Tag Archives: Bluebirds

Thursday – 6.29.2017

12:43 AM – [We’re having the deck cleaned and sealed, so all the bird feeding hardware has been removed temporarily. There are still plenty of other feeders in the yard, so no bird is going hungry, but the open feeder camera is out of action. ]

We wondered if these bluebirds, so clearly adults, are this springs’ juveniles, all grown up. Nope. The spotted speckled juvenile bluebirds are still around, not yet transformed into the beautiful blue/orange adults. In spite of some research we’re still not exactly sure how long it takes for them to mature completely.

While looking at the bluebirds we ran across this video of busy traffic at the mealworm feeder, and decided to have some high speed fun.

For a change, here’s a video without bluebirds in it. Enjoy the Cardinal and Carolina Wren.

Wednesday – 6.28.2017

1:00 AM – Carolina Chickadees on the mealworm feeder, winning the prize for cuteness. With a cameo appearance by the Tufted Titmouse.

I’d like to think these are a couple of the juvenile bluebirds, all grown up. Maybe so, maybe not, but I like watching them anyway.

Another video of a Downy Woodpecker on the mealworm feeder. This one is very energetic and singleminded in his mealworm harvesting. He completely ignores the Chickadee who lands, grabs a worm and leaves.

Friday – 6.23.2017

5:01 AM – We put the new suet out last week, and it’s almost gone. The birds, like this male Downy Woodpecker, love it. Stand by for a new brick in a few days.

This Chipping Sparrow – you can tell by gray band around the eyes – is almost always in the open feeder.

Here’s bluebirds at the mealworm feeder, as usual. At one time we were worried we wouldn’t attract any of these gluttons, but we’ve got plenty of them. As long as the supply of mealworms holds out.

Saturday – 6.17.2017

8:16 AM – Two of our cameras are down, leaving the one at the mealworm feeder. Which explains why todays videos are all of birds eating worms. We’re rearranging feeders and cameras, and should be back to normal in a few days.

The first video is a good one of a bluebird eating worms. Just that, but it’s a good clear video. So there you are.

The next one shows Mr. Cardinal’s unfortunate table manners.

And finally, the  bluebird and cardinal together (briefly) at the mealworm bar. That looks like a female (or juvenile) House Finch trying to butt in.

Thursday – 6.15.2017

2:29 PM – Here’s a bonus clip. We swapped out the open platform feeder for the Squirrel Buster to discourage the squirrels. They were sitting in the feeder for several hours a day, continually eating the birds seed. Watch what happens with this one realized the game has changed.

3:43 AM – A typical day at the mealworm feeder, birds coming and going. In this case, the Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee and Bluebird.

We haven’t see these House Finches at the platform feeder for several weeks, though they do show up at the Squirrel Busters.

And here’s the One-eared Squirrel, still alive and foraging.

Tuesday – 6.13.2017

4:18 AM – The juvenile bluebird trio are still around and hanging out together, as shown here at the mealworm feeder. We’re curious as to how long they’ll be around once they get their full growth.

Red-bellied Woodpecker spends the afternoon taking beaks full of suet off to some other Red-belly, either mate or chick. These are just a few of the times we caught this on camera.

This looks like a juvenile House Finch. The color and pattern is similar to the female, but it’s smaller, and somehow just looks younger.

 

Saturday – 6.10.2017

12:24 AM – The bluebirds are getting more adult color every day. Here are a couple that have sprouted a lot of orange feathers over the last two days. They’re growing up right before our eyes.

Carolina Chickadee shows some outrage when he finds the mealworm feeder is empty. I swear I think some of these birds understand what the camera is doing.

These Mourning Doves are around all the time, but there’s really not much to say about them. Other than they spend more time in the platform feeder than we’d like, since we prefer more colorful, exotic birds. But, since we rarely post video of them, here’s a close up.

Thursday – 6.8.2017

4:13 AM – We put the suet feeder back in front of the camera. The finch sock that was there got no traffic, and the Squirrel Buster was easy prey for squirrels and raccoons. We loaded the suet cage with “pepper” suet, to discourage the pests. The usual suet fans showed up right away. The first one – a Red-bellied Woodpecker – looks like it’s been injured, but I think it’s just molting. No way to really tell what’s going on. The other birds are the Downy Woodpecker, the White Breasted Nuthatch and Carolina Chickadee.

The juvenile bluebirds continue to get more color – the blue on this one is coming in.

Blue Jay cracking a seed:

Wednesday – 6.7.2017

7:40 AM – There’s not much going on today, just the regulars.For a change of pace, here’s a video experiment. In order, the birds are sparrows, finches and sparrows, Brown Headed Cowbirds and Cedar Waxwings.

Back to normal – just a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a bluebird grazing the mealworm feeder. Notice the woodpecker flying off with a big mouthful of worms.

 

Tuesday – 6.6.2017

3:54 AM – Those juvenile bluebirds are still around, though they’re exclusively at the mealworm feeder these days.

We’ll be moving this feeder shortly – it’s so close to the tree trunk that the squirrels, or raccoons in this case, can avoid putting pressure on the bales that shut them out of the food chamber. Enjoy it while you can, Mr. R.