A few more shots of my bluebirds

Here he is, looking straight at me, probably wondering why I am so slow to bring the meal worms.

Dave, I had no idea you could get up that high of an ISO with that 1D. Guess you get what you pay for and you sure got your monies worth there.

Your photos are just all precious. Loved the way that last one says so much with the expression on the face-adorable.

This morning I switched to the 200mm f/1.8, hoping I could get a few as they landed on one of the perches. Here are a few.

Well, as often happens, I am limited to one image You gotta love this server.

Try again

Great shots Dave! They are such beautiful birds.

Thanks, Pelle. Let's see if it will let me load a few more.

One more?

And this one where he actually is taking off, rather than landing

One more. This one taken late this afternoon with the bird in the shade and the background sunlit.

Last one. Same bird as above, as he took off.

I love it when you catch them in mid-hop!

Me too, that is so cute!

The same here, lovely pictures.

I just love the pictures when they are all 'poufed' out, LOL

Dave, thanks for that link to feeders. I have the 'vista dome' and it works perfectly for both mealworms and hulled sunflower and chopped nuts.

I was advised to start the dome at the highest height and slowly lower it everyday. At first you get everybody feeding on it. They are slowly unable to fit.

The blues are able to fly up into the feeder. So...I only get them plus a few wrens and finches (they don't eat much, LOL) I highly recommend it.

Dave you mentioned that you have one that you attached to your deck railing. Would you mind sharing what kind it is?

taxicat

Amazing motion photos Dave. You and that ID are a perfect match. Also love that stump you've got for them to land on. I'm always hunting for interesting pieces like that.

Great shots Dave! Love the early morning female shot and the male landing in early morning...beautiful!

Thanks everyone. Glad you found something you liked. I waited for quite some time this afternoon in the cold for a bluebird to land on the holly behind the house. When this one finally did, the light was simply awful. I worked on it the best I could but it still lacks detail.

Same bird. Same editing problem.

Dave, Such great BB photos. i really liked your Dec. 5, 8245300 shot. So glad you are willing to take the time to go out in the cold and take pictures of your beauties. Thank you

Donna

Hello,
New to this thread, but I thought since ya'll are obviously knowledgeable about BB that you could offer some advice. I have number BB boxes on my property and I seem to have a lot of residents that appear they might stay for the winter. I don't usually notice BBs this time of year, but we have seen several. Will they nest all winter? Or are they just looking for a warm place to stay? If so, they might need to move further south.... :)

But, I would love to offer them food to eat. I would appreciate suggestions on what types of food specifically that the BBs would be attracted to....... I don't know where to find this info. I was told several years ago that they do not eat traditional bird seed....but I don't know if that is true. I do know I have never seen one on my feeder. I would appreciate any info you can offer....

the pictures are gorgeous as always!

Thanks!
genna

Hi Genna and welcome to the forum.

Bluebirds eat insects when insects are available. Grasshoppers, spiders, crickets and the like. They prefer open fields and pastures where insects tend to be plentiful. During the Summer you may occasionally see them eating poke berries or Possom grapes, but their main diet is insects. And of course they need water. In winter they survive on seeds and berries like holly. In extremely cold climates where water sources freeze they may migrate, not just to where it is warmer, but to where water and food is more available. Many bluebirds freeze to death or starve each winter.

They pair up and nest in Spring and throughout the summer. Some pairs fledge as many as four broods a season but three is more common and further north they typically will have just two nestings. It is not uncommon for a pair that has nested together to remain together throughout the following Winter. They are cavity nesters and often nest in abandoned woodpecker holes. But these are scarce, as more and more wooded areas are cleared. The few sites that exist are often taken by starlings.

If you see them checking your nest boxes, they are most likely looking for a nesting place for next season. They usually find shelter from the Winter winds in evergreens. However, on extremely cold windy nights, one or more may seek shelter in a nest box.

I feed my bluebirds meal worms. It is like filet mignon to them. Meal worms are available at pet stores or you can order them in bulk online, as I do.

I suggest you check out Bet Zimmerman's Sialis site. It is the most comprihensive site I know of and you will find answers to all your questions and even learn things you have not yet thought of. Below is a link to it.

I am glad you enjoy the pictures. I surely do enjoy taking them.

Good luck.

Dave

http://www.sialis.org/index.html

I had meant to include a picture with my response. Here is one I took just a few minutes ago.

And here is the female

Wow those are gorgeous Dave!

ooo… looking a little puffy there! Must by chilly.

High today was 28, but it's the wind!! Absolutely brutal. The birds seem none too happy about it.

This one is complaining, I think.

Bluebird of unhappiness

Of course, this guy is lovin' it.

Can't decide which shot of the dove to show

So I'll show you both.

Even the Carolina wren is feeling it.

The doves are beautiful..... I hear some occasionally near my home, but I never see them. Used to see them growing up sometimes but haven't seen one in a long time. It is so nice to finally live back out in a rural area again - grew up in the country and then moved to a small town but it was too large for me! After 20 years finally got a chance to move back out of town....... we have a field of about 10 acres around our house then woods around that. The fields grow up in the summer because we don't have cattle or livestock in them, they don't look very pretty but they provide a wonderful habitat for lots of wildlife and birds. We have beautiful scissortailed flycatchers - had never seen them until I moved to this house...... they are stunning! Usually only see them in the late spring and some in the summer....but they are always welcome. I have had one visit by blue buntings - had NO idea what they were but managed to find out here on DG....haven't seen them again. Had a titmouse and chickadee as well that I had to ask for assistance in IDing...... don't know alot of the names when you get beyond the basic mockingbird, cardinal and blue jay (which I almost never see now)....... but I sure love looking at them.

We have 8 or 10 bluebird boxes up....and they usually all have pairs in them. They are scattered around my fence row of my yard. I need to add some more but I haven't had a chance to do so. I was originally told they liked to be about 50 ft or so apart, but I have a few more places I could stick them. I love the bluebirds - but unfortunately I have sparrows as well, and that makes me scared for my BB safety. I haven't seen anything to indicate problems yet, but I fear it is coming! Until last year while doing some reading here on DG I didn't have a clue what sparrows could do to BBs.

I have a few feeders up, but just generic feeders with generic seeds in them. I need to learn more about what the different songbirds prefer as far as food because it really isn't the sparrows that I am trying to feed!! :)

Thank you for the link, I will try to do some reading,.......

Oh, by the way, what is the little black bird between the BB and the dove?

Thanks!
Genna

Male BB's are quite territorial and most people recommend placing boxes 80 to 100 yards apart.

Dave and other folks who are familiar with BB's also realize that a sparrow control program is in order. It's not fair to the BB's to attract them with homes that also attract sparrows unless you are prepared to deal with the sparrows. The Sialis website has info on sparrow control and traps.

BB's are delightful birds to have around. I visited with a BB researcher awhile back and she was telling me that she noticed they actually have the ability to distinguish one person from another. I had observed this after my male approached me when I was at a nearby neighbor's. I related this incident and she said she had observed they knew one person from another. She has a survey route of 144 boxes. That would be a full-time job. You are fortunate to have so many.

Hi Genna, The dark little bird is a Dark-eyed Junco. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dark-eyed_Junco/id

Excellent photos each one is just so interesting and sweet. I love the expression on that one where you mention it's 28degrees.

Thanks.... I am horrible at remembering all the names but he does look a little familiar........ we probably have some in winter here.

yes, we are blessed with an abundance of BBs....... i have had several people comment on them while at my home over the years. Do you recommend cleaning out the boxes? I was told years ago not to clean out the boxes so they didn't have to start over on each nest, but I have seen people on here talk about cleaning them after each fledging..... so i didn't know which was best. They seem to stay in ours in winter too - we do have some nearby cedars but a lot of the surrounding area is hardwoods so maybe that is their shelter for the winter. If so, I need to put up more boxes!!!

Thank you for all the info, i am on break at work but have to get back at it..... will try to check out the link soon.

Just a few comments. What Red said about the distance between nest boxes is very true. Any closer than 300 feet and the males will fight constantly during nesting season. Eventually one will drive the other away. I would locate your boxes that far apart, or at least out of sight of each other (on opposite sides of the house, for example). If boxes are too close, bluebirds will not nest in them but other birds may. It would be nice if you had chickadees or titmice in these boxes, but more likely you will get house sparrows.

If you see house sparrows starting a nest, tear it out. If they persist, plug the hole or take down the nest box. If you allow one, there will soon be two and before long house sparrows will be nesting in all of your boxes. They may seem harmless when they are little but remember, they will grow to be killers.

If you have read any of my older threads you will note that I always clean out the nest box as soon as a brood fledges. I mix up a 10 percent Clorox solution that I spray or brush over the whole inside, floor, walls and even the under part of the roof. When you do this, check also for wasps. If wasps build in your nest box, the bluebirds will abandon it, even with chicks still in the nest.

There are several reasons why I do not leave the nesting material in the box. First, there may be moisture hidden under the nesting material and there may also be bow fly eggs or larvae, or mites hidden in the material. Also, if you allow the birds to build on top of an old nest, the second and subsequent nests will be closer and closer to the opening, making it easier for preditors, such as starlings to reach the eggs or the hatchlings.

Again, good luck. Sounds like you have a wonderful location for hosting Bluebirds.

Dave

Well, I don't get to watch my nests as much as you do..... have three active kids and we come and go (mostly go ) all the time. But I enjoy them when I do see them, and I have one box located just outside my bedroom window that I see more than the others and one that is relatively near my backporch. I will try to get a ladder and clean them all out so they will be ready for spring. Not sure if I will catch them after each fledge, but I will try.

I have been excited to host as many as we have. I have no problem eliminating sparrows- my problem lies in my lack of confidence that I am correctly identifying the sparrow. They all seem to look so similar to me! But I am trying to learn so I can run them off....... I have not seen any near the BB boxes though - just around my seed feeders.