Visitors to our deck and birdfeeder are fun to watch, and sometimes, even hold still long enough for getting some pictures through the sliding glass doors. The birds have already eaten one seed cylinder and we decided to move a new one a little closer to the deck and birdbath. So far the squirrels have not been able to get to it.
We have a large red mulberry tree which has been tagged for removal. š I think the birds will miss its branches, where they perch waiting for their turn at the feeder. From the nuts and blossoms deposited on our deck, from way up high, I know we also have a sweet gum tree and a tulip tree, but they don’t have nice eye-level branches.
Blue has always been my favorite color, and I love the blue and brown color combination found on bluebirds. Up north, I got my fix of blue from the blue jays who came for peanuts along with the squirrels on our balcony. Down south here I rarely see a blue jay. But the lovely bluebirds are everywhere!
Wonderful to have lots of blue birds and others to watch right outside your glass door!
Do you know why the tree is tagged to be removed? Is it diseased or endangerment to the property?
I imagine that the birds will find other places to perch with all of the wooded trees!
We were told the red mulberry tree and a few other trees are infected with some kind of fungus. Apparently they were evaluated by an arborist. When it gets windy around here we get lots of twigs and small branches falling, and once, even a large heavy branch that partially landed on the HVAC unit. We have many tall pines and some pretty understory trees like dogwoods and redbuds.
We get blue jays here, too, and I must confess, I think I’d rather have the bluebirds. They’re certainly not as noisy! I suppose they’ll miss the tree once it’s gone, but sometimes, you’ve got to remove one (for whatever reason). I bet they’ll just find another place to perch!
So true, blue jays and bluebirds have very different personalities! We have a pretty flowering dogwood with curvy branches in the front yard, right in front of the kitchen’s bay window. I’m thinking of putting the feeder out there instead, and then eating our meals in the kitchen instead of the dining room for more birdwatching opportunities. š
It is wonderful to see the eastern bluebirds here in their whimsical postures, Barbara. Also enjoyed the Carolina wren and your descriptions, thank you.
The Carolina wrens have such a pretty song and we feel lucky to have so many of them down here. Connecticut was at the northern edge of their range and we didn’t seen them so often when we lived up there. Little day-brighteners.
Bluebirds are gorgeous birds. We finally attracted a pair last summer by offering mealworms. But now word is out and many different species are chowing down and we’re going through worms at a fast rate. We may have to discontinue the practice due to the exorbitant cost, which kind of makes me sad… or should I say ‘blue?’ š
After we saw a couple of bluebirds we bought a bag of mealworms, which delighted the robins, wrens and cardinals, too. We didn’t buy another bag ā they are expensive as you noted ā but the bluebirds have stuck around anyway. Yay! When we lived in Connecticut the only bluebirds we ever saw were in the meadows and woods, never at the feeder. Speaking of mealworms, once on a walk in CT we almost stepped on a large pile of squirming live mealworms on the trail. š²
Yikes!
I love your Bluebirds of Happiness, Barbara! They give such adorable poses which you captured fabulously. Have you been able to figure out where they might be nesting? And your wren too? (Great shot, Tim!) I feel bad but I am trying to deter a pair of Carolina Wrens from building a nest in our garage. We leave the doors open often, and they keep coming in and starting a nest. They did this last year, I guess I’ll be doing this every year, lol. I hate when I go out to the garage in the morning and find a wren that’s been locked inside all night! So now, every night, I go out and ‘shoo shoo’ all around to make sure one’s hopefully not locked in.
They truly are bluebirds of happiness, Donna! When I look out the window and see them out there in the birdbath or at the feeder or watching each other from the red mulberry branches my heart just fills up with joy! I haven’t tried to figure out where they might be nesting but maybe when we spend more time out on the deck I will pay more attention to where they’re coming from and going to. The pollen is so high right now that we suffer too much out there in spite of using Claritin and Flonase… It sounds like you have your hands full trying to convince your Carolina Wrens to build their nest somewhere other than inside of your garage. Best of luck with your vigilant efforts there!
How wonderful! I rarely see a bluebird but we are surrounded by Carolina Wrens. Your bluebird pics are fabulous.
Thank you, Anna! It’s been a real treat having these bluebirds come by so often. I hope you’re enjoying your Carolina wrens.
I’m very allergic to mulberry trees and now I’m wondering if it’s the fungus on them more than the tree itself. Suddenly a few things are falling into place in my mind. The blue color of the birds is amazing.
I’m so sorry you’re allergic to such a pretty tree, Ally. Are there a lot of them in the area where you live? The berries are popular with the squirrel crowd. I agree about the amazing shade of blue on those bluebirds!
Where we used to live there were old mulberry trees everywhere, but around here they’re more in the parks than around residential areas. This makes me happier.
I’m sure you can breathe a lot easier without so many old mulberry trees in the immediate vicinity. Which makes it much easier to be happy. š
The Bluebirds are so cute Barbara! I’ve never seen one, but we have them here in Southeast Michigan. The Carolina Wren is very sweet too. How lovely to look out the window and see the Bluebirds waiting to take their turn at your feeder and getting their photo. What a shame they will take down the tree – maybe a shepherd’s hook with multiple “arms” might help. I know Wild Birds Unlimited sells those type of pole hangers to it would give the tiny birds a safe place to alight and queue up for food.
I didn’t see too many bluebirds back in Connecticut so it’s been pretty thrilling to see them so often down here. I miss my gulls but I now have bluebirds! We do have a shepherd’s hook that the previous residents left here but it only has one arm. The feeder looked so much prettier hanging from that long tree branch, though. It seems like we’re doing our share to keep Wild Birds Unlimited in business. All the birds seem to enjoy the birdbath, too. The mourning dove came by again last night and sat there meditating on the edge of the birdbath for the longest time and then took a long drink.
You have it made with the bluebirds Barbara. My Wild Birds Unlimited store was advertising a special for the Daily Savers Card ending on the 28th – you got a small bluebird feeder if you bought the bluebird mix seed (a small bag) … not just mealworms, but other treats bluebirds like. You may have the same sale at your WBU store – it is probably for all the franchisees. Phil and Therese, the owners have a bluebird nesting box in their yard, so they put out food for them. Last year they peeked in and got some photos of the babies. I hope they replace the tree for you for optimal viewing.
I’ll have to start paying attention to the emails full of deals I keep getting from Wild Birds Unlimited. Sometimes it’s overwhelming. I’m doing well if I go into the store and come out with only what I intended to buy, but usually I wind up buying extra stuff. Apparently our little birdhouse is perfect for chickadees ā we saw another one fly into it yesterday. It’s smaller than the bluebird nesting boxes I see in the stores. Tim doesn’t remember where he got it but it’s shaped differently with a smaller opening. I’ll try to get a picture of it one of these days.
I hate when I subscribe to a site and they inundate you with e-mails. I put them all to my SPAM folder and if I am interested in a sale, then I pay attention to them. Michael’s Craft Stores are bad for that. I saw this one on Facebook for Phil’s WBU store. I still follow Phil, though he’s not been my HVAC guy for some time now. I “get” it about WBU – they have nice products but they can be pricey and small quantities, but if it works and you have bluebirds, then indulge yourself.
I got my squirrel peanuts and hummingbird feeders/supplies at WBU during the beginning of the pandemic. Phil and his wife had just opened the store in the Fall of 2019, so he told Facebook followers he would deliver items ordered himself to their homes and his wife would be at the store to load things in their vehicle if they wanted to do that. He stayed afloat during that first phase of COVID by doing that.
I forgot to add that I hope the chickadees continue coming around. Yesterday I had a good walking/photo day: two Wood Ducks, two Turkeys and a pair of Canada Geese, with the Mama sitting on a nest in the middle of a pond with Papa hovering nearby.
The chickadees are still coming and going in and out of the birdhouse. I’m so glad you had nice time getting bird photos on your walk. It’s so nice to for you to see Mama & Papa Goose again this year and I hope they continue to show up for many years to come. š
That’s good – you enjoy those chickadees Barbara. I enjoy the birds coming for food at the Park. It is such a simple joy feeding the birds, a win-win for both. I want to get back up there for the goslings’ arrival though I don’t know how long she’s been on the nest as it was my first time there since last Fall. I hope they do too – this spot works for them. This Saturday is a clean-up day at Heritage Park, so I hope all the extra people don’t agitate them. The male looks agitated with just me, let alone a big crowd.
Love your bluebird photos! I see them fairly regularly, but never are they near and still enough to get great shots like these!
Thank you, Karma! It was the same back in Connecticut, when we spotted them they were too far away for a photo shoot. š Living down here has some unexpected blessings.