again last night, heavy rain all day, today. Disappointing start to the Spring, and to the nesting season. I’m traveling all week, but this weekend I plan to put some mealworms out for my pair; they deserve a little help in these horrible conditions.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireMama & Papa Blue from last season have officially reclaimed the nest box and begun nest building. Very rainy and cold here in NH, but they have begun, nonetheless. Same exact branches, habits, and routine. They even come, multiple times each day, to the spot on the ground beneath the beech tree where I placed their mealworms last year. I don’t put any out until they have nestlings, but they remember the spot. Cute couple. Nest is only 25% finished. Can certainly tell that they are taking their time, due to the cold.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi, Lisa! Sorry to hear of the relapse for your pup, but glad he is recovering nicely at home, now. No nesting activity for me up here, yet. Still too chilly, with a forecast for persistent cold throughout April. I can already tell that I am going to have to be very patient this year.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi, Connie! Great to hear from you! We will get a late start to the season this year, due to all of the snow, to be sure! Everything is fine, however. My blues are everywhere, just singing and waiting out the late-departing winter. I am looking forward to the warmer weather, and a productive year for whichever pair sets up shop! I certainly hope you have a great year in PA, as well!
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireI have set my sights a bit lower… specifically, on “the last blue egg laid”. :(
https://i.imgur.com/MXWNAwz.png
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi, Carol. Great point about the potential for yew toxicity to animals. Fortunately, there are over 80 varieties and cultivars of yews in the landscape trade, genetically engineered for size, color, habit, non-toxic nature, etc. Mine are and English/Japanese hybrid that are safe, with a reasonably controlled growth rate. $39.99 for a 10″ pot at Lowes. :)
And make no mistake, they are ridiculously overpriced, and not all that nice.Randy
Bedford, New HampshireSo sorry to hear of your health issues, Lisa. Glad you and your dog are on the mend.
I got antsy, after reading of your nesting activity this morning, so I put out the new nestbox. Mama and Papa blue from last season went to it in under a minute. Definitely them. Same branches; as if they had never left. Also came right to the beech tree where I had been feeding them mealworms for their nestlings. No worms out there for them, but they hung out for a time, nonetheless. Lots of competition for the box, but I hope my familiar pair wins out!Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi, Lisa! Happy Spring! You Are definitely not alone in your feverish anticipation of the nesting season. You are probably just the only one with genuine nesting activity. :(
I still have the entire winter flock of blues visiting the feeding station. They are losing patience with each other, but they all still visit. I will shut the station down on March 1st, bring in the roost box, and put up the nest box. Usually that will get things moving. We do not have any snow on the ground, and it is warmer than usual, so I anticipate an early start, here in NH. Keep us up to date with the progress of your pair. I, too, am interested in my specific pair from last year returning this season. I will know. Papa blue had a unique habit of watching over things from one particular branch, so I will definitely know if it is him.
Best of luck this season!
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireInteresting, Carol.
I am an avid fisherman, but I do not hunt, so I looked up the history of hunting regulations in NH and found out an interesting fact: The state of NH had a dove season for one (1) day in 1983. There was such outrage across the state, that they abolished the dove season the next day and reclassified the mourning dove as a songbird. It has been protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty, ever since. All I know is that they eat a lot of my seed, and we should probably revisit the whole mourning dove/songbird thing…Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi, Tammy. This guy is my Cooper’s. I do have a Sharp-shinned, two Broad-winged, and several Red-tailed hawks, and they all visit regularly, but my Cooper’s actually lives on my property. Rounded tail, darker grey wings, and bright yellow spot at the base of his beak set him apart from my smaller “sharpie”. I have definitely been fortunate, in that I have yet to lose a bluebird, but I know that won’t last. One thing I don’t understand is that none of the hawks ever grab a Morning Dove. They are big, slow, and fat, yet they never get touched. Maybe they are awful tasting…?…
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireBeautiful pictures! Obviously stopping by to say “thanks” and “see you next Spring”…
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi, Connie!
I do not have a separate feeder for the crumble/bluebirds. They happily gather at the large, two-tiered, covered platform feeder at the station. I just put a large amount of crumble in the center of each platform, and surround it with Wild Delight Nut & Berry seed mix. I also put large helpings of mealworms in my crumble. 75 degrees here, today. Crazy!Randy
Bedford, New Hampshire
