Feeding Bluebirds

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Everybody would like to attract Bluebirds. The fact is it is not difficult to attract Bluebirds and the single best way to do that is with a couple of nest boxes placed in good locations as we pointed out in previous blogs. (Click here for tips on bluebird box placement.) We want to help you attract Bluebirds and enjoy the entire experience from courtship to nest building, egg laying to chick development, and finally fledging.

Besides the nest boxes planting native berry producing trees and shrubs, like Dogwood and Beautyberry, for example, having a consistent source of water, and offering an appealing food source like live mealworms are things that will help. Eastern Bluebirds feed primarily on insects and berries, so feeding them is very different than the way we feed other birds. Many of you have seen Bluebirds this winter going to suet and seed out of the shell, but this behavior usually subsides when warm weather and insect activity increases. At The Wood Thrush Shop we have a great deal of experience feeding Bluebirds and would like to pass on our tips and tricks to help you have success and enjoy the activity as much as we do. We really don’t think presenting mealworms before Bluebirds are regularly present is a good strategy. In other words just presenting mealworms randomly is not likely to attract them. All you are doing is presenting this very desirable food source to a lot of other birds.

The best time to begin offering live mealworms is when Bluebirds begin consistently checking out a nest-box. Their need for nest boxes takes precedence during the breeding season and will bring them to your yard more predictably and reliably, and potentially for several months. Feeding them then becomes a lot easier after they have found a nest-box.

Once you see Bluebirds showing interest in a nest box be prepared to offer mealworms. The type of feeder to use is really not very important. My choice of feeder is a small clay dish which is placed on a large rock which is easily seen from the top of the nest-box, just a few feet away. Platform type feeders tend to work very well, too. Won’t other birds find the worms? If you follow our guidelines other birds will not be wise to the offering.

Look for an opportunity to walk out to the feeder and offer a small amount of worms, maybe a dozen. THIS IS IMPORTANT! The key is to make sure the Bluebirds are there to see you make the offering.

After placing the worms in the feeder walk away and watch. In most cases you will see immediate interest. They may fly right down to the dish and gobble them up. If their reaction is to fly away do not leave the worms there. Try again another time. If they immediately consume the worms offer another helping to reinforce the process. I repeat this little scene every time the opportunity arises over the course of the next few days or weeks. Usually 4 or 5 times is enough for the Bluebirds to catch on to what you are doing. It is VERY IMPORTANT that if during that first offering they fly away do not leave the mealworms there. The longer the worms are there the greater the likelihood that other birds, like Robins, Mockingbirds, Jays, or Starlings see them. If these birds catch on to this offering feeding the Bluebirds will then become almost impossible, not to mention possibly creating enough conflict the Bluebirds may look elsewhere to nest.

Both Mockingbirds and Robins share the same food preferences as Bluebirds and being bigger birds will vigorously defend a food source like mealworms. If you slip up and allow larger more aggressive birds to compete for the worms we suggest a reset. Stop putting out worms for a week or two and begin the process again. Better to be patient than to create an adverse situation.

So, keep the offerings minimal until the Bluebirds really catch on. Then you can increase the amounts of mealworms being offered as they raise their young. Soon they will be anticipating the offering, or even seeking you out in your yard as I’ve experienced in the past.

• Offering mealworms when Bluebirds are not present is a sure way to feed a lot of other birds. Wait until you see them before offering.

• If birds that you do not want are getting the mealworms suspend offering the mealworms for a few days or more and start over using the suggestions we’ve outlined.

• Bluebirds may partake of other foods like dried mealworms, suet, Bluebird nuggets (a type of suet), raisins, blueberries, chopped apple and grape. Experiment and let us know your results.

• Location is important. Don’t try to feed them near birdfeeders or a place that gets a lot of bird traffic. Feeding them close to their chosen nest box is easiest but do make sure you don’t let other birds in on the mealworms treat. Some birds may become territorial over the food source and create conflict at the Bluebird box.

• Some people employ the method of making a sound, like whistling, while they offer the worms. Bluebirds will key in on the sound and associate that with the treat about to be given them. Its simple conditioning. I’m convinced that the Bluebirds we fed behind the store one year became familiar with the sound and sight of my truck arriving in the morning. As soon as I would get out of the truck they would be landing on nearby perches waiting for me to enter the store and bring out worms.

Remember, Bluebirds will not become dependent on the mealworms but will simply take advantage while they are offered. You can suspend feeding Bluebirds any time and not worry that they will be adversely affected.

Bluebird Feeders and Mealworms Special!

Domed feeders can be adjusted to help discourage larger birds.

Bluebird feeders can be any small dish or tray. however I would not put this many mealworms out at one time.

Barrier type feeders will limit the size of bird that can feed. These feeders may take longer to train your birds to use.

Get Ready for Bluebirds

In the coming weeks we will be sharing information about Bluebirds. We would like to address specific questions and concerns you may have that can then be shared with everyone. If you have questions regarding Bluebirds please email us at thewoodthrushshop@gmail.com.

Have you noticed? Birds are singing and going through some of the motions of courtship. The breeding season is fast approaching. Its evident Eastern Bluebirds are already searching and competing for mates and potential nest-sites. Several times in past weeks I’ve seen multiple Bluebirds land on and look in the nest boxes around my yard. (See video) In the video you will see classic courtship behaviors like wing fluttering. Many of you have reported likewise.

Although most Bluebirds won’t begin their first nesting until late March to mid April, their search for nest sites will typically intensify in the last weeks of February and into March. A few eager Bluebirds may get on nest as early as mid-March.

You may think you don’t have the right situation for Bluebirds because you’ve heard they have very specific needs for a nest-box location. Not really true. Most things you hear about what Bluebirds NEED are very much over stated. Bluebirds adapt very nicely to all kinds of yard situations. If Bluebirds needed the “perfect setup” as described by the many articles you may read about them they would be extinct by now. These perfect nest-sites generally never existed in nature.

In fact it’s interesting to consider where Bluebirds nested before people started putting out nest-boxes. Bluebirds are considered a secondary cavity nester which means they will not excavate a nest, like a woodpecker, but use one that has been created already. Once upon a time secondary cavities were in great supply but through habitat loss and competition Bluebirds were “forced” to adapt to birdhouses, or what we refer to as nest-boxes. Using nest-boxes is an example of Bluebirds adaptability. Offer a couple of nest-boxes in good locations and see what happens. If you already have nest boxes now is a good time to make sure they are cleaned out and free of old debris left over from last year’s nesting’s.

Here are a Few Tips on Choosing a Location:

Ø An open lawn area may be preferable but not absolutely necessary. Choose the most open location available in your yard even if it means there will be a some human traffic.

Ø Bluebirds are typically more sensitive to a lot of bird traffic, so it’s not recommended nest boxes be placed near bird feeders. What’s a comfortable distance? It’s impossible to be exact but we would suggest 50 to 100 feet away, or out of sight of feeding stations.

Ø You may have heard that nest boxes need to face east. While this may be helpful to keep wet weather from being a detrimental factor this is not something Bluebirds require.

Ø A Bluebird box does not need to be on a pole. The advantage of a pole is it allows you to position the box in the location you determine to be the best and apply a predator baffle if necessary. Bluebird boxes can be mounted to trees, fences, and utility poles. A height of about 5’ is sufficient. Our pole system for Bluebird boxes will put the box at 5’ after installation. The two primary predators of nesting Bluebirds are raccoons and rat snakes. Both can easily climb trees and poles so if you experience regular visits by raccoons you should consider placing your Bluebird box on a pole with a raccoon baffle.

Bluebird box with raccoon baffle.

Ø How many boxes can be offered in a typical yard situation? As a general rule we would suggest boxes be placed 90 to 100 feet apart, or out of sight of one another. There is no harm in offering lots of nest boxes (birdhouses) in your yard but do not expect them to all get used at the same time especially if they are close in proximity to one another. For instance, nest boxes within 25 feet of one another are not likely to be occupied simultaneously. Birds are too territorial to accept this situation under normal circumstances unless they are colony nesters like Purple Martins and Cliff Swallows. But feel free to decorate your yard with lots of birdhouses if that’s your thing. Offering multiple nest-boxes is great and it does lessen the competition for a single box but do consider the nature of the species you are trying to attract and what kind of setting would be most appealing. I offer many boxes in varied situations in my yard and enjoy observing which ones get used from year to year. Sometimes I’m surprised by the choices made by birds.

Ø We are often asked “when is a good time to put up a bluebird box”? Every day is good. However, it is a great time to do so now and in the next few weeks because the breeding season is fast approaching. The sooner they know the box is there the more likely they will consider using it this season.

And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE remember do not let your desire to attract Bluebirds cause you to clean out other songbird’s nests like Chickadees, Wrens, Tufted Titmice, or White-breasted Nuthatch. In no way does cleaning out these birds nests ensure you will get Bluebirds. Chickadees typically nest earlier than Bluebirds and only once. So PLEASE let the Chickadees have the box if they have begun to nest.

Bluebirds will nest up to 3 times per season and have plenty of time. Even if you do not get Bluebirds during the first nesting there is still time for two more. Besides, if a Bluebird wanted the nest-box it would easily out-compete a Chickadee. Enjoy the fact that you’ve attracted a native songbird to your nest-box and watch the process. It’s a lot of fun.

Bird Bio: Western Tanager

Just when I started to write off this winter as an uninteresting bird feeding season due to warm and wet conditions, our own Eli Haislip witnessed and photographed a Western Tanager at a feeding station. There have only been a handful of reported sightings in TN going all the way back to 1960 and this is the first ever reported in Davidson County! The bird appeared at a feeding station probably interested by the other bird activity. Like Bluebirds, Western Tanagers are primarily insect and fruit eaters but during winter may take advantage of “alternative” food sources like seeds out of the shell, suet, mealworms, or dried fruit.

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Female Western Tanager

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Western Tanager range map

This Western Tanager is truly out of its normal range which is well west of the Mississippi during the breeding season. See range map. During the non-breeding season these birds normally migrate to Central and South America, like our Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. In the past ten or twenty years, however, it has become commonplace to see some western hummingbirds, like Rufous, Anna’s, Caliope, and Black-chinned migrate to this part of the country for the winter rather than to Central and South America. Why? There’s no absolute answer but it is interesting and gives one cause to pay closer attention. This is why bird researchers and banders encourage people to leave a hummingbird feeder up during winter months.

Adult male Western Tanagers are strikingly beautiful in breeding plumage sporting a red face and throat with yellow underparts and nape, which contrasts sharply with the black back, wings, and tail. As is the case with many bird species females are much less colorful. Female W. Tanagers have a yellow head and underparts while the back is olive-gray and wings are gray with white wing bars.

Keep an eye on your feeding stations. Winter is always a time when something “different” may appear. If anything looks a little different to you stop and take a closer look with binoculars. Let us know what you see.

Next week get ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Bluebirds in Winter

Recently many of you have seen Bluebirds in your yard and wondered why. The Eastern Bluebird is a year round resident in TN so it should come as no surprise that on any given day you may see them appear in your yard to take advantage of a birdbath, or check out a nestbox, or even visit a suet feeder, as I see them do with some regularity. Their main food sources consist of insects and fruit, but on cold day’s insects may be hard to find and since many other birds also take advantage of tree and shrub fruit, it too may be difficult to find. So, alternative food sources such as suet may have appeal. Other foods you can offer Bluebirds include raisins, blueberries, dried and live mealworms, which we stock year-round. In some cases, usually in very wintery conditions, Bluebirds can be seen eating sunflower and peanuts if already out of the shell. They do not possess the seed cracking ability of our usual seed eating feeder birds.

It is quite common to see Bluebirds visit nest boxes during the winter. You may even see them carry some nest material into the box. This is not actual nesting behavior but more than likely a male showing off a good place to raise young to a female. It never hurts to get a head start. We are of the opinion there is no time like today to put up a new Bluebird box. The sooner they see it the better.

And Bluebirds have been known to roost in a nest box, again, usually during more extreme winter conditions.

Keep your eyes upon the backyard and let us know what you’re seeing. Keep the water fresh and feeders clean. This is a good time of the year for an interesting bird to appear at water or food.

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Wet Weather Bird feeding Help

This winter if you see a woodpecker that doesn’t quite look like any of the usual woodpeckers you regularly see you probably have a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. A little smaller than a Red-bellied Woodpecker at about 8 ½” in length , the Sapsucker gets its name from its telltale habit of creating evenly spaced holes around a tree trunk or large shrub to release sap to feed on. The drilling does not kill the tree because the tree is not being girdled. Note: I have a Viburnum at my home that is 25 years old and riddled with Sapsucker holes. It leafs out and blooms every year.

The Sapsucker is a fairly common winter visitor across the state of TN found in residential yards as well as in woodlands. It is a handsome bird known for its red forecrown on a black and white head; the chin and throat are red on male, white on the female. The back is blackish with a varying pattern, with a white rump and large white wing patch. The underparts of the bird are yellowish, paler on a female. They clearly stand out among our usual woodpeckers.

Suet is a good choice to attract Sapsuckers, although I do see them going to fine sunflower hearts presented in a finch feeder. I use mainly peanut butter suet and see sapsuckers feed there all winter. Video Other things to try are fruit and nectar. Nectar can be offered in a standard hummingbird feeder and sapsuckers may find this a suitable supplement to tree sap. After all, many of you see Downy woodpeckers feeding on hummingbird feeders all summer long. Sapsuckers have the same long tongue that can wick nectar out of the feeder. Sapsuckers generally leave this area by mid-April and head back north to their breeding areas. Look for this bird and let us know if you see one.

Notable sightings in TN this past week include Pacific Loon at Percy Priest Lake and a

Black-chinned Hummingbird in McMinn County, TN. I spent a day at Centerhill Lake recently and saw at least a dozen Common Loons.

Winter tends to be our wet weather time of the year. Soaking rains can present a number of problems at feeders, especially feeders that contain shelled offerings like sunflower hearts, Premium Blend, shelled peanuts, and suet. Everyone who’s fed birds for any length of time has encountered the awful experience of cleaning out a feeder full of wet, ruined seed. It’s really messy and it stinks, and your investment in the more expensive seeds is lost. Try protecting your investment with one of the many weather guards, or hanging squirrel baffles, available for a variety of feeders. Hanging Squirrel Baffles are just larger versions of weather guards thus offering optimum weather protection.

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