Precocious Juvenile Bluebirds
Sorry for the poor video quality. The camera is too far away, and there is a lot of pixelation.
At least two of the juveniles that fledged a few weeks ago are doing great! This video was captured this morning at my backyard birdfeeders. The juveniles are learning to feed themselves, but still taking advantage of daddy.
The adults have not spent any time at the nest box lately, and unfortunately a male house sparrow has taken notice of the box. He placed a little nest material and began to guard the box, while calling for a female. I put a Van Ert trap in the box, and although the sparrow came back to the box numerous times, he has been reluctant to enter again. However, this morning the sparrow actually entered the box (although he didn't spring the trap). Unfortunately, the male bluebird also showed an interest in the box for the first time in a couple of weeks, and I saw the female perched nearby, at the same time that the sparrow was sitting nearby keeping guard. So, rather than risk capturing the bluebird, I removed the trap. Now that the juveniles are beginning to feed themselves, we'll see if the bluebird adults will begin to think about nesting again.
I'll keep you all posted!
Пікірлер: 15
Thanks for the update, Mike!
So great to see they’re doing well, thanks Mike. Are they showing any interest at the box, for another clutch?
@mikeyoungsbackyardwildlife2906
Ай бұрын
@@LeicesterRose unfortunately not yet. I’ve seen a house wrench and a house sparrow loitering around, but the bluebirds seem preoccupied. In fact, I haven’t seen the female bluebird in a long time, just the male. I’m keeping the cams running and checking every day though. If I start to see activity I’ll restart the live stream.
@LeicesterRose
Ай бұрын
@@mikeyoungsbackyardwildlife2906 thanks Mike. Maybe something happened to the female. I do hope not.
Thanks so much Mike Also what if you don't mind me asking is the food your bluebirds like best at the feeders? I'm trying to entice mine to come to my feeders more than they do.
@mikeyoungsbackyardwildlife2906
Ай бұрын
Good question! I use a mixture of sunflower hearts, nuts, and fruits. Usually I just buy a formula called "Zero Waste" from Wild Delight. I put it in a small pan with a dome over it, just a handful each day, and add a sprinkling of a few (maybe 10?) dried mealworms. Bluebirds seem to love it, and so do cardinals and a lot of other birds, so it's usually gone by early afternoon. The bluebirds will actually perch on the feeder pole waiting for me to put it out each morning! Hope this helps!
@NoraCockrell
Ай бұрын
@@mikeyoungsbackyardwildlife2906 Thanks so so much. I have several different feeders I have a platform feeder with safflower seeds. Cardinals and finches love that. A regular tube feeder with wild bird food in it. We get it in 40 lb bags. I use a solid peanut delight suet cake by wild delight in my suet cage. My blue birds were feeding it to the babies. I get the no waste bluebird mealworm suet nuggets and use a nugget feeder for them. Have had that a week or two but so far haven't seen my blue birds. I have to try it. Thanks for sharing
@mikeyoungsbackyardwildlife2906
Ай бұрын
My neighbor uses just sunflower hearts and she gets bluebirds, cardinals, finches like crazy. In my other feeders I have one that's a local blend that is heavy on oiled sunflower seeds that the cardinals favor (unfortunately the grackles and cowbirds also like it), another with Nature's Choice which is heavy on dried sunflower seeds and millet, which the finches and wrens like, and a nyjer seed feeder for the finches, which they go for when the millet gets low. This year we have seen lots more red-wing blackbirds, which we hadn't seen for a few years. Not sure what that was about, but they are making a comeback.
@NoraCockrell
Ай бұрын
@@mikeyoungsbackyardwildlife2906 That's awesome Mike. We have a pair of cardinals, never see more than one male or female at the time, carolina chickadees, titmouse, junkos and finches galore, with blue jays and woodpeckers thrown in lol. I have gotten some of the no waste and set it up too. Hubby says we have a buffet going lol Good thing he likes to watch them too. I have a question about my bluebirds. Would it be okay to ask you here?
@mikeyoungsbackyardwildlife2906
Ай бұрын
Sure!