12 Jan 2010
EASTERN BLUEBIRDS
WINTER BIRDS AT OUR FEEDERS
The cold weather and snow cover has brought about a lot of activity at our bird feeders. Steady feeding all day long. for the past 2 or 3 winters we have had only one pair of Bluebird’s regularly feeding and once in a while they had a guest or two. That was it. This winter we have at least 8 Bluebird’s at last good count. Think we have more but can not confirm for sure. Two Feeding Stations on opposite sides of the house kind of hard to see both.
They seem to favor an orange flavored suit and a recipe that I make for them. Recipe: Chunky Peanut Butter, Oat Meal, Grape Jelly, Corn Meal, Raisins and some times a little Bacon Fat. Equal parts Peanut Butter and Oat Meal. About half of that in Raisins and Grape Jelly. Mix it all up and add corn Meal as required to bind it up. I make about 1/2 Gal. at a time. Nothing fussy about measure of ingredients except the more Grape Jelly the more they like it. Refrigerate it for a while so it thickens up good then, fill the cavity’s in log feeders and hang out in the Cold.
- GRAPE JELLY IS MY FAVORITE
- GRAPE JELLY IS ALSO OUR FAVORITE
- ANGRY BLUEBIRD
- ORANGE FLAVORED SUIT
Working on Photo Albums of our Birds, so far have one started for Eastern Bluebird and Northern Cardinal. Several others on the list to do. As each one is established will post on the blog for all to see. A post similar to this one on Northern Cardinal’s is almost complete, will be very shortly.
The only way we know if you visited us and like or dislike or post is if you leave a comment . Just say HI that’s all it takes. Thank You.
That picture of the angry bluebird cracked me up! He really does look angry. So cute!
Hey, you want to know why I like birders so much? It’s because birdwatching is one of the few things left in our society that’s still based on the honor system. So if a birder says she saw [insert name of exotic bird], she really did see that bird. I think that’s adorable!
Liza
January 12th, 2010 at 10:25 ampermalink
Hi Liza…you are the only other Liza I have ever seen.. I think some of our friends think its me responding to John’s blog.. so I just wanted to let folks know its not… this is my first response.
Liza W
Liza
January 12th, 2010 at 11:33 ampermalink
These are just so wonderful! We don’t have Eastern bluebirds here (they’re occasional in Nova Scotia, but not up on my cold windy hill) so this post absolutely charmed me.
jodi (bloomingwriter)
January 12th, 2010 at 11:58 ampermalink
He hee John I’ve never seen an angry bird before but that pic is just wonderful. We don’t have those birds in the UK so it was great to see your visitors.
leavesnbloom
January 12th, 2010 at 12:26 pmpermalink
What did you do to that bluebird to make him so angry? So cute!
Cynthia
January 12th, 2010 at 5:14 pmpermalink
John these are fabulous … I am so impressed and inspired for I never feed the bluebirds … Oh I always say I will put out some oranges but your bluebird feeder is very inventive, and has me dreaming of how to create one for my little bluebirds. Wonderful post. This is the first time I have ever seen bluebirds at feeders.
Carol
January 12th, 2010 at 10:19 pmpermalink
Hi Liza! I was surprised to see you here, too! There aren’t many of us in the world, eh? I love my name. I hope you do, too!
Liza
January 13th, 2010 at 3:10 pmpermalink
John and Liza, this is a lovely post. The birds are just beautiful! We have the western mountain bluebirds in the open areas, but don’t usually see them in town. Love their color – such a wonderful shade of blue.
Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting on the pine grosbeaks. I don’t know if you browsed some of the earlier posts, but there is one with me feeding the pine siskins out of my hand this past August.
Love your blog. Hank
Hank
January 13th, 2010 at 8:18 pmpermalink
Hi Liza TPL: One of natures most beautiful things are Birds. Lots of fun to watch and learn about them. Glad you enjoyed your visit to our blog.
Enjoy Your Evening,
John
jwlw
January 13th, 2010 at 8:23 pmpermalink
Good Evening Jodi: Welcome to Liza and John’s Garden, glad you enjoyed your visit. Your welcome here any time. Will visit your blog and look around. Will say hello when I do.
Enjoy your Evening’
John
jwlw
January 13th, 2010 at 8:27 pmpermalink
HI Leavesnbloom: That’s a Look that is unique to Eastern Bluebirds. Have seen it a few times.
Come see us again,
John
jwlw
January 13th, 2010 at 8:33 pmpermalink
HI Cynthia: I think he was displeased with Liza taking his picture. Isn’t that look similar to Earl when he is displeased with something?
Have a Great Cold Evening,
John
jwlw
January 13th, 2010 at 8:38 pmpermalink
Good Evening Carol: The Bluebirds feed out of our seed feeders also, I use a Premium Mix with lots of different seeds. You could put my peanut Butter Mix out on feeder trays, break it up a little and they will come. Wood peckers also love the mix.
Enjoy the Evening,
John
jwlw
January 13th, 2010 at 8:44 pmpermalink
Good Evening Hank: Thanks for stopping by and commenting. The Pine Grosbeaks are beautiful. I will stop by and find that post.
Like your blog, well done.
Enjoy the Evening,
John
jwlw
January 13th, 2010 at 8:52 pmpermalink
Wow, they are lovely. I don’t think we get that species here, with such a gorgeous blue contrasted with that rusty breast patch. You have clearly found the way to their hearts with your grape jelly magic mix.
Meredith
January 14th, 2010 at 5:12 pmpermalink
HI Meredith: Don’t know where you are so can’t tell you if Eastern Bluebirds are in your area. Go to this Link and you can find out. Yes they are a very beautiful bird. Thanks for stopping by.
Enjoy the Evening,
John
jwlw
January 14th, 2010 at 7:12 pmpermalink
Hello and nice to meet you Liza and John. The photos you have taken of the Bluebirds are just breathtaking! I too love ‘angry bluebird’ – such a stern expression! I’ll be back to see the Cardinal photos
Heidi
January 15th, 2010 at 8:34 ampermalink
Good Morning Heidi: Welcome to Liza and John’s Garden. I see you came all the way from Australia, the Internet makes the trip fast and save.
Angry Bluebird is a character, everybody likes him.
Enjoy Your Day,
John
jwlw
January 15th, 2010 at 11:21 ampermalink
Thanks for the recipe. I never see bluebirds at our feeders although they are around. Now, with your recipe we may get some good photos.
MNGarden
January 17th, 2010 at 12:28 pmpermalink
HI MN: Bluebirds also feed at our seed feeders, we are using Supreme mix, Cardinal Mix and a Fruit and Nut mix. They all contain, Black Oil Sunflower, Sunflower Hearts, Safflower Seed. Also use an Orange Flavored Suit and the Bluebirds like the feeder with the shelf under the suit cage or the one with the cage on the end of the House feeder.
Good Luck,
John
jwlw
January 19th, 2010 at 2:11 pmpermalink
wondered where you guys live? didnt take the time to read all the way thru. i live in south carolina and was hoping to find a blog from someone close to here. just started with the bluebirds and had some questions. its already warm here and they are starting to next. i have some sparrow predators and wondered if there is a way to deter them from the box!
Kim
April 9th, 2010 at 6:30 pmpermalink
Hi Kim: For information about Bluebirds just keep doing a Google search, you may find some sites close to you. Check this site out .
Have a great day,
John
jwlw
April 16th, 2010 at 8:17 pmpermalink