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The Wisconsin part of Michigan : )
I’m on the UP border in the Iron Mtn area, specifically Niagara, WI
Nope, I gave up on FB many years ago. I’ve been learning to use ebird for info on migration. It seems to be fairly accurate. It’ll be a few weeks before the migration reaches here. We had six inches of wet snow a week ago and temps are not ideal yet for bugs that bluebirds seem to prefer.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Thanks Tammy. I’m monitoring that web site and as I see more sightings north of Green Bay I will kick it in gear placing boxes. It’ll only take a day or two to get the trail installed.
At the MBS fest there was one presenter that resided in Antrim County Michigan who mentioned he was seeing bluebirds in March. Antrim is close to my latitude but lake Michigan makes the climate there less variable than here on the WI/MI border.
I know a lot of folks leave their boxes up year round but I’m afraid that doing that will only weather the boxes prematurely. And the guy from Antrim County said he leaves his boxes open all winter after having mice take up winter residence in closed boxes. Many of hos boxes were made unusable (urine). I’m learning so much from this and other sites. But being in the north where we only have migrating bluebirds it is difficult to apply some practices where they are present year round.
Thanks for your advice. I’m hoping that last year’s May 16th first siting is a little earlier this year.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Not an expert here but I did hear a speaker at the Michigan Bluebird Soc in March mention that if the bluebirds do that it might be because the original eggs are not viable. On the other hand if another bird chases the originals away it may be building on top of the old nest. I don’t know what the correct action is. I think I would just monitor the nest for a few days and see if it is bluebirds. If so I would probably carefully remove the older eggs. Of course you may be able to identify the species using the nest materials as a guide.
I do remember the speaker talking about putting pairs of boxes a few feet from each other. If the second pair (if that’s your situation) are not bluebirds they may take the other box. I don’t think a second pair of bluebirds will nest in the second box but other species may take it.
Good luck and thanks for sharing. Keep us informed of what happens next.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Happy it worked out. Just shows to go ya that when you think you’ve got the bluebirds figured out they throw you a curve.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Fingers crossed. I hope it works.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
If you just “have to” move the vehicle… first, set up the new bluebird box in the most desirable site and monitor it to keep house sparrows (English Sparrows) and Starlings away from it as best you can. Given a day or two if that box is close then the blues will know its there and would likely inspect it.
In the wild when a newer nest is disturbed or becomes unusable the blues will regroup to a new site and start over. Maybe it’s better to just get that disturbance over with rather than allowing them to lay two or three more eggs and waste the energy on them. I guess what I’m saying is get on with it soon.
Good luck and keep us posted on what happens. It will be an experience to add to our knowledge for me and probably most of us.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I’m dusting off my Bluebird gear and scoping out some new locations. I know we are probably a couple months away from seeing bluebirds but I don’t know if this weird winter will stay weird and encourage them to migrate early.
ILB said…
… 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.
I tried live mealworms last year. After getting about 3000 of the little buggers and putting a small handful out every few days at several of my Bluebird trails I decided that they were not a necessary supplement. I think natural prey is plentiful enough for my bluebirds to find. Your geographic location is different and supplements might be helpful.
I’ve read articles by a couple “experts” that feeding dried mealworms while hatchlings were present doesn’t provide any hydration for those young birds. The moisture in naturally acquired worms and other bugs is enough to contribute to their development. Eating too many dried mealworms seems like a poor substitute for natural food. I think it is more important to provide the adults and the fledglings a source of clean water.
I have also read that mealworms are deficient in calcium. Some add powdered calcium supplements to the mealworms which may help. Still, a natural source is probably better.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I’ve removed most of my nest boxes for minor maintenance and to keep flying squirrels and woodpeckers from damaging them. I wonder if others remove the boxes they set out. I have read that in areas that having winter bluebird populations many keep the boxes available for shelter. I don’t believe we have bluebirds overwintering here (WI/MI border).
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Same experience here on the WI/MI border. I might spot one or a pair between clutches but just after they fledge they are gone. I chalked that up to my bluebird trails being in remote spots since I am only around them for a few minutes every few days.
I can’t wait for next spring to see them get back to it. My first spotting was May 16th. If the weather is similar in the spring to last spring I think I will set up the boxes the first week of May. I think I’ll bring them in each fall to do minor repairs and keep the flying squirrels and woodpeckers from damaging them.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
August 12…
In 20 nest boxes…
11 Nesting pairs (includes second brood with two pair)
49 eggs produced (includes three non-viable/destroyed)
46 hatchlings
46 fledglingsToday I found the last nesting pair’s hatchlings had fledged. I am going to keep monitoring for a week or two but I feel that the nesting season is over. Being a rookie bluebird landlord I don’t know if mid-August will prove to be the end. I’m really happy with the results of the first season.
I have a date to talk about my experience at our local library in early March. I’m hoping to get others interested in this effort to increase bluebirds in our community.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Ha! Keeping up is one way to describe it!
August 2
In 20 nest boxes…
11 Nesting pairs (includes second brood with two pair)
49 eggs produced (includes three non-viable/destroyed. Last tally was off by one.)
46 hatchlings
42 fledglingsOne pair still nesting. Four hatchlings in the nest. I’m very happy with how this all turned out and will look forward to next spring.
I don’t know if I should bring all the nest boxes in for the winter. We only have migrating bluebirds here. I think it might help with less exposure to weather and some minor repairs.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
July 31 and things have definitely slowed down. Out of nine nesting pairs only two pair are in the middle of a second brood.
Saturday I took a hike to my most distant trail and as we approached one of the boxes with that second brood my son-in-law noticed a female bluebird dead on the walking path. She didn’t appear to have been attacked and was fairly fresh (still a little soft belly). I was concerned that this was the mom of the box only about twenty yards away. We peeked into the box and there were three beaks staring at my camera.
Well it turns out there were four babies in there. Today I went out to watch the box for a while and what I think was a female made a couple of trips to the box while the noisy babies tweeted, twittered, sang, whatever. I forgot my binos and couldn’t really get a good look but I’ll say it was the mom.
On the way home I stopped at the other second brood box and there are four very mature looking babies in that box. So happy the breeding season here has been so successful.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Thanks for the encouragement David. I think I’ll just focus on making sure they have water available.
I get it that people want to feed mealworms to their blues. I enjoyed watching the wrens in my yard polish off a batch that I gave them in the first couple weeks I tried to raise them. I certainly enjoy feeding birds all winter. What it comes down to is limiting additional hobbies, if you can call raising mealworms a hobby. My time is filled with many other pursuits and I hope to continue with my bluebird trails next spring. They were certainly a success this year.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I’m just a newb in the bluebird world but I have learned a similar lesson. Bluebird moms and pops will provide for their young without my help. I tried raising mealworms but ended up with a mess of Darkling beetles and after months have no worms. The blues have thrived without them.
I do provide a water source for one nest box that is far from a water source. I found that to be visited regularly by the area blues and Tree Swallows. I think they would find water without my help but I have a need to help withh more than providing a cavity.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
