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I’ve never had a cylindrical raccoon baffle, just a wobbly cone-shaped squirrel baffle. Do you think I should switch to the cylinder style? Has anyone every used both by putting the raccoon baffle under the squirrel baffle, or is that over-kill?
Susan
PennsylvaniaThere’s no doubt about it, they are tougher. It’s been a pretty difficult week for me, but seeing mama and papa hanging out together has helped.
Susan
PennsylvaniaI had bluebirds and TRES this year. The TRES are very entertaining to watch, especially right after the babies fledge. They are air-born acrobats.
Susan
PennsylvaniaThank you, Randy. I know that you are right. I will bounce back. Mama and Papa Blue keep plugging away, so I will continue to do anything I can to help them. Thanks, again.
Susan
PennsylvaniaI appreciate the kind words, and I know you are all right. Boy, it does sting though. Like Lisa said, they don’t give up, so I can’t either. I saw evidence of that this morning since both mama and papa are back at the house again today. Mama went inside the house with her five eggs after taking a quick bath in my fountain. Papa sat on the pool fence for a half hour and watched me vacuum the pool. Like you said. . .chin up.
Susan
PennsylvaniaThanks, Cari, and thank you for sharing the beautiful picture of Maybelle. She really is pretty. I know I shouldn’t get so attached to these birds, but it is hard.
Susan
PennsylvaniaThank you, Lisa. Last summer, I became a bluebird newb when a pair of bluebirds decided to take up residence in a house that I honestly hung up as an ornament. I was thrust into the center of bluebirding when the papa suddenly died, and I found myself on this forum begging for help as the mama struggled to feed the brood on her own during a horrific heatwave.
I received so much help and advice. I learned about mealworms and spookers, and I helped this widow mama until the little ones fledged. Once out of the house, the babies did great. They stayed around for meal worms and visited my bird bath for drinks all winter. I just never expected this 5-baby brood to end so badly. I took so many pictures, and now they just make me sad.But there is a glimmer of hope. I saw my mama blue re-enter the birdhouse about a half hour ago. Papa was watching over her on my fence. I am sad, but I just have to keep on going. Thanks, again for your kindness.
Susan
PennsylvaniaThank you for the encouragement. I was doing fine with the previous losses. I just had a lot of hope pinned on this one beautiful baby. On Sunday, I took pictures of mama, papa and their one baby sitting together on my fence. Today the baby is gone, and to be honest, I haven’t seen mama blue at all. I checked the birdhouse in the a.m., but it was empty. I checked it just a few minutes ago, but it’s just a nest with 5 eggs. It is very hot here today. I just hope she hasn’t abandoned the eggs.
Susan
PennsylvaniaExcellent! My youngest son is an Amazon junkie and a Prime member. I guess he’s all set for mom’s Christmas gift! Thanks!
Susan
PennsylvaniaWow. That’s an awesome house. I may have to put one of those on my Christmas list. As a wife and mother of two sons, the “men in my life” are always begging for gift ideas. Put it this way. . .I never get clothes–I guess it’s a guy thing.
Susan
PennsylvaniaMy yard is crazy with blue jays. Like Lisa, I have bird feeders in the front yard, but my bluebird house is way in the back. I only put seed out from December-March (basically during the snowy months). I have never seen a blue jay anywhere near my blue birds.
Susan
PennsylvaniaThank you, Connie. I wish you had had a more successful bluebird season. I know there are lots of ups and downs with this hobby. My bluebirds are currently tending to 5 eggs (Round #2). You know how it is. . .it’s exciting and fun, but oh so stressful with all of the crazy predators around.
Susan
PennsylvaniaI have a mocking bird that I affectionately call “bully bird.” That bird chases my poor blues away from the meal worms. He just enjoys harassing everyone! I tried buying one of those meal worm feeders that is enclosed in plexiglass with bluebird sized holes on each side, but the blues never took to it. It just sits there with a bunch of dried out meal worms in it. My blues aren’t picky either. They eat dried meal worms.
Susan
Pennsylvania
