Ray, it truly is ASTONISHING to hear someone have so much success and so much residence for the birds to take up!

As a very young bluebirder I can only DREAM of having that many!

I never see the flocks, but then again in late fall I usually revert back to feeding the birds Black Oil Sunflower and enjoying the winter birds from the comfort of my home.

Last year the blues showed up right outside my windows! I think I had a pair. They were hanging around early in the mornings and vocalizing late in February. If they are close by, it will only be a matter of a few weeks now before they start showing up. Getting serious on nesting usually doesn't happen until mid-late March. But I can count on seeing them around the 1st week of March.

Good luck this year my veteran friend! Sounds like you've been at it for years and a real contribution to helping these birds survive!

~Tim, in Northeast Ohio~

Bluebirds are much more common today than they ever been. Back in 1990
we had numerous mild winters so that help the birds to recover. They have had there share of set backs due to weather. But they are doing excellent. Some people have a desire and rare passion for saving our native birds. The bluebird
was probably the poster child of conservation movement in the 1970's Everyone
who has ever helped them deserve alot of credit. And a great pat on the back for a job well done. My work was a little diverse with Martins who kind of took a back seat while the bluebird effort took off. Martins suffer greatly from lack
of nesting units and the correct ones at that. I gotten great support for them
and they will have five nesting colony's in the town where I live for generations. I have no regret for the work I have done. My biggest thank you
is when i see the birds in late fall. I use to tell my best friend in the mid 1990's
this is the last year no more work and here i am 24 years later and I am still
at it. Just as if it were the first year.-------Ray

I do belive they're back stronger than ever. Ray you're such an inspiration and I can only HOPE that I live a good enough life to have these birds to rely on for a little happiness and consumption of my time.

I know what you mean with Martins. They're even more tough to build success with than Bluebirds. I've been trapping HOSP out of my neighbor's nesting colony for the past few seasons. He hasn't enough desire to succeed, as the colony has several trees around it and hasn't attracted any Martins.

But I will gladly continue to take some more HOSP out of this neighborhood.

I've shot and killed 9 HOSP this winter ALONE. 8 males and 1 female. Right out my bedroom window with pellets. BB's would be too risky...the chance for ricochet. Maybe less to trap this year.

Stay warm! May be my last season before I potentially take a break and head off to college.

Sadly so many people invest in Martin units and never look into best location
for a martin colony. They dont want to place the units at a park or private club that would work and the units sit and rust and get old and are never used. When all they had to do is move it to a lake or large golf club which martins prefer.
House sparrows have declined for many reasons in the northeast. There not common any more in the country and are holding on for dare life in the cities
The coopers hawk has done serious damage to the species.
Anyone can do what i have done. Just talk with the right people and learn
The birds will follow you. As long as you care for them you will have a friend
for life. ------Ray

Ray, congrats on the number of Bluebirds that you host. I hope your health holds up for many more years of Bluebirding.

This winter I have a small flock of 6-7 Bluebirds that come almost daily to eat the suet mixture. This is the 7th year that I've been making the suet/lard/peanut butter mixture and feeding Bluebirds throughout the entire winter (other birds love it too). Varies from 4 - 12 bluebirds from year to year.

People that feed them in winter help to save many that would other wise perish
in the northern states. Thanks for feeding the snow angels (bluebirds) --Ray