Bluebirds in Winter

I have lots of bluebirds in my yard all summer. In fact, they nest in a bird house right on my deck. I know they stay over in my area and I’ve watched for them all winter. I had hoped they would roost in one of the bluebird houses on our property. I only saw an occasional lone bird even when I put out the meal worms every morning. The Titmice get to them first!

But then the snow came. My yard has been under a white blanket for two weeks and temps in the 20’s, unusual for upper middle Tennessee. I was working at home last week and stopped for a hot tea break about 11am one morning. There were two bluebirds on my suet feeder. I ran out and put meal worms in the feeder – five showed up to eat them almost before I could get back in the house. Needless to say I was thrilled! I figured they liked to sleep in so I started putting the worms out later in the day. They were there every time.

A week later and still snow covering everything, bluebirds are waiting for me at 6:30 when I get up. Today I didn’t go into the house after I filled the feeder but stood about three feet from my worm tray. They didn’t mind that I was there at all. I’ve seen pictures of people hand feeding birds. I think these might be good subjects for that. I’ll try it tomorrow morning when they seem to be the most hungry. I’ll post what happens.