This was a very big winter for bluebird watchers in mid-Michigan. I’ve never ordered so many mealworms from December through February. The Wild Birds Unlimited - East Lansing store even had to get a larger fridge to store extra worms.Usually, the Eastern Bluebirds will gather in large family flocks at the end of nesting season and live more in the woods. They forage on fruit, nuts, and berries. If you have fruiting trees or bluebird feeders and a reliable source of water, you may host the bluebirds year-round.
But are they the same bluebirds you had last spring? The Eastern Bluebirds are considered partial migrants. Scientist believe that a certain percentage of bluebirds aren’t genetically programmed to fly south in the winter.
According to SandyTSeibert’s article titled “Bluebirds Migrate to Find Better Weather and Better Resources”: “Eastern bluebirds do not simply shift southward. In some of the warmer areas of the country, many are year-round residents. Often, the birds from Canada and the northern U.S. will leapfrog over areas with many resident birds in order to avoid competition for food. These birds will travel as far as Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and the southern portions of Alabama, Georgia and Texas.
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Not all northern bluebirds exhibit this type of migration. Some will migrate shorter distances and remain with resident birds throughout the winter. They will face more competition for food but, if they survive, they will have the benefit of being the first to return to their breeding area in the spring. This gives them the benefit of being able to claim the most desirable territories.”So why did we see so many bluebirds this year? One answer could be that the population may have increased. Another answer could be that we had such a mild winter that more bluebirds were noticed or more may have survived.
With the lengthening of daylight the birds are becoming more active. Nesting season is just around the corner. Make sure your houses are ready and feeders and baths are full. We will continue to stock everything you need to keep your bluebirds happy and healthy.
We had 15 healthy bluebird babies this summer. The last 5 fledged just 90 days ago. My concern is that we may be moving within the next few months and whether or not to continue feeding mealworms. Will they begin to migrate South? Last year we only had one brood but this year we had three! Hopefully the people who will purchase our house will take care of them but who knows! We are located 30 miles east of Philadelphia.
ReplyDeleteCorrection: The last 5 fledged "9" days ago.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your successful nesting season! You probably don’t have to worry about them. Birds only supplement 10 to 20 percent diet at feeders. Most birds prefer to forage for food. You may have noticed that Eastern Bluebirds begin to gather in large family flocks in September as nesting season ends. They take shelter in the woods and their diet switches over to more fruit, nuts, and berries. If you have fruit trees, a feeder or a reliable source of water, you may host the bluebirds year-round.
ReplyDeleteYou can contact your local Wild Birds Unlimited for specific information. Pennsylvania like mid-Michigan can see Eastern Bluebirds year-round. As I wrote before they are considered partial migrants. Scientist believe that a certain percentage of bluebirds aren’t programmed genetically to fly south in the winter. Our bluebirds can stick around or move further south if the weather becomes too harsh.
It’s more important that you tell the new owner of your house to monitor your nest boxes next spring. Bluebirds may raise 2-3 broods in one season. Some studies have shown that about 30% of adult bluebirds return to previous nesting sites the following season.
Eastern bluebirds prefer to nest in cavity holes excavated by woodpeckers with a grassy clearing nearby for hunting bugs. You probably know from the late 1800s to the 1960s, Eastern Bluebirds’ population declined almost 90% in part because of loss of habitat. However, since 1966 the population has increased 2.4% each year due to nesting boxes, better landscaping, and bird feeding practices.
It is very important to be a good landlord and monitor nest boxes so you will be alerted to any problems. And the nests should also be cleaned out after each successful nesting. By monitoring and cleaning out a nest box, you help deter parasite infestation and a predator’s ability to disturb a nest that is built on top of old nests.
Hopefully the new owners will help in the ongoing effort to promote and facilitate bluebird conservation.
Sarah
Store locations:
Wild Birds Unlimited
2200 Coolidge Rd. Ste.17
East Lansing, MI 48823
and
Wild Birds Unlimited
1745 W. Grand River Ave.
Okemos, MI 48864
email: bloubird@gmail.com
web: http://lansing.wbu.com/
blog: http://lansingwbu.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/birdsunlimited
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lansingwbu
Thank you so much for getting back to me. I am continuing to feed the worms and will stop when they run out (just placed an order for 5000 more).
ReplyDeleteI am also planning on planting some bushes with berries they prefer in the next month. We already have several in the wooded area next to our home but would prefer to have more. I am very sad to say good-bye to them but have many wonderful pictures and great memories. Here's wishing for another owner who will be interested in these wonderful, delightful birds. Keeping my fingers crossed! Take care.
We just had a small flock of blue birds in our yard and trees yesterday Sat. Feb. 4th. 2012.
ReplyDeleteBill Stellin. Cascade Twp/Thornapple River
Thank you for commenting. If you spot a bird that you think is unusual for this time of year you can check with eBird.org. For a real-time, online checklist program, eBird has revolutionized the way that the birding community reports and accesses information about birds. Launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, eBird provides rich data sources for basic information on birds’ distribution.
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