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2010 diary of our Bluebird

14 years ago

I thought some on this forum might be interested in following along a day by day tracking of the same Bluebird we've had at our home for years.

We've posted some of his previous trials and tribulations (sparrows/hawks/deformities/snakes, etc) on this forum about 5-6 years ago, but he is still going and setting up shop for yet another year with us.

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Comments (8)

kendra2003
14 years ago
While your pages took a while to load, it was well worth the wait. You did a fabulous job. I loved seeing the pictures and the story behind them. I can hardly wait to see what else happens in your Bluebird story.
mac60
14 years ago
Very Nice! Great entries and such beautiful pictures. As I progressed through the pictures, I kept noticing how much the landscape, trees, ice, and snow reminded me of my pictures. Then I read the entry that referenced Tulsa! My blues and I are west of Norman.
Thank you for sharing your journal. I look forward to reading more. Here's wishing for a full, happy 2010 for you and your blues.
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My wildlife visitors are either too far away or too quick on the wing for photos, so you'll have to use imagination instead:). Along the back of the yard stand several black cherry trees, whose fruit has been ripening in stages all month. The primary consumers are robins, with an occasional cardinal or oriole dropping by. I allowed the self-sown catnip along the vegetable garden paths to grow this year, as well as some alongside the deck, and observe the seed stalks being visited by groups of goldfinches. Suddenly I realize why the single plant from 20 years ago is now all over our acre! Red bee balm is planted in a whiskey barrel by the deck and is patronized by the hummingbirds every year. The other day, as I sat under a shade canopy on the deck, a female hummer zipped into view, pausing at a day lily blossom, then flew in between the deck posts and hovered about three feet away from me for 5-6 seconds, before flying off. I was wearing a muumuu made from very vividly colored floral fabric--including life size red hibiscus blossoms--so I surmise she was taking a closer look before deciding they weren't the real thing! The same day, I saw a pair of song sparrows apparently courting--lots of flying around after one another, culminating in some activity partly concealed by maple leaves--"what IS that male doing, just sitting there and--oops!" as the female suddenly flew out from behind the leaves and the male took off after her again. You can draw your own conclusions, LOL. And last but not least, robins nested in the white ash tree by my study window for the second year in a row. That particular tree grows clusters of witches' brooms along its branches, which seem ideal for concealing a nest. The day before the eggs hatched, the male aggressively drove off a squirrel which was thinking about climbing the trunk--after a couple of dive-bombing runs, he thought better of it...
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Okay, risking overkill on the above subject, I needed more: "Some birds, such as the Carolina Wren, have drastically altered their migration, and are now more common in the northeastern United States than they are in the Carolinas (the very area they were named after). Birdwatchers in the Carolinas have noted that the Carolina Wren is now rarely spotted in the area, while they appear to be plentiful in Maine and throughout New England."- Authored by Jon Mercer in Environment,Published on 02-15-2009 The Carolina Wrens are now Yankees and last week I planted my first crape myrtle tree. Global warming affects every bit of land and garden - and the bird feeders. Jane Here is a link that might be useful: Edubook Here is a link that might be useful: Edubook
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Early this morning the sun was bright (finally) and glinted off the Common Grackles at the feeders. Lots of grackles now. I may not have glamorous birds but they certainly are shiny. The top grackle looked like it thought it was King of the World. For all I know, maybe it is. The grackles on the ground were shiny too. I like to have the grackles here because they eat defoliating caterpillars (other birds do too) - flying pesticides. ----------------------------------------------------- I've been having an argument with a chickadee, or maybe several chickadees. Their "dee-dee-dee" call supposedly warns against predators, with the number of "dee's" corresponding to the level of danger. Yesterday and today I heard a "dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee" call when I went out to fill the feeders. I find this enormously insulting since I'm feeding the little brutes, so I'm trying to call back a short "dee-dee" every time I hear the long "dee" call. It seems to be working, or maybe they're just amused, because the string of "dees" is getting shorter. Claire (who really needs some spring)
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First Photos of 2010
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Thanks all, Rachel - We always appreciate your encouragement, and it's very nice to know that some of our online friends enjoy our slideshow even before we post in the forums. :) Anne - Bully does try to intimidate our Bluebirds sometimes (especially at the mealworm dish), but we chase him off when he gets over-bearing. ;) Bluebirds and Robins are both in the Thrush family and even tho the Robins are larger, we've never seen any serious conflicts between them. Jan - Thanks for your nice comment. We love all our yardbirds, and sharing them with others in the forum only adds to our joy of them. Kenn
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djohn36755
14 years ago
Loved your diary.... what a great idea! Do you usually feed mealworms on the ground? Hope you get a full 365 days (and more) of this sweet guy!
kbend
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the input. We sure hope he can make it another year. We can definitely tell he is aging although no bluebird can outwork him yet.

We feed mealworms, on the ground, in the air, out of our hands,... anywhere. Blueboy knows and trusts us completely. We used to attempt to 'tame' his offspring as well via feeding but we quit that a few years ago out of fear of them becoming too people friendly.

We never leave a supplied bowl or dish of mealworms for them as the Mockingbirds, Sparrows, and Robins would monopolize the worms. All feedings are thus limited and are 'hand delivered' by us with no leftovers for the other birds.

FYI - if Blueboy wants aerial feeding he goes to a specific perch and begs, if he wants them on the ground, he likewise goes to a specific spot. For his more skitish family we always toss them out on the porch/ground, etc.
terrene
14 years ago
Kbend - I really enjoyed looking through your diary. What a smart and experienced bird Blueboy must be. This may seem like a dumb question, but how do you know that Blueboy is the same bird who has come for 9 years? I am not very good at telling individual birds apart unless they have a very distinguishing characteristic (like a band, or missing tail feathers, or such).
deedee1028
14 years ago
I love your photos of Blueboy....I'm just starting to feed mealworms to my blues and I was wanting to know if you have to only use live mealworms the other seem so much cheaper?
anna_lisa
14 years ago
great pictures and love the information Anna
decormaven
14 years ago
Thank you so much! What a blessing to have this bird return to you each year. It's nice to read your journal; it gives me some insights on what to look and listen for with my blues. Excellent pictures- you've got a knack for catching good shots.

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