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I’ll figure out how to post it. I’ve done it before. I have a Bluebird Presentation to do tomorrow evening, along with other responsibilities so hopefully I can do it after tomorrow.
Yep, those bluebirds aren’t very meek when they have eggs! Glad your enjoying it all!!Tammy
See if you can access this link. You don’t have to make the vertical pole short. Just make it longer and screw it onto the back of your box. I’ll send a second explanation too.
https://imgflip.com/i-page/9lx5v2Tammy
AIH. Congrats! You must live in the South?
So, there’s a good chance that House Sparrows or other House Sparrows will become a problem again.
First of all I would put up a sparrow spooker as soon as possible. I’ll try to get you some directions or a link that explains it soon but company is coming over this morning. It will hopefully discourage any house sparrow from trying to take over that box.Secondly. You’re going to have to start trapping house sparrows. They are non-native, invasive, aggressive Little Birds. They will go in and destroy eggs and throw them on the ground, peck babies to death and even kill adults.
Being able to trap is a process. I was only able to start doing it after I saw time and time again the destruction that house sparrows cause.Tammy
Are yours still eating? I find they love crumbly homemade peanut butter suet. Have you tried that. But they love live mealworms the best! Have you tried live mealworms? You have to store them in the fridge when you aren’t using them so they don’t change into beetles.
They really aren’t seed eaters. Although we occasionally hear about them eating sunflower hearts.Tammy
Hi. AIH. Sorry that no one commented. I didn’t see your post until now. I never had luck with the plexiglass feeder. I don’t think hardly anyone uses that anymore. The birds have a hard time getting in and sometimes feel stuck in it.
The dome works until it doesn’t. Those big birds seem to be able to get into anything. I use the one that is on the left side of the screen. I love this feeder. The bluebirds can easily get in and starlings, robins, mockingbirds etc can’t get in. When I bought mine I could put it on a pole or hang it. I think the flange that I attached to the bottom cost a little more.Tammy
Glad it works. The only downside to a heated pet dish is the placement of it. If you put it on the ground a cat can easily get the birds and same in a deck. But I throw mealworms on the ground so I risk that too.
I’m sure it cost a lot less than a bird bath!!!Tammy
I got my daughters at wild birds unlimited. It came in white or green.
I’m pretty sure I bought this one for me from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/API-Heated-Birdbath-Bird-Stand/dp/B0006HRQNQ/ref=asc_df_B0006HRQNQ?mcid=93e69048a4ce3859bc85110c4d6769c6&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693713553070&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1208995198898725199&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010816&hvtargid=pla-493438363901&psc=1Tammy
I’m just going to type in the link. You’ll have to cut and paste. This one is from wild birds unlimited.
https://order.wbu.com/shop/bird-baths-&-houses/bird-baths-&-water/20%22%20Heated-Bird-BathTammy
This is the kind I’ve always used. I didn’t think it’s from this company but it looks just like it. Just look at reviews before you buy. Mine had lasted for over 10 years. (Sorry the link didn’t work. I’ll try to figure out out later.)
I don’t think you need to worry about your birds bathing in cold temps. We have a large pond that doesn’t freeze easily and birds drink and sometimes bathe in that. They know what they can and can’t do. I’ll try to show you what I have but I forgot how to do it in this group.Tammy
I would think that there is no nutritional value if they are eating the hemp shavings. Do you have a camera that shows this? I would be more inclined to think they are eating tiny bugs in the shavings. It’s not their normal diet at all.
I don’t know what hemp shavings are like but I’m not fond of pine shavings that you can buy for guinea pigs etc. The reason is…I let me kids have guinea pigs growing up and that stuff would hold the urine! It was a caked mess when I cleaned it out. My boxes are in the open and eventually get rain inside, no matter how large the roof or how the hole is turned. And birds going in and out of the box also put moisture in the bedding.
With my purple martins I only use white pine needles because they dry up very quickly. I would never use pine shavings because the martins coming in and out would cause it to get wet and stay wet.
Just my thoughts though.Tammy
AIH, bluebirds are just curious right now and maybe looking to see what is available for Feb, and March when they start nesting. They aren’t nesting right now.
Bluebird love the jailhouse type feeder. There should be a photo of one to your right. It’s easier for bluebirds to get in and the mockingbirds etc can’t get in. I use live mealworms. It’s a little bit of a hassle and more expensive but better for them.
Ilovebluebirds, do you have martins?Tammy
I’ve had two really drama filled seasons with my bluebirds…maybe three. I did a cruise this year in June and so was gone awhile and so I can’t even remember what happened this year without reviewing my notes. I feel my first few years of bluebirds were easier!
Tammy
Hey, Dave. Did that nest of eggs hatch? I’ve had a couple of August nests too over the years. By the middle of August the birds start looking a little scruffy so it may the same male but he’s looking a little rough because of molting. The male sometimes leaves a lot during incubation. There’s not much for him to do.
Tammy
