It has been an outstanding season for Eastern Bluebirds. We're enjoying daily -- maybe hourly visits by these colorful characters. They are enjoying suet and whatever insects they find crawling around the place. And we have a bunch of them: maybe four, maybe more. It is hard to tell. I'm very hopeful they will be just as agreeable to the yard when it comes time to nest. We have a number of boxes that may interest them including a standalone on a post that I have seen them check out. If nothing else they know its there and might meet their requirements. Until then, we enjoy the suet basket action and the marvelous colors they bring on a drab day. We're in heaven!Thursday, February 10, 2011
Bluebird Heaven
It has been an outstanding season for Eastern Bluebirds. We're enjoying daily -- maybe hourly visits by these colorful characters. They are enjoying suet and whatever insects they find crawling around the place. And we have a bunch of them: maybe four, maybe more. It is hard to tell. I'm very hopeful they will be just as agreeable to the yard when it comes time to nest. We have a number of boxes that may interest them including a standalone on a post that I have seen them check out. If nothing else they know its there and might meet their requirements. Until then, we enjoy the suet basket action and the marvelous colors they bring on a drab day. We're in heaven!
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I'm curious! Did you have Bluebirds from the beginning or did you have to lure them in? Everything I've heard and read says we're supposed to have them in Middle TN. But in my six years of living here, I've never seen one! I'm really hoping to change that this year! Any tidbits you could share that may help? I've bought a specialized feeder and mealworms (which I've heard they can't resist). Hoping to get a specialized house. Beyond that, I'm not sure what else to try!
Hello Melissa,
It would help to know a couple of things. Do you have open spaces around your home or in the neighborhood? even a modest backyard would work. Bluebirds do like open areas with tree edges as they hunt for insects. To be honest I am actually surprised I get them here as my open areas are on the small size.
One of my other theories is that they need some area immediately adjacent where insects can breed in numbers. I have a reasonably dense woody buffer that I let go natural and it provides opportunities for insects. A well stocked garden should do as well.
Some folks like to sanitize their property and work against the food sources some birds need. Again, I can't guess what you have.
Also, have you put out any non seed food over time? My bluebirds do perfectly well with suet. They also love to have a dependable water supply, so a bird bath (pedestal works for them) is a good idea, too.
I'm not remembering very well how quickly bluebirds materialized when I first put up feeders but I'm fairly certain it was a span measured in months before I got one to come in. Most of my species eventually arrived after the more curious (e.g. Chickadees, Titmice) created the initial buzz.
I'm hesitant on putting out mealworms so early. You could certainly try and there are species that may take them. My advice would be put out suet as an attractant and it has wide appeal.
Nest boxes are definitely a roll of the dice. I still have problems attracting them to specialty boxes. My latest concept is to put the box out on a post in the open...might work.
Be prepared for bad news. I have been unable to bring in species that live around here... Orchard Orioles, Cedar Waxwings come to mind. Despite your best efforts there may be something preventing bluebird visits that you can't control.
Stick to the fundamentals and things may turn around!
Best luck---
David
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