Where Did My Blues Go?

12 years ago

I'll try and be short.

1st brood fledged five, and three made it in the world and were visiting the mealworm feeder regularly, sometimes as triplets and other times with the parent Blues.

2nd brood was killed by a wren the day after they were born! Papa and Mama were still here as were the fledglings from the 1st brood. They were visiting the mealworm feeder regularly.

I have not seen any of them since last Thursday!! Why would they all of a sudden not come for the mealworms? Do you think something happened to all five of them? I am so sad. After losing the 2nd brood, I was at least enjoying seeing the my original Blues family.

Big sigh ...

Margie

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Comments (9)

kendra2003
12 years ago
Sometimes they disappear for a while. I always believed that they are out teaching their young to hunt. If they only knew of the mealworm feeder as a source of food they'd be in trouble. My last brood did the same thing. Insects are plentiful at this time of year. My Blues come back with their young from time to time though. I'm always so excited when I hear them. When they're not around you really miss them. Hopefully yours will show up again soon.
dzyg
12 years ago
Margie, I really don't think anything happened to all five of them. If you were seeing four instead of five all the time I would suspect something happened to one of them but when they all go missing I would say they moved on. Like Kendra said, they may be back, just keep an eye out for them. I would keep putting a few mealworms out just in case though for a while. Sure hope you see them again!

Donna
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mlkbskt
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks to both of you for your replies. I sure hope my Blues family is just gone for a few days, and not for good. I'm still putting out the mealworms, but only once a day instead of twice. The Dees and their babies are still coming to the feeder, so I'll keep providing the mealworms.

Unfortunately, I see a wren and some other "little brown birds" in there once in a while too. Ugh to the nasty wrens!
kendra2003
12 years ago
Mlkbskt, that is what I'm doing right now. I put out the mealies only once a day, and mostly Carolina Wrens take them. But when the Blues show up, I fill up the mealworm feeder much more often.
mlkbskt
Original Author
12 years ago
Update one week later:

Still no signs of my parent Blues nor their three fledglings from their 1st brood. Sad. Do you think they may come back and visit my mealworm feeder before they head south? I am still providing mealworms to the Dees and the American tree sparrows. I live in southern WI.

Another question: How does one tactfully ask neighbors not to provide housing for house wrens? I am just sick that the wren population is increasing in my neighborhood.

Thanks.
Margie
lisa11310
12 years ago
Go to the sialis site and print off the info about Wrens.
Give it to your Neighbor.
kendra2003
12 years ago
Lisa's idea is a good one and worth a try. Some people, however, just love House Wrens. I have a dear friend that knows all the facts about House Sparrows and yet lets them breed in her yard. I certainly hope your neighbors are more cooperative, but you never know. Also, you're about as far north as I am (MA), and I have Bluebirds here every winter. Not all of them migrate. You could try keeping up with the mealworm feeder and see what happens. During the coldest of the winter months I provide homemade suet, mealworms, and a heated bird bath.
mlkbskt
Original Author
12 years ago
I am still putting out the mealworms and am hopeful. I do have a heated birdbath in the winter too. I'd love it of they stayed longer.

One of my neighbors asked me what he should do about wrens in his bluebird boxes(he has three). I said, "I cannot tell you what to do." After losing my 2nd brood to wrens, I WILL be asking him not to populate our neighborhood with more wrens.

The lady across the road, lets anything nest in her yard and she has a LOT of birdhouses. I know she has HOSP and wrens both, but I have never approached her about it. I know another neighbor has approached her. Nothing came of it. It's just so frustrating. I removed the wren's sticks from my chickadee nesting box, day after day after day the entire time my blues were in their box ...
AEK802
12 years ago
Hi Margie,

The only way to know for sure is to check the nesting box, and just keep your fingers crossed that you find it empty!!