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Female Bluebird in January

15 years ago

I had log in problems, and hope I am not accidentally double posting. I thought I'd share a picture of a female Bluebird sitting on the suet cage. I provide the Blues with their own feeder and feed them mealworms and suet every day, but they also like to eat from the suet cage I have out for the other birds.

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Comments (8)

ohsoblue77
15 years ago
Nice pic! The last bluebird I saw was on a trip in the car nearby in November. Some stay and I'm I'm located in northern Ohio.

Gonna be trapping HOSP soon! They'll be out there laying claims to my boxes just before the blues arrive.
kendra2003
Original Author
15 years ago
Since my resident Blues don't leave for the winter, I'll be trapping HOSP at the same time the Blues are claiming their box. That's the time of year I get so nervous, hoping to catch the HOSP before they do any harm to the Blues or the Tree Swallows. You're lucky to have time to trap before the Bluebirds show up.
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BEAUTIFUL shots, Dave! My first and most beloved female was definitely the adult who drove off the 1st and 2nd groups of fledglings! It broke my heart to watch her take them to the ground over and over till they finally got the hint and left. You're right, they have such a sweet and shy presence......it's down-right shocking to see them behave in an aggressive manor! Yep, they ROCK!
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For some reason bluebirds are intent on forgetting their responsibilities and this is a good reason their attempts to nest end in failure. I'm sure they would have gone extinct if it wasn't for us! Unusual indeed. Last season I had one parent (male I believe it was) feeding the hatch-lings, and the female NEVER went in to feed the babies. That's if my memory is serving me correctly. This is my 6th season, so it's getting hard to remember what exactly happened when. In one case here in Ohio, it was 70 degrees one evening - nice and warm - the babies were ALL gaping like crazy! The blues didn't seem to feed their young AT ALL. I was SO mad! This resulted in the ENTIRE clutch starving to death the next day when it was cold, blustery, cloudy, and only 50 degrees. The mom continued brooding but the young were doomed. I pulled the poor things out of the nest, buried them, and called it a day. Sounds like things are getting better. Unfortunately I suffer set-backs nearly every season. This time the 1st egg of the season disappeared. Could have had a full clutch by now! Sometimes it's just irritating seeing these birds become so careless, but so long as the parents stay alive, everything will be okay. I'm just not fortunate to have many successful attempts each season despite doing so many things right. Good luck from here on out! ~Tim~
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Oh, how sad. Of course you are distressed. I believe you are saying all the eggs are still in the boxes? Do you have sparrow spookers up on the boxes? The only thing I can think of that would kill all 3 bluebirds, but not eat them would be house sparrows. Are you seeing any house sparrows now trying to use the boxes?
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Sure, it's normal. Often the male will bring food to her while she sits. Just give them time. Females can sometimes be quite brave while on the nest, but it's best to give them some space. Try checking the box once a week to track the progress.
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ohsoblue77
15 years ago
Actually Kendra,I've seen them here in winter. A flock flew over my head last February (could hear them communicating)

I just don't feed them in the winter. Too much else to worry about, haha.

And when they are ready to mate, they won't nest for weeks! They check out boxes every day and stay together but don't start building nests until the end of March/April. The blues either know there's a Hosp claiming it, wait, or don't realize it and I end up trapping it before the blues are ready to nest.
bandjzmom
15 years ago
Love the shot Kendra! I was wondering. Has anyone ever used a Sparrow Spooker to keep the HOSP's off of a box at this time of year? I do own one, and I know that we normally place them onto the box after the first Bluebird egg is laid, but I wonder if they would also work to deter the HOSP's so that the Blues might get a chance to establish at a box. I am just guessing that the Blues wouldn't mind the spooker.~~Angie
finchelover
15 years ago
I am getting bluebirds also...What are HOSP's I have few,I think Sparrows that are pestering my bluebirds usually I don't have these around.
bandjzmom
15 years ago
Hello finchelover!! Go on over to the sialis website to read all about HOSP's (House Sparrows) and the terrible issues that they create for the wonderful Bluebirds. The sialis site is a great site for all the information you'd need on Bluebirds and also other cavity nesting birds.
http://sialis.org/hospphotos.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: House Sparrows at Sialis site
bettycbowen
15 years ago
bandjzmom, I put up my spooker as soon as the blues start nest building, because then they are committed and won't be spooked. I learned that either on this site or sialis.
ohsoblue77
15 years ago
Yeah I just wouldn't put up one right NOW, but wait until you know they're commited.

I 1st started using them last year and went by the "After the 1st egg or two" rule, and had not 1 attack occur! A HOSP DID however, approach a box with one on it, but never flew to it...flew away without even trying.

It's best to use them as least as possible. This way they don't overcome their fear of it and attack.

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