The numerous mockingbirds around here are driving me nuts. They "claim" the bluebird feeders, even if they can not fit through the openings, and will not allow the blues to eat. I didn't want to stop placing suet and mealworms out. We have had a very wet spring and a total of 10 hungry baby blues. Maybe there is adequate food without the mealworms and suet, I just didn't want to have to worry about it. The only thing that has worked for me is to actually guard the feeders and keep the mockingbirds away. Sometimes I wait somewhere near the feeder (usually about 10-15 feet away) and sometimes I use a slingshot from inside my office window. The blues learned very quickly that my "antics" were not directed at them. They land in a branch overhead, wait for me to run off the mockingbirds, and then go into the feeder without hesitation. This is our routine early morning and early evening. If I'm lucky, on occasion, we get a mid-day feeding/guarding time. Good luck with finding a solution that works for you.

Very exciting - so glad you got to see it today! Our first nest last year, we got to see them fledge then. Ours fledged today around noon, but I was on a web-conference, and missed it. We DID however, witness the ensuing chaos in the backyard with two adults trying to track / wrangle five directionless young around in the woods. We'll put mealworms out again this evening. Last year it was a few days, but they eventually all learned to eat from the lucite "worm hut" feeder. Oh - I was gonna post, but will just piggyback here..... after they fledged, we checked the nest to find a HUGE ant infestation under the nesting cup! Today is about day 17 or 18 for them, so we have not taken any nest pics since day 13. But yikes - guess we'll have to spray the pole from now on, in hopes to prevent! Best, Les

I have the blue-domed feeder from Duncraft and it works great. My Blues were used to a little cup that I had nailed to a tree stake, but then a very FAT Robin found it. So I bought the dome version and left the top off of it for several days while the Blues got used to the new container. The I put the dome on in it's highest position (the Robin could still get in during this "training" period). After about three more days, I lowered it to its lowest setting and then only the Blues could fit. The great thing about this feeder is that it can be hung or mounted on a pole - it has a screw-in bottom that is just the same size as a standard broom handle. I purchased a broom handle from the hardware store, gorilla glued the feeder in place for good measure, and then simply pushed the handle about 5 inches into the ground. No fuss, no muss and now only my blues can get the mealies...

While I'm not certain about fledglings, adult bluebirds have black legs and feet. According to my books, Northern Mockingbirds also have black legs and feet. So I have no idea.