My resident pair of blue birds laid claim to the birdhouse on my back fence back in December. Each day, they have come by to check on their property. There were a few scuffles with squirrels and chickadees along the way, but the nest is now built and I believe all the eggs are in place. Now it’s time for Mrs. Blue to do her thing, to keep the eggs warm for a couple weeks until the 4 or 5 chicks peck their way though the small, pale blue eggs.
I’m confident this is the same pair of bluebirds that raised two broods in that house last year.
They are very friendly and not at all concerned about my presence. They quickly swoop down and eat the goodies I put in a small bowl near their house. I have ordered 10,000 mealworms, which will make life a little easier when the ravenous chicks emerge and demand a constant food supply from Mom and Dad.
For the past twelve years, we have had – with one exception – bluebirds nesting in our yard. I expect they are all genetically linked to that first pair that nested in a small wren house we had hanging on an old clothesline pole. They have come back each year to our great delight.
The secret to attracting bluebirds is to provide a year-round source of water and to put sunflower hearts or chips in you feeder during the winter months. Do this and provide them with an acceptable bird house and you too can enjoy these beautiful creatures.