Bluebirds and humans have similar habits. A young human male often takes his wanna-be intended out to dinner and feeds her – just like bluebirds. My resident bluebirds have picked out a house (after several last-minute changes) and are ready to set up housekeeping. But the male bluebird leaves nothing to chance. Ever on the lookout from his perch atop the fence, when he spots a juicy insect he swoops down, captures it in his beak and flies directly to the lovely lady bluebird and feeds it to her.
Knowing she will soon be doing squatter duties on the nest, I have ordered 3,000 meal worms to help feed her, then the chicks as they come along. I ordered these worms from Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm, a reliable source, and they came in promptly, nicely packaged and fat and healthy. I highly recommend them as a mealworm source.
I put a few out in the mealworm bowl to see if Mr. Blue remembered the regimen. It took him all of two minutes to separate the worms from the bowl and fly to his mate for a dinner and date – sort of like a human would do – except we let the ladies use their own knives and forks. It’s not mouth-to-mouth until later.