bird feeding changes ( bluebirds in winter)

I have been feeding the birds now for 14 years now. heavly the last couple of years. We have bluebird that nest by summer, This year the winter birds seem to have changed. for the last 3 weeks we have had 11 bluebirds that have coming to the feeders twice a day as far as I can tell. Normally we do not have bluebirds here during the winter, I have also noticed we donot have hardly any bluejays.maybe one or two normally we have a whole flock come in and clean out the feeders. The Goldfinch have quite a bite of yellow color yet. We have a ton of junco and chickadee, and 4 large woodpeckers. the mourning doves only come in maybe every othe day, and only one male cardinal that comes regularly. Has any one else noticed a change in thier bird feeding?

I have not seen any Bluebirds this winter. Perhaps there is a lack of natural food around. (?)

We have lots of bluebirds that overwinter in the area, but we've never had them at our feeders. What are you putting out that attracts bluebirds? With this horrible winter, I would love to help them out. Heck, I would love to attract them anyway!

I put out dried mealworms mixed with left over dried cranberries and rasins from the kids. I have tried the bluebird nuggets but the bluebrids don't seem to like them. this is the first year we have had bluebirds in the winter especially as cold as it has been and the snow, I hate not to feed them.
The bluebird like eating off a platform feeder during the summer they eat out of tuna can
screwed to the top of a post. (the bigger birds do not like the can), Good Luck

This message was edited Jan 23, 2011 10:11 PM

Thanks for the info. I'm going to try it. You're probably saving the local bluebird population from starvation during this horrible winter. I've read that bluebirds will cram into any bluebird house for shelter during the winter. I once saw a photo that had a dozen stuffed into one regular house. Guess they keep warm that way.

Hi everyone, last winter I was lucky to have a few Eastern Blue Birds that came to the suet feeder. This year, they're abundant in my area but none has returned to the suet feed in our backyard. I saw large number of Cardinals as usual, Blue Jays too. I wished I know how to raise my own mealworms to feed them (Blue Birds) for it's so pricey even the dried kind.

I've never had any luck with the dried ones but I would really like to get the caged mealworm feeder and start feeding them live mealworms.

Supposedly, it's very easy and economical to raise your own mealworms. They basically live and reproduce in dry oatmeal. There are also two types of mealworms, regular and super-sized...about three times as big!

my kids raised mealworms as a school project in elementary school as thier science project. it was rather easy. but now i use the dried ones. Im lucky we have a local feed store that is very reasonble. another thing I noticed today a couple of the bluebirds were eating off the suet block that is a insect block that I picked up at walmart, so maybe your bluebirds would like that also. I havenot seen where the bluebirds head when they leave. but my next project is to make roosting boxes for the birds.This winter has been brutal and it does not look like its going to change.

I have had bluebirds on my ornamental pear trees at the front of my house. This is the first time I have ever seen bluebirds in our area. We live in a suburb at the edge of a treed mountain. In the back of our house, we have mature norfolk pines and some nut trees all of which are 50 + y/o. This is the first time I have tried to attract birds to the front of the house by hanging a suet feeder, a peanutbutter feeder and a cheap plastic hopper type feeder hanging from the eave of the front porch. This frigid weather has brought a throng of birds, front and back, even the junkos are eating the suet. I guess the purpose of this note is to ask what and how to feed these bluebirds.

There are some nice recipes for suet for Bluebirds at the Sialis site. Remember you can substitute Lard for the suet.

http://sialis.org/suet.htm

The Bluebirds in our area are here year around and I have been feeding them mealworms for almost 3 years. The only other thing I have seen them eat is sunflower hearts. I have tried giving them homemade suet and also peanut hearts but they only eat the sunflower hearts/chips and worms. They are very so worth the effort and expense!!

I need some information. Would spraying Round up in the area around the post where a bluebird box is located harm baby birds?

Shirleyd

Hi Shirley, I would just hold off until after they have fledged to be on the safe side.

Thank you

Shirleyd

I personally would not use any round up at all arount the nesting area. The babies do stay around to help with the second batch, and they are bound to eat insects from the treated area. I use pine bark or other that is availble around the house post at 2 feet around this way I can see what is hanging around the area. Just a suggestion.

Thanks for your suggestions

Shirleyd