Here's one of my favorite shots of Mr. Blue. Taken almost three weeks ago, before the leaves were on the trees. He let me get pretty close to him and even use flash. He female does not like the flash and whenever I use it, she flies away. So for now, I will not use it.
Another shot of the happy couple. If you look closely, you'll see a bird face poking out of the hole.
This photo is from today. Mrs. Blue is busy building a nest! Hooray!
Wonderful!!! Great photos and what a thrill to be a part of their nesting process!
Here is a shot of the feeding station we built for the bluebirds. No more worms on the roof!
Marvelous, jenhill, and if that isn't a beautiful bird, I sure don't know what is!! Wish we had them out here. Another nice photo, too.
jen, Your photos are Gorgeous! Please feel free to post them anytime. We Love Bluebirds!
I purchase all my birdseed from Wildbirds Unlimited. It's a little more expensive, but because it is blended specifically for birds in your area, I believe it's cheaper in the long run because there is no waste. As for blue birds, they eat insects in summer, fruit in winter, and mealworms all year long. Perhaps the person saying their bluebirds didn't know they weren't supposed to eat seed were confusing bluejays with bluebirds. Bluejays love peanuts and sunflower seeds.
I had a different experience at WBU I guess it just depends on who's running it. Three different times I bought 3 different types of seeds but all 3 times the seeds were loaded with mold, spiderwebs etc. I buy my seed at another store now.
I get my birdseed at Agway, or I should say, squirrel seed. :) They seem to have a pretty good turn over there. Whenever I'm in there, there are others buying seed too. I don't blame you pelletory, mold and webs... yuck! I've never been to a WBU. Their website said they're opening one in my town. Don't know when that will be. Anyway, I only feed the bluebirds meal worms and they love it. I've been mail ordering them by the way. The local pet stores turned out to not be a good source for meal worms. More expensive and both stores I tried, half the worms were dead. Not a good deal. The only problem is that my husband really likes feeding the birds. I hardly ever get to do it anymore. And he's very heavy handed with the worms. I think we have to add meal worms to our monthly budget! We've both grown very fond of our little blue friends, especially the male. He will stay pretty close while we are out in the yard doing chores and flies right to the feeder when we walk only a few feet away.
Wow - I think most WBU's have superb reputations, Pelle, I think your experience was an anomaly. However, I don't buy much from them as they are so darn expensive that even though there's little waste, it's just more than I can justify.
Jenhillphoto, that's cool that your DH likes to feed the birds, too, but sounds like you need to set up a "this is my day, tomorrow's yours" schedule!
Those are knockout photos jenhill!! I will be watching this thread to see what happens!
That's a very dissappointing experience Pell. I would be tempted to send an e-mail to the home base web site if possible to let them know. You are right, the quality of the store does depend on the owner of the franchise. I love shopping at ours but it is so far away I only get there a couple of times a year. I tend to buy my seed wherever I am when I need it - grocery store, Petsmart, Walmart, Lowes, etc.
This message was edited May 24, 2007 2:50 PM
No, its okay, like you I mainly buy my basic seeds from a busy grocery store or at another very well run wild bird store in the next town. I think the reason they have that problem too is that they aren't busy at all and people buy their seeds at other places that are more economical. As for having certain blends, I can blend the mixes myself and always have. Needless to say its a lot less expensive.
I haven't wanted to scare away the bluebirds. I got a ladder out and got up my nerve to look into the box today. And look! Two eggs! They are supposed to lay 4-6 eggs. The mama lays one egg per day. I think she did a beautiful job on her nest. So exciting!
The nest is so thick, with a nice deep cup to it. Makes it hard for me to get a good angle to take a picture. The roof is in the way.
Only once have my bluebirds found the mealworms I have put out. They never found them again. However, they love eating the wild berry suet that I get from Target Stores! I think I'm going to give up on the meal worms. I'm tired of feeding the starlings and mockingbirds--they absolutely love them.
Good God, KY, I know the difference between a bluebird and a bluejay! The bluebirds DO eat out of my feeders. So do the bluejays but I'm certainly smart enough to know the difference between the two. And I dare say Magpye (who also said she's seen bluebirds at her feeders) is smart enough to tell the two apart as well. Criminey. How annoying.
QUOTE FROM KYJOY: Perhaps the person saying their bluebirds didn't know they weren't supposed to eat seed were confusing bluejays with bluebirds. Bluejays love peanuts and sunflower seeds.
Hey Judy! But did you see? I have eggs! Lets not forget about that! :) And snuck a peak today, three eggs now! And my little blue friends sure do love the meal worms. Thanks for the encouragement.
By the way, update on Mr. Wren. We hadn't seen him in a long time. A couple of days before the eggs appeared, we saw Mr. Blue do a really brave thing. The wren was inside the box, throwing out the BB's nesting materials from inside the box. Then he was in the box, Mr. Blue flew into the box, it's shaking as the two were probably fighting inside, we can only imagine. Then Mr. Blue throws the wren out of the box. He had him by the beak and shook, shook, shook him. All the while the wren was squawking in pain or fear. Hopefully, that taught him a lesson and he won't come back again. My husband and I stood in awe, just a few feet away. I haven't seen or heard the wren in our yard since.
And I thought bluebirds were supposed to be wimpy.
Yeah... blueBIRDS are wimpy. BlueJAYS are mean.!!!!! Another way you can tell the difference!
Glad to hear the mealworm dining room is still open. It gets expensive, but I think it's worth it, IF you can get that husband of yours to ration them out a little better!
heyitsmejudy:
It was not my intention to irritate or insult anyone. Perhaps we are both confused. There are bluebirds and there are blue birds. Bluebirds do not eat seed. Look it up.
kyjoy... I've said as have others that bluebirds do indeed visit seed bird feeders. I don't need to "look it up," I've seen it in my backyard numerous times. The first year at my new house I fed nothing but a seed mix in feeders and had loads of bluebirds (there were also blue (space) birds and bluejays but I assure you, bluebirds were also present) feeding. Now, I've added mealworms to what I offer in my yard, and of course they love those but when I'm out of mealies, the bluebirds don't hesitate to eat seed from feeders. Perhaps you haven't seen this. That doesn't mean no one else has. You might be confused. I, however, am not. But I'm not going to argue with you any further. I can see where this is going.
This message was edited May 30, 2007 11:08 AM
This message was edited May 30, 2007 11:15 AM
For kicks and giggles I did as KY suggested and "looked it up." In my world, that means Google. Here's a link some might find interesting.
http://www.bestofbbml.audubon-omaha.org/feedingseeds.htm
Judy, I don't think Kyjoy meant any offense by her comment about bluebirds not eating seeds. I didn't know they did either! I live in Tn. and around here cardinals are referred to as "red birds" so I can see where she might have thought that a person could possibly refer to blue jays as "blue birds". I took it as a helpful comment and not one meant to put you down. I think a lot of us learned something new here by reading about bluebirds eating seed at feeders.
My bluebird population seems very low this year compared to years past. I wonder if this could be due to our severe spring cold snap? It does seem like bird populations fluctuate. I tend to think of spring and summers as "the year of the mockingbirds" or "the year of the bluebirds" depending on what there is a lot of flying around. So far, this is "the year of the tree swallows" in my neighborhood.
I hope you're right, lilyfantn, cuz I don't like to fight! I took the "look it up" as kind of a slam and got irritated. I'm over it and moving on now. Unless provoked!!!!!!!
I correct my mom (she lives in Missouri) all the time for calling Cardinals "red birds." I've told her my little brother will start calling them that and not know the difference. Since I was taught to ID birds when I was very young by my grandparents, I want to make sure he has that fondness for the hobby as well. He made me proud when he called a Red Bellied Woodpecker just that, not just a "woodpecker." We're still working on downey vs. hairy! But I still have trouble with telling those apart sometimes myself.
My bluebirds tend to come later at night when it's cooled a bit. I don't have them in near the numbers as I have other birds ... especially those squawking cowbirds that have me at wit's end.
Again I'm sorry. You know what they say, "Education sometimes gets in the way." I'll just back away and let you'all figure out what kind of degree I have and what I specialized in. Toodles.
Good God. I could care less what degree you have as I'm sure you could care less about mine.... neither one of them.
Truce, baby.
I'm outta here. I offered an expert opinion. You disagreed. I'll leave you as I found you.
Is this where we're all supposed to beg you not to leave? If you didn't want to "offend or insult" you have a poor way of showing it. I don't know what kind of "expert" opinion you offered since it is incorrect (did you even look at the link to the National Bluebird Association's Web site or does your "degree" make you smarter than those people as well?)
This is making my head hurt.
Enough!!! This is too trivial a matter to argue over!
No one has to leave over such nonsense.
Please everyone take a deep breath and let it out slowly......
Now lets get back to the birds!
Thank You!
As per the norm, Pelletory is the voice of reason!
Sorry it went this far, everyone.
Happy birding!
Judy
Yes thank you pelletory! Enough is enough. Lets all enjoy our outside bird friends! :)
wow, sounds like a bunch of magpies instead of blue birds or blue birds or chartreuse birds, whatever..lighten up you kids!
On a brighter not bluer note: Nice photos Miss Danbury!
Hello, everyone. I noticed that some of you expressed interest in Wild Birds Unlimited, especially in the Danbury area. I am one of the owners of the new store in Brookfield (the one coming soon to Danbury) and am thrilled to see how many of you are passionate birders. We will indeed be providing mealworms for bluebirds, as well as a large variety of seed, feeders, and baths in order to provide the best habitat for local species. We're also happy to answer any bird or nature related questions as we are certified backyard birdfeeding specialists!
Please feel free to send the store emails (wbu-danbury@comcast.net) or visit us on the web (www.wbu.com/danbury). Our projected opening date is Wednesday, June 20th, so it won't be long now! I look forward to hearing some great bird stories in the store!
Phil
Wild Birds Unlimited
317 Federal Rd.
Brookfield, CT 06804
Assuming your store will operate the same as the one in my town, after you purchased ten (I think) bags you get a free one. And also sales are held every now and again. I like Birds Unlimited for reasons I've already stated and It's owner has been very helpful to me.
Phil, good luck to you!! The WBU nearest me keeps changing owners so sadly it's not the best, but the one I visit near my parents place is wonderful - makes the ferry trip worth it!
I wish I had one in my town!! The closest (Knoxville Tn) one is an hour and a half away so I don't get there often - wah! And I should add its a really good one. I visited one up in Pa. that was really good too. The best of luck to you Phil! Put a bug in someone's ear to open one here in the Tri Cities area. It would be a great place to have one as East Tn State University here in Johnson City offers courses in ornithology taught by Fred Alsop (who wrote the Smithsonian bird guides) As a result there is a very big active birding community here. Oh well, enough of the campaigning lol!
I have a WBU about 10 minutes from my home. It is a very clean and well supplied store. The seed is fresh and they even carrry it out to your car for you. Yes buy 10 get one free. Also on your BD you get a card in the mail for 5 lbs free seed of your choice! The owner is very helpful and has excellent customer service. I like my WBU. :)
I'm glad to hear that you have had good experiences with WBU. I certainly believe in the franchise, or I would not have purchased it. Our seed quality really is top-notch, and we pride ourselves on customer service and satisfaction. Another way I'd like for our store to distinguish ourselves is to provide backyard birdfeeding information and education. I have a bachelors degree from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in wildlife biology and hope to be able to answer many customers bird questions. My mom also has worked with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and has a substantial amount of birding knowledge as she has been an avid birder throughout her life.
We will certainly be providing a frequent seed-buyer program (buy 10, the 11th is free), as well as a 15% discount during our opening week. On top of that, I am very eager to hear about your bird stories as I live vicariously through my customers! I have some of my own interesting stories to share such as Eastern bluebirds and robins at our sunflower kernel feeder. Further, we are the proud grandparents of a clutch of chickadees that used our bluebird house to build a nest. It's been very exciting to check on them and see how they're growing.
Really?
WBU_Danbury: I have some of my own interesting stories to share such as Eastern bluebirds and robins at our sunflower kernel feeder.
I will really be looking forward to your stories Phil! I had a chickadee family raise its young this spring in one of my bluebird houses too. I was so entranced by the comings and goings of the family as I worked in the yard. They got very used to me and let me take a lot of photos. They taught their baby (I only saw one) to come to the mealworm feeder by my front window. He would sit on the siill and look in the living room a lot. I think it takes a while sometimes for the babies to develop the same wariness that the parents have.
Pictures from a lot of the birds raising families are posted here.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/717741/
