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Experiencing Purple Martins In Your Yard

by Shopify API Feb 10, 2021 0 comments

Western Bluebird

by Opinew Collaborator Jun 04, 2019 0 comments

Image by Don's Photostream

By looking at the map, you can see where the nesting area for the Western Bluebird occurs.

The Western Bluebird has 1 -3 broods a year with a clutch size of 2-8 eggs that are a pale blue and sometimes can be white. Incubation period is 12 - 17 days and nesting period is 18 - 25 days.

Western Bluebird diet is mostly insects and in the winter when insects are low, they rely on fruits and seeds

FEED

If you want to attract the Western Bluebird to your yard by feeding them, listed below are some food options these birds prefer.

Fruit

FEEDERS

Western Bluebirds have been known to use a variety of bird feeders. But the two types of bird feeders listed below, are feeders the Western Bluebird prefers. The pictures below are some examples.

MEALWORM FEEDERS

Any type of mealworm feeder can be used. Some mealworm feeders may not work as well as others to attract the bluebird to your yard. Watch this video how one birder was able to train bluebirds to eat from his feeder. "How To Train Bluebirds"

PLATFORM FEEDER

Any size, shape or style can be used. All the food mentioned above can be placed on a platform feeder; also known as a tray feeder or fly thru feeder.

BIRDHOUSES

Any size, shape or design with the interior dimensions of a 5" x 5" floor to a 5.5" x 5.5" floor. Interior height 8" - 12". Entry hole 1.5" diameter that is 6"-10" above the floor. You can place your house 4'-6' high facing the entry hole to the east towards an open area. If you plan to to place more than one box for the Western Bluebird, place your nest boxes 215' apart to avoid territorial denomination.

Pictures below are some examples of Eastern Bluebird houses.

American Robin Birdhouses, Feeders, and Feed

by Trever Smith Apr 27, 2018 3 comments

The darker area towards the north of the map, in Canada is where the American Robin heads north in the spring, the lighter shade shows the location of the bird all year round and the darker area to the south, in Mexico, is where the Robin can go during the winter time.

American Robin can have 1 - 3 broods a year with a clutch size of 3 - 7 eggs, that can be a light blue to a greenish blue. The incubation period is 12-14 days and the nesting period is 13-16 days

Diet consist of insects, berries and earthworms.

FEED

Listed below are some of the food options the American Robin prefer. Test out your luck, with some of the choices listed below the next time you fill your bird feeder.

Suet

Peanut Hearts

Hulled Sunflower Seeds

Fruit

Dried Meal Worms

Live Meal Worms

FEEDERS

Attracting the a Robin to your yard with a bird feeder can be tricky. Robins are ground feeders, so a platform feeder is your best choice for the robin. Place the feeder low to the ground and even on the ground. The pictures below are some examples of the different types of platform feeders you may want to consider.

PLATFORM FEEDERS

Any size, shape, or style can be used. All the food mention above can be placed on a platform feeder. Platform feeders are also known as tray feeders and fly thru feeders. Platform Feeders can also be WINDOW FEEDERS.

BIRDHOUSES

Providing a robin with a bird house is a great idea, but getting a robin to use a bird house is very difficult, if not impossible to do, but can be done. Robins are not cavity dwellers; meaning they do not like to nest in enclose surroundings, such as inside of a tree or in an enclosed box. They prefer to nest in open areas like on tree branches, gutters and eaves on your house, even on outdoor fixtures. This is why when choosing a bird house for the robin, or building one, it must have an open front with open sides or sides that do not extend to the front of the bird house.

The greatest advantage having a robin birdhouse, is your able to see everything that happens, from the female making the nest, to laying the eggs, seeing the eggs hatch and watching the mother feed the nestlings. Since the robin birdhouse is not enclosed, your able to see day to day activity, that you would not normally see with birds that use enclosed birdhouses.

Any size, shape, or design can be used with the interior dimensions closely related to a 7" x 8" floor, with an interior height of 8". You can hang your house anywhere from 5'-25' high, facing the opening in any direction. If you plan to place more than one robin house, place your nest boxes 65' apart to avoid territorial denomination.

Click below to view what robin birdhouse should look like.

NOTE:

The Robin birdhouse dimensions and shape are closely related to the Dove and Blue Jay house dimensions. Placing a birdhouse out for the Robin may attract one of these other birds instead.

Binoculars are a great piece of birding equipment to help with your bird watching

WATER

Water is a fantastic way to attract the robin or just about any other bird to your yard. Here are some ways, you may be interested in "Videos, How To Attract Birds"

Interested in attracting other backyard birds to your yard? Check out "What Type Of Birdhouse, Feed & Feeder For What Bird"