Over the Garden Fence: Oh, those bluebirds!
One of my favorite activities this month is to refocus on the eastern bluebird. As fate would have it, Mark Blum stepped up sharing the beauty that continues to find its way to his yard. If you can capture in a photograph 19 bluebirds at once, you are doing something right.
Of course, I called Mark to see what magic touch he holds. There was no disappointment. He has drawn them in the past to berried branches such as holly plants, nest boxes, water and mealworms.
There is now another approach that is bringing support to the diets. We talked about how bluebirds are driven off by house sparrows who manage to take over boxes. Spring nest box competition brings drama. It was then Mark speculated on his success. He uses an element is his bird bath keeping the water from freezing.
A special feeder find
The biggest discovery is in a feeder he found online. This layered structure allows bluebirds to access the dried mealworms. If frightened they can actually move inside the structure. Mark's yard has brought increased starlings, which generally scare off eastern bluebirds. No longer.
This new feeder has guards around the framework. To me it resembles a snug parking garage. There are small plates inside to hold the dried mealworms and enough space for retreating.
By having water and a successful feeder like this one, Mark is bringing bluebirds to his yard in greater numbers. The increasing population seems to discourage the starlings. The nest boxes are there but rarely house bluebirds.
Mid-winter for the Blums is a daily view of a beautiful native bird species. Being flooded with blue movements adds pleasure. Bluebirds are not being driven from the feeding station.
As I share this local success, I also urge birders to go to the Ohio Bluebird Society site for summaries on "Beyond the Basics" — the 2022 theme. Read through this year's virtual conference topics. Kestrel boxes in The Wilds, prothonotary warblers in Geauga County, orchard nest boxes which favor falcons and farmers in Michigan, and more.
Habitat support is more than the boxes
Not to steal any thunder from OBS, but I will tune in March 5 to see if the session on "Binging Back the Bluebirds" offers what Mark has discovered — that habitat support is much more than the boxes. The summary of that session mentions other cavity nesters, too, need support since bird species are losing nesting habitat, facing pesticides, struggling to survive harsh winters, and it seems forever facing the house sparrow.
Years ago, our family was thrilled to see a pair of eastern bluebirds on a newly erected box in our backyard in Licking County — on Valentine's Day. Some spent the last few months in a natural cavity while others will be heading back on a migratory quest. The boxes should be cleaned and put back up because they return to areas near their birth site.
Be sure to continue feeding and watering if you can. Bluebirds do not have tough enough beaks to crack open frozen fruit right now. If you decide to offer that, try daily and dice it up. Heavy insect eaters they will come in for dried mealworms that you can send for or purchase at a farm supply store.
It is not to early to begin your habitat enrichment.
Mary Lee Minor is a member of the Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club, an accredited master gardener, a flower show judge for the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs and a former sixth grade teacher.
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Over the Garden Fence: Tips for attracting eastern bluebirds
