Bag It!

I'm trying a different approach this spring to discourage and run off the dreaded house sparrows...

Instead of stuffing the hole with a plastic bag, as I've done in the past, I opted to cover the entire bird house with the plastic bag.  This allows me to tie the bag nice and snug. Stuffing the bag in the hole works too but the sparrows pull and tug on it trying to get in and often times pulled it out but NO more with this approach.  Also, they don't seem to know what it is or like the bag and therefore they're no longer perching on the roof and hanging around.  This seems to have chased them off, HORRAY!

The sparrow claiming these two bird houses as their own end up chasing off the Bluebirds.  Yes, now no birds can take up residence in them today but I will remove the bags in a couple weeks and monitor to see who comes poking around.  Fingers crossed it'll be the Bluebirds.  The Bluebird is one of my favorite birds, hands down - there is NO comparison.  Sparrows on the other hand, well I despise them and would prefer they NOT be here at all and the last thing I want is them nesting in these boxes and raising more.

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String Them Along

I'm trying some new with my two bird houses this spring, see below.

There is always a battle between my beloved Eastern Bluebirds and the dreaded, annoying Sparrow to determine who gets to claim these bird houses as home.

What I've been doing, which is so counter productive, is I block the holes.  However, I only do this when the sparrow have taken over but inevitably it also prevents the bluebirds from moving in too.

I recently read on one of the social media apps that hanging string like I've done below wards off sparrow and most birds, as they flap their wings as they approach and enter the hole.  However, bluebirds do not, rather they swoop in with their wings closed.

Remember you can't believe everything you read on social media, so we'll see if there's any validity to this approach.  I'm not sure if I've installed the string properly but I'll keep a close eye and adjust if I need to.  At the end of the day, if this approach deters the sparrow I'll consider it a win.  I loath those god awful, noise and messy birds, GRRR!

Not A Rubber Ducky

I captured a couple of the many visiting Blue Birds enjoying my bird baths.

Post bath preening and relaxing in warm sunny spot -

This is the first summer in the last 5 or 6 that I don't have any nesting Blue Birds 😥.

The unwanted, dirty and annoying House Sparrows have chased them off.  Bullying them out and away from the bird houses I have and that the Blue Birds have called home for years.  They've done the same thing to the Wrens too.  Wish I knew of a way to rid my yard of just these vermin sparrows...

In And Out!

I don't know whether...

I'm coming -

or

going -

these days!

UGH!

Cold Feet!

My favorite birds are still around despite the bitter cold and snow, and still posing for some great pics!

Post Up!

How bout these awesome pics I took yesterday, perfect!

One of my favorite birds too, the Eastern Bluebird!

She's not sporting the beautiful blue color they typically have during the summer but this female is still stunning just the same.  The orange or rust colors even match the actual rust on the metal hook she's posing next to.

Also, worth noting is that these pics were taken through the window over my kitchen sink.  Crystal clear right?!  This bodes well for, and kudos to me, for the excellent job I've done cleaning both the inside and outside of my windows!

Fencing Sitting

I'm happy to report that the Blurbirds are back!

Well, they've actually been here all winter long, however, they're now actively in and out of the bird house that they've used the last several years. One of my favorites!

Bag It!

Some may not like or approve of this method, however, it works and I will continue to implement when needed.

This specific bird house had been home to Blue Birds the last couple of years!  Often appearing to raise multiple clutches of babies.  Blue Birds are absolutely beautiful, peaceful birds that do a tremendous job at insect control.  They are always and MORE than welcome in my yard.

However, competing birds are taking over and forcing the Blue Birds out.  Although, they've been around and have been trying to stake a claim this this house, they keep getting scared off by House Sparrows.

House Sparrows are scum birds!  They offer NO value at all with their presence. They are super noisy, which is more bothersome simply because they're sparrows.  They're known more of a scavenger type bird, similar to the pigeon or the starling and crap everywhere.  You often see these birds in the city looking for scraps or handouts or even around fast food restaurants - dirty, useless birds.

Anyway, I stuff a plastic bag in the birdhouse holes to prevent the sparrows from getting in.  Now, I know what your thinking, in doing this I am also preventing the Blue Birds from getting in too, however, at the point I implement this method, the sparrows have already driven off the Blue Birds.  I often wait until the sparrows are established, perhaps even have laid some eggs before "bagging it". Oh, they're not happy at all with this turn of events and try as they may they eventually give up and leave.

Frustratingly, it's a temporary solution, as they eventually make their way back and we have to play the game all over again.  Meanwhile, the Blue Birds have moved onto someone else's bird house, alas.

Any Vacancies?!

The Bluebirds have been around really all winter long but they did come and go.  Lately, they seem to be staying and hanging out longer.  Even back to constantly checking out they're old home.

We've had them nesting in the pictured bird house for three years in a row now and I'm excited to see they're back for hopefully a fourth year.

They're a beautiful bird, one of my favorites.

You Know What They Say...

The early (Blue)bird gets the (Army) worm...

Here's the proof

<drops mic>

It's difficult to tell but my guess is he's enjoying some type of army worm, which pleases me.

The Bluebirds Have Returned

The Bluebirds are here and have been off an on throughout the winter.  These days it looks like they've staked their claim to one of our two bird houses, the same one they used for several clutches last year, and are busily gathering up nesting material - 

Beautiful birds that I love having around.

Just Hanging

I don't have any bird feeders hanging in the yard this season.  However, the Blue Birds are still here and bee-bopping all over.  They're seldom is one or two, typically there are a half dozen or so.  They're still hanging out and checking out the bird houses. Hoping for their return and nesting again come spring.

They're fun to watch and photogenic, at times.

 

Welcome Back!

There's a good looking bird right there, and a darn good photo too!

Looks like they've decided to nest here again this spring, same as last year, and have taken up residence in the below bird house.  I suspect they approve of the newly renovated roof.

Welcome!

Mora Blue Birds...

There were a dozen or so Blue Birds visiting the other day.  Several were checking out the bird houses like they do; in and out, in and out.  Oddly, and all of a sudden, the scurrying about stopped and for the longest time the birds perched in groups just peacefully resting.

As I've been saying, hoping they decide to come back in the spring and setup house in one or more of the bird houses.  It's always nice to see them rear their young.

I Feel "Thrush"...

One of my favorites, the Eastern Bluebird, comes and goes constantly throughout the winter.  Often times they come in groups and always to feed and always to check out the bird house we have about.  

Hoping their looking for Spring residence and staking their claims now.

Roof Repair

Looks like the roof repair, or rather roof replacement, I did on one of our bird houses is holding up nicely.  Seems the Thompson water seal I coated it with is doing it's job too.

Hoping the Blue Birds return this spring, approve and decide to stay for another season!

Bluebird. Sialia. Thrush.

Looks who's back!

We had a pair of Bluebirds that nested in the pictured bird house last year and there seems to be quite a bit of interest again this year!  There's been a handful of Bluebirds that visited off and on throughout the winter.  With the warmer weather here now, a couple have been hanging around and are smitten with the possible nesting accommodations.

I hope they decide to stay.

I Spy With My Little Eye

A male Bluebird staying close to his mate and keeping a watchful eye on the area.

Love me some Bluebirds!

Knock Knock, Anybody Home?!

A lone Bluebird visiting and checking out our birdhouse accommodations.  Last Spring we had a pair of Bluebirds that took up residence in the house shown in the top two pics below.  Maybe same one from last year, or perhaps one of their young'n?!

A Bluebird and Finch waiting their turn to checkout the local bird house accommodations. However, it looks like the male House Sparrow has other thoughts and not budging -

I can tell you with 100% certainty that the House Sparrow will be evicted eventually!  If the Bluebird doesn't do it, I know the home owner is a dink and he'll see to it personally...

Two On A Roof

The Blue birds are back!

They've been visiting off and on since early January.

Not sure if it's the Red squirrels or woodpeckers that have been working on widening the bird house entrance hole.  Whomever, they're doing a fantastic (destructive) job at it.