You can really help out your bluebirds when they start feeding the nestlings by putting out mealworms at least three times a day. It is a real chore for the adult bluebirds to find suitable food for the nestlings and deliver it on a regular basis. Bluebirds recognize a “bluebird friendly” yard and will continue to visit it every year for nesting purposes.
mealworm run to feed the nestlings
team work!
shuttling between the nest box and the mealworm feeder
Bluebird Shepherd
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For you DIYers, the plans for the Bluebird Mealworm Feeder shown below can be downloaded by clicking on this link:
Bluebird Meal Worm Feeder Plans.
Bluebird Shepherd
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Adult bluebirds always stay busy trying to keep nestlings fed. You can tell the nestlings are nearing the fledging point when the adult bluebirds feed them from outside the nest box in order to entice them to peer out of the entrance hole at the world. The importance of feeding meal worms during this period cannot be overemphasized. If possible, place a mealworm feeder in the vicinity of the nest box and keep it well stocked throughout the day.
The YouTube movie clip provided below shows the adult bluebirds shuttling between the mealworm feeder and the nest box to keep the nestlings fed.
Bluebird Shepherd
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It is a good idea to provide plenty of mealworms in a convenient location to help bluebirds with the task of feeding nestlings. You will also get to see the juvenile bluebirds from earlier clutches visit the feeder along with the adult bluebirds.
Adult bluebird loading up on mealworks to feed nestlings – 07/26/2009
Adult bluebird busy feeding nestlings mealworms – 07/26/2009
Juvenile bluebird enjoying mealworms – 07/26/2009
This is the third and final clutch of 2009. It has been a very productive nesting season with 14 new bluebirds introduced into the population.
Bluebird Shepherd
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True to form the bluebirds have selected the modified Gilbertson nest box for their third nesting cycle of 2009. The first two nestings were in the nestcam box. When we observed the bluebirds hauling pine straw to the Gilbertson, we put a small pile of pine straw near the nest box to make it easier for them.
Hard at work building the third nest of the season!
06/29/2009
You can observe the bluebird activity from the yardcam by clicking on the link below.
You may want to use the zoom feature in the web viewer to get a closer look at the entrance hole of the Gilbertson nest box.
Bluebird Shepherd
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The five bluebird nestlings in the second clutch continue to develop. They are very active now.
Bluebird Shepherd
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The nestcam box has proven to be a popular nesting site in 2009. The second clutch of five nestlings are in the box and developing into bluebirds.
YouTube Video Clip of the Nestlings
Bluebird Shepherd
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All five eggs from the second clutch in the nestcam box hatched today. Mother Bluebird is busy keeping them fed.
We will continue to put out plenty of mealworms to help keep all the bluebirds well fed.
Bluebird Shepherd
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Mother bluebird spends most of the day and night brooding the eggs. She will occasionally turn the eggs.
We expect the eggs to hatch between June 10–12.
Bluebird Shepherd
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The five new bluebirds from the first clutch and the parents gather around every evening for a mealworm feast. The female parent continues to brood the five eggs in the nestcam box.
Evening meal – 05/29/2009
Bluebird Shepherd
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