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  1. #261
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Thomasville, NC
    Blue birds are in the thrush family, and as such rarely if ever eat seeds. They will take berries, chunks of apple and really relish meal worms. They will also eat scrambled eggs.

  2. #262
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Steamboat Springs, CO
    Quote Originally Posted by Nrrrrvous View Post
    OK, another question.

    I have two pair of Eastern Bluebirds that will swing by about once/twice a day. But they don't go to my feeder. There are a couple of bushes/shrubs on the opposite side of the house that they stop in for a few minutes and then jet.

    Do they normally avoid feeders? Or do I not have the proper food to entice them? Do they not like the crowds?

    Thanks in advance...
    Mealworms are one option for Eastern Bluebirds.

    This time of year, bluebirds and thrushes eat a lot of berries left over and drying on trees, which may be what yours are doing.

    I had the pleasure of having a pair of Mountain Bluebirds nest underneath my deck this summer. It took two tries, but the nesting was apparently successful. I did not try mealworms, however.
    Sage Grouse

    ---------------------------------------
    'When I got on the bus for my first road game at Duke, I saw that every player was carrying textbooks or laptops. I coached in the SEC for 25 years, and I had never seen that before, not even once.' - David Cutcliffe to Duke alumni in Washington, DC, June 2013

  3. #263
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Bluebirds are some of my favorites, and mealworms in a suet cake feeder have gotten the job done in drawing them to my feeders.

  4. #264
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Thomasville, NC
    They will also draw in mockingbirds and catbirds.

  5. #265
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Quote Originally Posted by Devilwin View Post
    Blue birds are in the thrush family, and as such rarely if ever eat seeds. They will take berries, chunks of apple and really relish meal worms. They will also eat scrambled eggs.
    Quote Originally Posted by sagegrouse View Post
    Mealworms are one option for Eastern Bluebirds.

    This time of year, bluebirds and thrushes eat a lot of berries left over and drying on trees, which may be what yours are doing.

    I had the pleasure of having a pair of Mountain Bluebirds nest underneath my deck this summer. It took two tries, but the nesting was apparently successful. I did not try mealworms, however.
    Quote Originally Posted by wilson View Post
    Bluebirds are some of my favorites, and mealworms in a suet cake feeder have gotten the job done in drawing them to my feeders.
    Quote Originally Posted by Devilwin View Post
    They will also draw in mockingbirds and catbirds.
    Mealworms! Looks like I'm headed to the pet store soon. Anyone have luck with dried versus live? I'm sure live will be better but sounds like a bit more of an investment.

    They were definitely picking the berries off of a particular bush in the yard. Anyone ever try any other berries for them? Older strawberries or blueberries?
    "That young man has an extra step on his ladder the rest of us just don't have."

  6. #266
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Steamboat Springs, CO
    Quote Originally Posted by Nrrrrvous View Post
    Mealworms! Looks like I'm headed to the pet store soon. Anyone have luck with dried versus live? I'm sure live will be better but sounds like a bit more of an investment.

    They were definitely picking the berries off of a particular bush in the yard. Anyone ever try any other berries for them? Older strawberries or blueberries?
    From Michigan Bluebird Society:
    Meal worms, suet, sunflower hearts, softened fruits, and cornmeal muffins can all be fed to bluebirds. Most of these will be accepted during the cold weather months if bluebirds have wintered over. But, meal worms are the best food to feed bluebirds and they will readily eat them year-round.
    Sage Grouse

    ---------------------------------------
    'When I got on the bus for my first road game at Duke, I saw that every player was carrying textbooks or laptops. I coached in the SEC for 25 years, and I had never seen that before, not even once.' - David Cutcliffe to Duke alumni in Washington, DC, June 2013

  7. #267
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Thomasville, NC
    Wal Mart has a nice selection of suet cakes, including one with meal worms.

  8. #268
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Quote Originally Posted by Devilwin View Post
    Wal Mart has a nice selection of suet cakes, including one with meal worms.
    I decided a few years back that I never wanted to set foot in a Wal-Mart again and I've done a great job of it. (Maybe once in the past 4 years?) Thanks for the recommendation, I'm sure I can find them somewhere.
    "That young man has an extra step on his ladder the rest of us just don't have."

  9. #269
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Thomasville, NC
    Feed and seed stores sell them too, but cost slightly more.

  10. #270
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Vermont
    I have generally found that the pre-formed (smooth edges) suet cakes sold by stores do not attract birds as well as the hunks of plain suet I get at the grocery store...anyone else notice this?

  11. #271
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    A group (flock?) of about 5-6 Blue Jays have taken over today. First time for them to really go at the feeder/around it. Beautiful birds. Noisy. Aggressive.
    "That young man has an extra step on his ladder the rest of us just don't have."

  12. #272
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Outside Philly
    Quote Originally Posted by Nrrrrvous View Post
    A group (flock?) of about 5-6 Blue Jays have taken over today. First time for them to really go at the feeder/around it. Beautiful birds. Noisy. Aggressive.
    I’ve seen Stellar’s Jays (western relatives) launch coordinated assaults on picnicking families in Yosemite. Jays are pugnacious and smart.

  13. #273
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Quote Originally Posted by bundabergdevil View Post
    I’ve seen Stellar’s Jays (western relatives) launch coordinated assaults on picnicking families in Yosemite. Jays are pugnacious and smart.
    And just like that. After 45 minutes to an hour of in and out, they're gone.
    "That young man has an extra step on his ladder the rest of us just don't have."

  14. #274
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Steamboat Springs, CO
    Quote Originally Posted by bundabergdevil View Post
    I’ve seen Stellar’s Jays (western relatives) launch coordinated assaults on picnicking families in Yosemite. Jays are pugnacious and smart.
    At Royal National Park in Australia, if you turn your head while having lunch in the picnic shelter, a Sulfur-crested Cockatoo will grab your food and fly away to a nearby field. They always feed themselves with their left foot.

    It's amazing how much you can see in national parks anywhere.
    Sage Grouse

    ---------------------------------------
    'When I got on the bus for my first road game at Duke, I saw that every player was carrying textbooks or laptops. I coached in the SEC for 25 years, and I had never seen that before, not even once.' - David Cutcliffe to Duke alumni in Washington, DC, June 2013

  15. #275
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Northwest NC
    During my section hike of the A.T. through the White Mountains whenever we would take a snack break you would suddenly find yourself surrounded by Gray Jays. You could hold out your arm and they would come perch and eat out directly out of your hand.
    "The future ain't what it used to be."

  16. #276
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Outside Philly
    Quote Originally Posted by sagegrouse View Post
    At Royal National Park in Australia, if you turn your head while having lunch in the picnic shelter, a Sulfur-crested Cockatoo will grab your food and fly away to a nearby field. They always feed themselves with their left foot.

    It's amazing how much you can see in national parks anywhere.
    Nice. I seem to recall that family of birds favors a side (like we have dominant hands), is that why?

  17. #277
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Vermont
    The lovely snow buntings have arrived, though I rarely see them at a feeder...once we have snow (duh) they arrive in packs, generally see them in flocks of between 10 and perhaps 60+ birds, and they move as a single unit in flocks at times, nice to behold...they especially like eating grit from the road...our sand truck came by today, and I encountered three different flocks picking at the grit...it doesn't take much to keep some birds happy.

    Anyone else have them? I think they're limited mostly to New England and right along the Northeast coast...

  18. #278
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Thomasville, NC
    Quote Originally Posted by budwom View Post
    I have generally found that the pre-formed (smooth edges) suet cakes sold by stores do not attract birds as well as the hunks of plain suet I get at the grocery store...anyone else notice this?
    Not had any issues with the store bought suet. They seem to eat it fine.

  19. #279
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Quote Originally Posted by Devilwin View Post
    Not had any issues with the store bought suet. They seem to eat it fine.
    mealworm-seed-cake.jpg

    Picked up one of these today. Best I could find at the local store. Has lots of dried mealworms. Immediately had the Titmouses and a Downy Woodpecker on it. Pretty late in the day here with a little rain coming so we'll see what happens tomorrow.
    "That young man has an extra step on his ladder the rest of us just don't have."

  20. #280
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    West Palm Beach, Fl
    I’ve been teaching online in West Palm Beach since March and have my feeder set up where I see it all day from my desk. From time to time, wild parrots visit and love the sunflower seeds. Actually, I believe they are members of the parakeet family although much larger than those sold as pets.

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