Hi, Ann! Please don't be sad. I am in southern Washington County, MD and would like to reassure you that there's still plenty of time for the blues to choose your houses. Nesting season in my area doesn't usually begin until early to mid April. Lucky for you that your blues over-wintered and already know what's available. Remember that this is the hardest time of year for the blues to find food--berries and other food supplies are nearly depleted (I get just as peeved at the flocks of starlings as you!) and the temperatures aren't sustainably warm enough for a regular diet of insects. (I'm, of course, not referring to the weather that we've had the last day or two!) Your blues are probably just off searching for food. Keep putting out your suet and mealworms--I had bluebirds in my dome mealworm feeder today even though it was 70+ degrees, and I only have suet in there at this time. They are still definitely seeking out food sources.
What type of feeder do you have your mealworms in?
Kathy

Thanks Kathy...I'm trying to keep a stiff upper lip...

I was feeding the worms in a pagoda-like feeder with open sides. From July through February, all was well. I even bought a mealworm warmer and it sat in the pagoda with chunks of homemade suet around it. When the sparrows discovered it I put suet in cages and hung it everywhere so that the bluebirds wouldn't have to compete. It wasn't til the starlings came and ate 15 lb of suet in 1 week (seriously! no exaggeration!) that I bought a feeder that is drum shaped where the top and bottom are plain flat metal and the sides are wired with 1 and 1/2 " openings (actually I think the openings are slightly bigger.) The wrens popped right in, and eventually the sparrows did too, but the blues only grabbed what they could by sticking their heads through (I put suet all around the edges so they could reach.) I waited a few weeks (and they weren't getting mealworms anymore since the mealworms were inside the drum) and finally anxiety took over and I bought a feeder that looks like a little house with 2 clear sides with 1 1/2 " holes and 2 opaque sides with 1 1/2" holes. That arrived earlier this week and I loaded it with suet....I haven't seen anyone go in there yet.

I think tomorrow I'll put out the pagoda feeders again. I haven't seen many starlings the last few days...maybe they finally moved on.

Do starlings always travel in huge flocks? What do starlings eat when they're not ravaging my feeders?

Kathy, thanks for the reassuring words.

Ann

Ann, I think starlings will eat just about anything. It boils my blood to see them descend on a supply of fruit bearing shrubbery and deplete in a day the amount of food that might sustain a small flock of native birds for weeks. This time of year starlings are almost always in flocks and they spend their time marauding and raiding the countryside. I don't seem to have any visiting my feeders, knock wood, but then all my feeders are within a few feet of my house. I have several on the deck out back that I can almost reach from the door and a single mealworm feeder out front. I also have a bb gun, though I have never hit a living thing with it!
With your clear sided feeder, can you put mealworms inside and leave the top of the feeder open so that the blues get the idea of there being food inside? Then, after a few days, shut the top and see what happens. (They might get confused once inside and think they should be able to leave through the clear sides, so consider marking them with an 'x' of electrical tape or something.) The blues take time to figure things out, but they eventually do. You might also consider the Duncraft Domed Mealworm feeder. The dome is adjustable to exclude larger birds. I also have the Deluxe Mealworm feeder from Bluebird Nut Cafe and that works for mealworms and suet. It sounds like the design of your drum feeder is similar to that, though.
Kathy
P.S. Hey, in case you didn't know, Maryland has a bluebird society. Visit its web site at the link below:

Here is a link that might be useful: MBS

Sorry. For some reason I didn't type the whole address. Trying again.

Here is a link that might be useful: MBS

Hi Kathy,

I saw a pair just now. They hung out, ate some suet, and left. It's still pretty warm (relatively speaking) so maybe they've been finding bugs? No nestbox activity.

I guess I just need to sit & wait. It's so hard...

Ann

Patience Ann. Patience.
I have the same feeder you have. Once they discover that they can go in, you will be set. Here is a picture of Mama Bluebird when she was figuring out how to get in. It sure didn't take her long!
Visit www.sialis.org to read about ideas for training them. When warm weather comes, it will be even easier.
BlueBars

Here is a link that might be useful:

Hi BlueBars,

I'm working on my patience... The starlings haven't been here for 3 days or so, so I'm feeling better...at least the suet I put in the pagoda feeders is lasting so the blues can have a good meal when they come by. I was most upset that they'd come by and not find food...and leave! If they stick around, I trust they'll figure out the new feeders...eventually! If things continue like this, I'll try putting gobs of worms in the new feeders next to suet in the old feeders and see if I can spark some interest.

Since they nest in cavities, do you think it would help to call attention to the openings in the new feeders? For example, put duct tape around the hole to show them more clearly that there is a hole to check out?

Thanks for humoring me and my bluebird OCD. (Life isn't treating me well these days, and the bluebirds are almost all I have to "feed my soul." Several times this winter I said to myself, "at least I still have bluebirds eating mealworms outside my window!" so it was REALLY painful when they were missing.) I do feel better since seeing them yesterday.

Ann

Ann, the blues are on their own timetable and don't realize how crazy their antics are making us! I have had tons of interest in my boxes in Westminster but not a nest yet. In Western MD. I had a nestcup 2 weeks ago and will probably have eggs by now. Go figure, it's colder there and they nest there first-fickle birds. Better to wait and have all eggs hatch from the first nesting rather than lose any from a cold snap.

My pair continue to check on their box and then disappear to who knows where. I put a nice pile of white pine needles, pug hair and sheep fleece nearby to make it easier for nest building and the welcome mat can't get any bigger.

Linda

Ann, No duct tape -- could get goo on feathers.
How about painting the feeder bright blue?
Or a blinking neon sign with an arrow pointing to FREE FOOD FOR BLUEBIRDS ONLY!
Meanwhile, as the bluebirds continue to try your patience, you can hang out here and laugh with us. We will try to cheer you up.
BlueBars

Ann, I would swear sometimes that there's a secret place in the woods where all the bluebirds gather to share their "crazy human" stories and then laugh hysterically at us! There is no predicting what they will do and sometimes it's hard to accept that our humble offerings don't always meet with their approval. About the time we think we have things figured out, WE DON'T! Fingers crossed that your blues will have a brainiac moment, figure out that mealworm feeder and keep your days bright.
Kathy

You guys are awesome. I knew you'd understand!

I am happy to say that the past 2 days I have seen the blues. They show up, grab breakfast, and then I leave for work. I guess as long as they're still here, all is well. Apparently they chased off their offspring (you think that's a reasonable assumption? Last year's pair telling the kids to move out instead of visa versa?) and I'm definitely down to 2. But 2 is good. 2 is GREAT.

I also moved one of my houses to the front yard, which isn't as nice but maybe...just maybe... I have 1/2 acre and the back yard is wide open (until my baby trees grow in...I need shade and I HOPE this won't alter my bluebird habitat too much...there will still be some open space) but there really isn't a way to have 2 pair nesting here without them interacting...unless someone moves out front. Anyone have experience with a bluebird house near the street? Across the street is like "grasslands" so maybe...

Anyway, I'm feeling much better and I appreciate everyone's suppport so much... I feel silly in my own little world sometimes: sitting at the window on the computer, window screen removed so I can see clearly, binoculars and a cup of coffee, fretting and fretting. But in the end, it's worth everything!

Ann

Ann, I live right next to a guy with a BB box in his yard less than fifty feet from my box. Both boxes usually have BB families, and they don't seem to have any problems.
OTOH, we live next to a few thousand acres of woods and there is no shortage of bugs, so there is no competition for food.
And far as being near the street, I don't think BBs really care. There's plastic newspaper boxes attached to all the mail boxes, and it's quite common for BBs to nest in them. I always worry about those though. They have no protection from snakes and cats. Plus they're all in direct sun, yet they manage to survive and raise families.
I know how you feel about these little critters. I love them too. After you feed them and watch them and care for them, you realize how much their lives are as filled with turmoil as our own, if not more. And you can't help but develop an emotional attachment to them.
Have a nice day Ann.

Thank you Neopyte,

The blues are defending their house today and chasing off birds who approach the feeders nearby. Actually, there are 2 females but I only see one male. Oh, how I love this... I haven't looked in the house yet but hopefully there's some action in there... I put out worms for the first time in awhile. I was holding off because they're too precious to feed to starlings and whoever else wants them if the bb's aren't around. Hopefully we'll ease right back into last year's routine. And with any luck, I'll have a 2nd pair in one of the other houses!!

Regarding Bluebars' mention of painting the feeder blue; is the general feeling that bb's are attracted to blue? That would be an easy thing to do, if they really prefer blue. My newest feeder has a blue top but the drum-style feeder is green.

Thanks everyone,

Ann