Help-for-Bluebirds.org

Bluebird Meal Worm Feeder Plans

helpforbluebirds — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:06:35 +0000

For you DIYers, the plans for the Bluebird Mealworm Feeder shown below can be downloaded by clicking on this link:

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Importance of feeding mealworms!

helpforbluebirds — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:37:48 +0000

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.

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Feeding Time!

helpforbluebirds — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:28:35 +0000

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.

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Third nesting!

helpforbluebirds — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:20:09 +0000

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.

yardcam video

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.

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Tags: third+nesting+of+2009

Nestlings are growing!

helpforbluebirds — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:11:38 +0000

The five bluebird nestlings in the second clutch continue to develop. They are very active now.

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Five more bluebirds!

helpforbluebirds — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:10:59 +0000

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

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Tags: bluebirds, nestlings, hatchlings

Hatched!

helpforbluebirds — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:50:36 +0000

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.

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Tags: hatched

Brooding Duty!

helpforbluebirds — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:33:06 +0000

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.

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Tags: brooding+duty, bluebirds

Evening meal!

helpforbluebirds — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:00:37 +0000

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

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Tags: evening+meal

Fifth blue egg, second nesting

helpforbluebirds — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:38:01 +0000

The fifth blue egg of the second nesting cycle appeared in the nestcam box this morning. Brooding starts when all the eggs have been laid so that all will hatch on the same day, 12-14 days later. The nestlings fledge 18 to 21 days after hatching.

Five blue eggs!

Brooding in process

We are looking forward to watching the second nesting cycle produce five more bluebirds. That will be a total of ten new bluebirds from the nestcam box in 2009.

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