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Author Topic: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee  (Read 46974 times)

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #135 on: November 30, 2022, 07:46:00 AM »



Feeding Bluebirds

What do Bluebirds eat? Bluebirds eat many insects including crickets and grasshoppers, and insect larvae.They should NOT eat earthworms because they can’t digest them properly. Although they have been known to eat them when insects are in short supply, they can make the birds very sick. They also eat a variety of native berries such as Eastern Red Cedar; Flowering, Pagoda and Kousa Dogwoods; Red Mulberry; and American Holly. They may also learn to eat mealworms and peanut butter suet.

What can I feed them? Bluebirds generally are not attracted to seed feeders. Although they may sometimes be observed at seed feeders, their main diet consists of insects, insect larvae, and berries. Many Bluebird lovers offer their Bluebirds mealworms. Although mealworms are a great supplement, they are NOT a complete diet and most experts recommend offering no more than about 200 a day to a nesting pair. Some truly devoted Bluebird landlords offer as many as 300 a day to a nesting pair and even more if fledglings from the previous nestings are still hanging around. If you are trying mealworms for the first time, you can usually buy them in a small container from a wild bird store such as Wild Birds Unlimited, PetSmart, etc. in a 500 count container at first to see if your Bluebirds will find and eat them. Once your Bluebirds discover the mealworms, you will want to buy in larger quantities, as it is MUCH cheaper to buy them in large quantities than at a local bird supply store.


How can I get the Bluebirds to accept mealworms from me?If you put the mealworms where the Bluebirds will see them, they will almost certainly accept them. You can start by putting them in a small shallow dish (with sides to keep the worms from crawling out and preferably clear glass – both for weight and to allow the birds to see the worms) and placing them near the nestbox location, or somewhere close to the perch (a fence or fencepost, perhaps) that you have seen them hunting from. If you are keeping your mealworms in the refrigerator, let them warm up before offering them for the first few times – the worms’ movement will be likely to attract the Bluebirds’ attention. Then you can slowly move the feeding dish a little further away so as not to attract other birds too close to the nestbox. Eventually you will probably want to place the mealworms in a dedicated Bluebird feeder.

BBF1
The BBF1 Feeder, for sale at TMBStudios.com


What kind of feeder should I use? There are many birds that enjoy eating the mealworms you offer to the Bluebirds, and if you don’t want to go to the expense of feeding them to all the birds in your yard, you will need a feeder that allows the Bluebirds easy access but discourages or prevents larger birds such as starlings and mockingbirds from gaining access. There are several types of feeders, but the idea behind most of them is providing a small opening that the Bluebirds will have no trouble navigating, but that the other birds will find either too small or uninviting. Our sister shopping site, TMB Studios, offers a number of Bluebird feeders. Our favorite is our own design, now made by Erva Tool, the BBF1.

You can also find other styles online, or in your local bird supply store. You can find plans for making your own feeder .

My Bluebirds won’t go into the feeder I bought for them. What is wrong? Sometimes it takes the Bluebirds a little while to understand how to use the feeder. If you’ve been feeding them from a dish, try putting the dish on top of the feeder at first. The birds will recognize the dish, and go to it. If you’re using the type with plexiglass sides, they may try to go in through the clear sides rather than through the holes at the ends. Once inside, they may have some difficulty figuring out how to get back out of the feeder, and try flying back out through the plexiglass. The specially-designed Bluebird Nut Mealworm Feeder depicted above circumvents all these problems, as its open design does not make the Bluebirds feel trapped.

Some people have tried whistling or calling or ringing a bell every time they place mealworms in the feeder, and have been able to train the birds to come to the feeder when they hear that sound. Others discourage this practice, as they feel it may serve as a “dinner bell” for hawks or other predators.

Read more about this here:
http://bluebirdnut.com/feeding/[/size]]http://bluebirdnut.com/feeding/

"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #136 on: December 07, 2022, 02:34:12 AM »

Our bluebirds

Another visit from CR-29 and 30 of the 2020 nesting season

« Last Edit: December 07, 2022, 01:33:17 PM by Phyl »
"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #137 on: December 07, 2022, 02:44:11 AM »

Our bluebirds, 12-4-2022

Female CR 30, Spring clutch 2020


"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #138 on: December 16, 2022, 11:33:09 AM »

12-11-2022

Finally was able to catch our bluebirds visiting today.
What fun this was.

"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #139 on: December 16, 2022, 11:34:40 AM »

12-11-2022

Dad, CR 44

"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #140 on: December 16, 2022, 11:37:29 AM »

12-11-2022
Mom CR 47
Perching on  the bird seed feeder.
Contient and calm to just 'be' resting and going for a ride


"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #141 on: December 16, 2022, 11:38:47 AM »

12-11-2022

Mom, CR47 perching on the bird seed feeder pole

"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #142 on: January 01, 2023, 02:02:52 PM »



Greetings   everyone !
Sending wishes for a year full of health, prosperity and happiness.
"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #143 on: January 15, 2023, 03:25:32 PM »

On January 12, 2023 we had another visit from our Caneridge bluebirds from the Spring clutch of 2020
Although I'm usually on the look out for them. Still had to make a dash for my iphone.
The starlings are a problem. Inspite of them, I was able to catch this...

This looks like CR-29 a male

« Last Edit: January 15, 2023, 04:52:20 PM by Phyl »
"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #144 on: January 15, 2023, 03:28:05 PM »

And, a  wee bit closer look at him. 1-12-23.


« Last Edit: January 15, 2023, 03:37:13 PM by Phyl »
"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #145 on: February 02, 2023, 11:21:06 AM »

Last week, about mid week, [/b]we had our 'home grown' pair visit us. Spending all of 1-25-23 with  u s,  including the next frew days.
They s till favor Box #1.








"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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  • Maggie lives in Nashville,Tennessee Music City USA
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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #146 on: February 02, 2023, 11:21:16 AM »

"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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  • Maggie lives in Nashville,Tennessee Music City USA
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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #147 on: February 02, 2023, 11:22:02 AM »

Missed one...
Most of the snaps I could get were of the male  hence the brighter colors

"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #148 on: February 17, 2023, 09:50:03 AM »

I'm remiss in posting these two.

Another visit from our 'home grown' pair.
CR-47 aka 'Mom'
"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit

Phyl

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Re: Bluebirds of Cane Ridge, Tennessee
« Reply #149 on: February 17, 2023, 09:53:24 AM »

Another visit from our 'home grown' pair. Part 2

Just barely caught CR44 aka 'Dad  as he was 'taking off'.
I think he got tired of w-a-i-t-i-n-g for me to take the photo.


« Last Edit: February 17, 2023, 09:56:04 AM by Phyl »
"Every new day begins with possibilities."
President Ronald Reagan  at  the 1985 Geneva Summit
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