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Just saw my Blues again!

17 years ago

Today, while we were eating lunch, 6-8 of our bluebirds from this past season randomly showed up to check out our boxes and catch a meal. It was the first time I've seen them for a over a month. I was so excited! Now I really want to try to keep them around. Is it a good idea to keep the boxes mounted during winter? I'm planning on getting a bird bath soon, and buying some more mealies to have on hand when they show up again.

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Comments (3)

kelyn
17 years ago
Mine came back, also. But I was surprised that they actually both entered the nestbox which we just put back out. We set it up on a new pole contraptions and were checking it out. I guess they were, too. Is it normal for them to enter a nestbox? I live outside of Houston, so I expect them to be here all winter.
dzyg
17 years ago
This is the time of year that the Blues start checking out housing for the next nesting season. YES, you should leave boxes up over winter, Blues and other birds will use them to roost in.

Donna
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Donna, I sure hope they come back for you. IMO, the mealworms are what keeps them in your yard and if you ran out maybe that is why they left. However it does sound normal from what everyone says. This is only my third year hosting Blues and only the first year did I get a first and a second nesting in my yard. That first year the Blues never left after the first or second fledging until it was time to leave for the Winter. Last year and this year my pair showed up late so I am assuming they both had a failed first nesting and my yard was their second nesting so there was no time for an additional one. Last years pair didn't leave my yard until it was time to migrate south either. At the park where I monitor five nestboxes, last year I got two nestings of Blues in one box. I didn't see any of the first fledglings but I did see the second ones. This year I had two nesting of Blues down at the park. Both have fledged, one pair has just laid its third egg of the second nesting and I did see three of the four fledglings this past weekend. The other pair I haven't seen nor heard from since fledging. I keep checking the box, Friday will be two weeks since they fledged. Today while checking (still nothing in the box) I did hear a baby Blue in the woods so I am thinking maybe (hoping) they are back around to start the second nesting. It is too far away from the other box to be a flegling from the other pair down there. Donna
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bridget_bb
16 years ago
We had seven return all together yesterday. We typically get 2 or 3 and have had a pair checking out the bird box too.... lots of wing flapping going on! Busy day yesterday with the Blues, a Tufted Titmouse and Chicadee all checking out the boxes. Looking forward to Spring!

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