Bluebirds in Wisconsin on 12/30

feeds@yuku.com (kh) — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:23:01 GMT

Help - we normally have about 10-13 bluebirds from April-October but today 12/30 we have 8 at our regular bird feeder. What should we feed them and if we feed them will this keep them from migrating to warmer weather?
There is 8-10 inches of snow and it is cold here - looking for advise.

This morning

feeds@yuku.com (BluebirdNut) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:12:35 GMT

...I didn't think I was going to get any pictures because it was so dark and overcast. But then the sun peeked through and the female came to pose

Dave, my female seems to have the dominant role here in the dead stick department! The male never ventures near 'her' perch. I'm beginning to think of her as "The Dead Stick Queen"! LOL

male and female bluebird pictures

feeds@yuku.com (Second Cousin Dave) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:28:10 GMT

Beautiful day here today, especially for this time of year. Saw a flock of robins (maybe 200 of them) in the yard early this morning. Maybe they are headed farther south. Thankfully the blues didn't leave with them. Dave

A few nice pictures of a titmouse

feeds@yuku.com (Second Cousin Dave) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:26:26 GMT

Just for a change of pace.

My latest effort

feeds@yuku.com (Second Cousin Dave) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:32:40 GMT

Cold and windy hereabouts (so, where isn't it? After all, it's December)

But it least we have sunshine. And lots of pictures. Here are a few.

Dave

Do Birds Mark Their Territory ?

feeds@yuku.com (Debbie) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:35:32 GMT

Hi,
I bought my BB family the Deluxe BB feeder for Christmas!They had a jail type feeder ,but a stubborn EUST sits on it constantly.He's been lucky a few times and has snagged a few freezedried mealies from the wind blowing them within his reach.I've been feeding my BBs in a birdbath,but didn't like the access that other birds could have....

Here's one that might make you smile

feeds@yuku.com (Second Cousin Dave) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 19:47:27 GMT

I didn't take it -- But I wish I had. It's the kind of shot I dream of taking. It was sent to my sister by a co-worker and she passed it on.

I should hope a bluebird would never do such a thing. Dave

How to tell you're not Mom's favorite

Hey, Cher

feeds@yuku.com (Second Cousin Dave) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 09:48:40 GMT

What happened to the threads ( and posted comments) made over the past several days? I am sure there were two (at least) that I put up with pictures and several updates to the "Actually they're not that bad" post that seeem to be missing. Tell me I'm not losing my mind.

Dave

Purple Finches

feeds@yuku.com (tamsea) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:00:18 GMT

Here's my question. I have just house finches at my feeders, but there are supposedly purple finches in this area. Since I'm very familiar with the house finch, if a purple finch did come to my feeder would it stand out to me? or do you have to really study them. I have been told the differences between them...just wondering if it would be obvious that I had one at my feeder.

Another question: If I am replying to a thread and want to quote someone in that thread but...

We're supposed to get WALLOPED!

feeds@yuku.com (BluebirdNut) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:08:05 GMT

Yep, that's the word they're using - WALLOPED. This weekend's Nor'easter is supposed to dump up to 2 feet of snow on us here in Central NY. I wonder if the Blues will show up looking for a handout?

Wow!! Summer's back (for one day, at least!)

feeds@yuku.com (Second Cousin Dave) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:48:30 GMT

And it's nice to see the sun, even if it is short-lived.

Actually, they're not that bad.

feeds@yuku.com (Second Cousin Dave) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:29:44 GMT

I was surprised when I looked at the pictures I took this morning. Since it was so dreary and overcast, I didn't expect much but I mounted the camera and a 300mm lens on a tripod and moved it to within 6 feet of one of the perches the blues usually lite on when they arrive to check out the mealworm feeder. I set the camera's ISO as high as I could (1600), set the lens wide open (f/2.8), prefocused on the top of the perch, set the wireless remote and waited for the birds.
...

What can you do...

feeds@yuku.com (Second Cousin Dave) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:30:41 GMT

On a gray, overcast day? My blues are here but it is simply impossible to get clear,colorful pictures.

Well, I am reaching back into the vault, to drag out a few that were taken when conditions were better. These preening shots were taken in October and some of you may have already seen some of them, but under the circumstances, I'll show them again. They are better than those I am getting today. Dave

Presentation of Suet?

feeds@yuku.com (56ferretmommy) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:19:46 GMT

What is the best way to offer the suet?

I made Malinda's recipe and the Blues are finally notice-ably eating it.

I have it a small hamster crock inside the feeder.

Do you crumble it a bit or leave it sorta compacted?

Do you put any in the warming dish?

I have a bit of it in that dish too

Thanks

Do Bluebirds Mate Their Sibblings?

feeds@yuku.com (blueburdluver) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 08:45:34 GMT

http://audubon-omaha.org/bestofbbml/mating.htm

The answer is yes. You can click on the above link and scroll down to Keith Kridler's post and he tells of an account of Larry Zeleny hand raising a male and female bluebird and banded them. They came back and mated each other. I have read many other accounts of it.

The bluebirds come back to the area which they were born to nest. That does mean...

Still trying to figure out how to feed all winter on a reasonable budget

feeds@yuku.com (Blue in Michigan) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 12:05:43 GMT

It has been a while since I have signed in so here is an update. By the end of my first year of Bluebirding I had 3 clutches with a total of 15 fledgings and a very blessed summer enjoying the loving care of their parents and watching them grow. I now have 8 bluebirds that feed regularly from an open dish just inches outside my pateo door. I think they would eat constantly if I could afford to feed them non-stop. I am still getting my meal worms from the wild bird store and it is pretty...

Birds Love Lard

feeds@yuku.com (blueburdluver) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 07:43:53 GMT

A couple of days ago, I ran short of chunky peanut butter and I had some lard (not shortening) on hand and I decided to mix it half and half for the chunky peanut butter ball I make. I added dry quick cooking oats and meal to stiffen it and put it on the feeder. The birds went wild over it. I was really surprised to see how much faster it disappeared. I have bluebirds, goldfinches, several species of sparrows (HOSP's not included), cardinals and juncos that come eat it. I saw Papa...

Show down at the meal worm feeder

feeds@yuku.com (Second Cousin Dave) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:43:51 GMT

With few exceptions, the Northern Mockingbird tries to bully every bird in the yard. The mockers can't get into the caged meal worm feeder but they will sit on top of it to keep the smaller birds from entering. In his frustration I have seen him chase the bluebirds all the way to a tree line about 1000 feet from the feeder. Sometimes, especially when they are nesting, I leave a few mealworms outside the caged feeder so the bigger birds can get some. The mockers...

Nothing special

feeds@yuku.com (Second Cousin Dave) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:11:29 GMT

I've held off posting for a few days but thought I'd show you a couple today, so you won't forget me. It's been trying to snow here but it seems our part of Virginia is just south of the serious stuff, so you will have to look hard to see a flake or two in some of these shapshots. Dave

And oh yes, Evelyn, if you are looking, I am including another "Blue Angel."

No Blues yesterday

feeds@yuku.com (56ferretmommy) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:47:48 GMT

The mealworm cup has not been touched since I filled it yesterday early am.

But yesterday was a LOT of wind, sleet & cold! Do blues venture out in the very windy cold?

American Goldfinches sure do! It was kinda funny watching them hang on to the swinging tube feeder!

They are good at that!

2007 Discussion Archives