This time of year, the blues gather in family groups. They are short distance migrants, so you might see them occasionally even during the winter in your area, if the weather is not too harsh and enough food is available. They might use the nestbox for winter roosting. Be sure your nestboxes are cleaned out and ready for Spring.
BlueBars

I live in lower mid Michigan, and although I seldom see bluebirds in winter, I hear them all thru the winter. They normally are flying over at about the length of a football field up into the air. They have 2 different calls, so once I learned them, I can mimic them and occasionally get one to drop down a little to check out who or what is calling. I run a heated bird bath and will see them at the bath maybe twice a winter. We have a starter orchard and I have seen the blues gather in groups in the orchard in the fall. We had a drag out summer here. as I noticed that some robins raised 4 broods, a bluebird pair raised 3 broods, and although I can't prove it, I think a couple of tree swallow pairs had 2 broods. It wasn't all that hot, but the rains were timely which helped the insect and worm supply.

Hey Joe! Im up here above Muskegon in West Mi. My Blues stayed longer this year than ever. I though they may have a rare 3rd brood but they didn't. It was a very nice summer with temps, rain and sun. Great for the veggie garden and for bugs and birds! Nasty wind, cold and snow today, glad my Blues took off 2 weeks ago!

What do bluebirds eat during this time of the year. I know they are primarily insectivores. But most insects are dead from the cold or are in hibernation this time of the year. Is there anything I can put out to feed the blue birds?

You can try dried meal worms or live ones if it is not freezing, also try peanutbutter suet crumbles (www.sialis.org for recipies) or the "Bluebird nuggets" that you can get at Tractor Supply or Farm & Fleet.

I feed them live mealworms and homemade suet all winter. Some days when the temperature is below zero, the mealworms freeze almost instantly, but they eat them anyway. Also don't forget to supply them with unfrozen, fresh water. I keep a heated bird bath going all winter too, and they love it.

jayt63,

You are lucky to have seen so many bluebirds at once.

I'm in NE PA too! Three years ago (my first winter at our home), I saw a bluebird or two in December. I was thrilled.

I put up bluebird boxes and had two successful broods this past year. I've not seen the bluebirds since, and I'd be thrilled to see them in the yard again soon.

They eat berries in the winter. I've planted a lot of native fruiting trees and shrubs, but I'm still waiting for them to mature.

After reading your post, I'm really hoping to spot some bluebirds in my yard. For all I know they could be around, I just have to get out to look more often!

David

Here is a link that might be useful: A Native Backyard

Hello David. I too never saw blues in the winter, but once I heard and learned their call in the summer, after getting a pair to nest, I was able to hear them flying over in the winter. Even though we have 8 acres, they would never land in the winter, so I would never see them. Below is a link to a site that has the bluebird call, and to me there are three different calls, the second call being the one I hear most, the first call being the one while perched on something, and the last call being idle chat.
http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=21

joe101,

Thank you so much for the link. I've been wanting to learn to recognize bird calls/songs for a while now. This will be a great place to start.

I was THRILLED when I saw a bluebird that first winter here--we moved in right around November 1st. It was such a great feeling to know that I had a chance to attract them. Since my mid-to-late teens I've wanted to put back what has been replaced with lawns and attract wildlife.

I was thrilled to be able to witness a pair raise two broods in our yard. We also had a pair of tree swallows and a pair of phoebes.

Enough rambling...I'm going to go listen to that link.

Thanks again,

David

Here is a link that might be useful: A Native Backyard