Bluebird Conference
Penn Stater Hotel Conference Center
215 Innovation Boulevard State College, PA 16803
April 13 &14,2012

lf you enjoy songbirds and nature, you will want to attend the 14″‘Annual Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania’s Conference on April 13th & 14′h, 2012 at the Penn Stater Hotel, State College, PA. This event is open to the public and offers a variety of educational programs and activities. On Friday evening, Ken Leister, State County Coordinator for BSP will host a social. Program topics include “Landscaping for Bluebirds”, “17 Ways to Inspire Others about Bluebird Conservation” and a Show and Tell Demonstration featuring the BEST nest box designs.The Saturday all -day conference event features three guest speakers. Warren Miller, President of the Honey Bee Association of Pennsylvania will share the exciting activity within a bee colony and reasons why these insects are so beneficial to mankind. Thomas Serfass, Professor of Wildlife Ecology Department of Biology and Natural Resources at Frostburg State University will present “Otters, the Present, Past, and Future” and how we can help these beautiful animals survive in Pennsylvania’s waterways. Scott Shalaway from West Virginia, a certified Wildlife Biologist, a Nature Journalist, Author, and Broadcaster hosts a nature-themed radio show in West Virginia and Pittsburgh Pa. Mr. Shalaway’s program is titled “The Whole Story” concerning the natural history of cavity- nesting songbirds. Learn the history and the secrets lives of cavity- nesting birds as they fight for survival in this ever -changing world.There will be vendors, including the Bluebird Society’s Store which will offer bluebird-related and other wildlife items for purchase and a live and silent auction. The Conference Registration fee is $35 per person, which includes Continental Breakfast and Luncheon on Saturday.There is a $5 savings for registrations received by March 15,2012. The Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania is a non-profit, educational organization which serves a vital role in the protection and propagation of the Eastern bluebird. Our members monitor nesting boxes and conduct research related to bluebirds and other cavity-nesting species. Sharing information with the public regarding the importance of providing food sources, habitat, and establishing bluebird trails is important in promoting nesting success. Full details about the BSP volunteer programs, general information about Bluebirds and registration form of the upcoming conference event are all available online at www thebsp.org. Or contact Harry Schmeider at harryschmeider@gmail.com or 724 285 1209

(Dec 4th 2011) Today I look outside and spotted bluebirds. There were several flying all around my yard. In and out of my bluebird nest box and landing in the trees even flying to the ground. They were flocking together moving about searching for food. Generally I experience this in October or November but the weather has been milder this early winter. It was a really nice experience seeing these wonderful birds so late in the season. Soon after I received calls from friends seeing them as well. They have moved on as expected and I just can’t wait to see their arrival next spring.

Butler County – Harry Schmeider

I have babies in one of my boxes I am not sure how old they are but about 2 weeks ago I saw eggs in the box that housed swallows in earlier this summer. I just wanted to know if it is unusual for a late brood.

Linda

UGH! I am enjoying soooo many chickadees, purple finch, titmice, nuthatches, doves, cardinals, and several kinds of woodpecker at my winter bird feeders. However I am also feeding way too many sparrow. I don’t really want to take the feeders down, for the other birds. But the sparrow have been jumping all around my bluebird box which last summer had two successful brood. Trapping isn’t working (I’m only catching purple finch). Is it better to stop feeding all together or …? Thanks -

My observation is that there is less bluebird activity this year. I suspect it is because last summers cold & rainy weather increased the nestling mortality rate. My question: does anyone have statistics on the year to year nestling mortality rates of our PA Bluebirds? Michael of Bucks County.

Hi!  We have 5 babies about to begin their first lessons in flight.  We’re estimating this will occur within the next week.  We added a birdbath within 20-30 feet of the bluebird house a few weeks ago, however it has attracted many other birds, including large Ravens.  I am worried that we have put the baby bluebirds who are about to begin leaving the security of their nest in harms way.  I read that adding a birdbath was a good idea, however, after watching day after day, I am becoming more concerned for their safety.  Any advice will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.  Judi

I have a bluebird nest (second brood) that was attacked last night. I found the box open and nest on the ground with two eggs and the young ones gone. I put the nest back in the box but mom and dad have been frantically flying about the box and trying to feed the young that are no longer there. I am not sure if I did the right thing. Should I have left the box alone? Should I just clean out the box? I am not sure what to do. I am so distraught. Any suggestions would be most grateful…. thank you.

Mark your calendars to plan to attend the 2011 13th Annual Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania Conference on April 1 and 2,  next year at the Penn Stater Hotel, 215 Innovation Boulevard  State College, Pa. 16803  More Information will be forth coming.

Penn Stater Hotel Website -  http://www.pshs.psu.edu/pennstater/pshome.asp

If you ground up a blue feather from a bluebird you would get a gray brown powder. Bluebird feathers have no pigment. Blue is a structural color coming from unique cell layers overlying the feathers when sunlight hit the layers the color blue is reflected.  No feathers have blue pigment, even with the indigo bunting and the bluejay. If you would show a back light to a blue feathers it would appear grayish brown, showing only its actual pigment. Interesting!

Taken from Backyard Birds Inc.  *copy rights permitted for education purpose only.

The Ambassador for the Bluebirds

Harry Schmeider

Just submitted my annual nest box report. Monitored 29 boxes, 16 bb nests, 60 bb eggs, but only 13 fledged! Had a terrible time with HOSPs, with lots of eggs stolen/abandoned. I trapped and killed about 60 HOSPs, strung monofilament line by the entrance holes and put up sparrow spookers, but nothing really “worked”. I’m going to build some PVC houses next year and see if they work. A pretty discouraging year, but I’m going to solider on.

Phil

You will not want to miss the 2009 BSP/NABS Bluebird Conference held at the Holiday Inn-Hershey located in Grantville, Pa. This is open to the public and the Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania will be hosting this awesome event.  September 9th thur 13th, we have the days and evenings loaded with tours and guest speakers, vendors, auction, gift baskets, Quilt raffle, and much more.  Please visit the  link below for more information.

http://www.thebsp.org/NABSconf2009-Current.pdf

Contact person is Kathy Clark, Conference Chair and President of the BSP   717-695 0700  / KCBSP@aol.com

I have had a bluebird house in my back yard for the past 2 yrs with no activity. This spring I gave up and let sparrows nest and raise a brood. Last week while mowing I noticed a male Bluebird sitting on top of the house battling with the sparrow. I immediately cleaned out the sparrow nest, and believe it or not it hasnt been back. The male Bluebird has been back every morning and evening. He sits atop and chirps and pretends to put nesting material in the house, and flys back and forth to the nearby telephone pole. He has quite a following of females some mature some not. It has been 4 days and he has had 1 female in the house two days bringing nesting materials in the morning only, but there are always three to five more females in the brush and trees near the house. One evening 5 females were on top of the house and three in the brush beside it, and the male was in a pine further away. I am thrilled with the activity but the house remains uninhabited. They still come every morning and evening, but they dont eat the meal worms I put out. I thought maybe they were getting ready for a second brood and that I would have my first nesting pair but I am confused as to what the heck is really going on. Is my house a dummy nest house? What should I do.

MoodyBlue

Is it worth putting up a couple of bluebird boxes near route 83? They’d only be about 50 yards from the road as the crow flies, but they’d be down a steep bank with quite a few trees on it. So there’s constant road noise, but it’s not deafening or anything. It’s something I find pretty bothersome for the first 15 minutes while I’m there, then my mind sort of tunes it out and I don’t really notice it. But I wonder if the bluebirds can deal with it.

Phil

One of my babies is fledging but sitting on the grass for hours. I’m concerned about the neighborhood cats. I put him back in the box last night but he’s out again. Should I do anything or let nature take its course. Papa is checking on him.

dannybluebird

What is going on? This is the second time now that I have a nest, but then the Bluebirds don’t nest there. The first nest was a half hearted effort, but this nest was a beautiful nest with a nice cup. I even saw the female come in at 7:11 AM and sit on the nest for 31 minutes, but no eggs. She did this 2 mornings in a row. I am totally baffled as to why they are building nests, but then don’t lay their eggs there. It’s been about 2 weeks now. SHould I take the nest out now? Please help. Why are the BB’s doing this, and what should I do now??? Please somebody help me. I monitor 6 other boxes with no problems.
SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP!!!!

Tammy

My Momma and Poppa Blue have laid their first egg in their second nest in the same box.  I’m still riddled with sparrow problems — not one has gone in the repeating ground trap.  But it seems as long as the sparrows have “their” boxes they’ll leave the bluebirds to their house.  And I’ll addle the sparrow eggs.  Also put the sparrow spook up now since the first egg has appeared.  Now back to worrying every day.

Maribee   < Lancaster County>

Guess what everybody???? I have a female feverishly building a nest now for 3 days in one of MY nesting boxes in MY yard. I was almost afraid to look inside the box last night to see how far she got because of the first incident I had with the decoy nest, but low & behold there before my eyes was a beautiful bluebird nest with a nice little cup in it. I was watching this morning and she was right away started building at 6:30- 7:00 ish, and the male was keeping watch. Everybody kept saying be patient, it’ll happen, but patience isn’t one of my strong points. I am anxious to see how many days it takes for her to complete the nest and then to see the very first blue egg will be awesome. I have other nesting boxes that I monitor, and they have had Bluebirds that fledged already, but to have it in your own back yard is even better. I can sit for hours just watching them come in for meal worms, and swooping down to get bugs. There’s something about these Bluebirds that has touched my heart. I’ll keep you posted as to when the first egg arrives.

Tammy/The Bluebird Fanatic

Hi Everyone!  I live in Southern Lancaster County and just discovered blue birding as a hobby this year. I’m the ex-ignoramus who fed cheap bird food and didn’t know the difference between a sparrow and a swallow last year   But I’ve been learning and had a bluebird house this summer.  I put the mono filament up around the hole and weighted down from the top as well.  So far, sparrow proof, and my five eggs and now little fledglings are about two weeks old (picture taken yesterday will be posted if I can find how to – and I only peeked once a week, this was the first picture).  This morning… disaster… sparrow attack.  I witnessed it and ran out.  At least one baby dead, poked bloody in the center of its head.  I know at least three are still okay.  Mom and dad have returned and are feeding the survivors.

Here’s what I’ve done today, wondering if it’s right or if there are other suggestions…   I raised the roof completely, as I heard sparrows did not like open roofed boxes.  Put it down to about 2 inches open this evening, in fears of early fledgling.  Ok to go ahead and close all the way?  Took the dead baby out.  There may be one more, but they all SEEM okay without handling, and I didn’t want to do too much at once by lifting them all and scaring off mom and dad.  Put dangling shiny ribbon hanging above their box (wish I did this sooner). Now, the sparrows are nesting in decorative boxes 12 and 18 feet away.  I’m not sure if it’s best to take away their nesting yet, or wait for eggs – I fear that revenge syndrome thing. If these babies can pull through, next job: sparrow control.

Any further ideas?   Should I try to trap/kill the sparrows tonight?

Thanks — mb    < Lancaster County>

I found  baby bluebirds dead on the ground and nest not disturbed, female not around but male still sits on house daily. Shall I remove the nest so he flys away to get another mate. This is so pathetic to watch him sit there.

I have a wren nest approx. 50 feet away–could that be culprit?

I get very frustrated over the general population concerning feeding house sparrows.  I know that I used to be one of them when it came to House Sparrows. I just didn’t know. I fed them all winter long on bread crumbs and cheapo Wal-Mart bird seed. Then I heard about bluebirds dying because of sparrow attacks  and I thought that they were talking about blue jays. I am native of Pennsylvania and  never seen a bluebird ever!!! My first book I ever read about bluebirds was the Bluebird Monitor’s Guide, talk about getting informed!  Now I get very frustrated when I try to tell my friends who are just raising house sparrows and I get frustrated at myself for not doing more.   My own parents are still living and they to are included in the group of  house sparrow helpers.  Knowing what I now know today about House Sparrows,  I try to inform  people  how cruel the house sparrow can be during nesting time.  Thanks for letting me vent even if this never gets posted.

Signed as myalic

Guess What???? I now have a formed BB nest in my box. I am so excited!!!! I went out & checked a few days ago expecting to find the same sparce nesting material on the bottom of the box, but instead when I opened it up I saw a cupped nest made of pine needles & dried grass. When the female BB got this done I haven’t a clue( I work full time) but I’m so glad she found the time. Since then I’ve noticed pieces of nesting material that she must have dropped so she is still working on the nest. I hope to soon see blue BB eggs. I’ll keep you posted! Thanks for the input

Tammy / Bluebird Fanatic

I tried this homemade recipe for the first time this year and our bluebirds love it. It was developed by someone at the University of Minnesota (I think) who did a lot of experimenting.  Peanut hearts are available at Agway.  We rendered our own suet as describe below. The birds like the cracklings too. Present the food on a platform feeder.

MIX
1 cup peanut butter
4 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup unbleached or whole-wheat flour

ADD:
1 cup fine sunflower seed chips
1 cup peanut hearts (or finely ground nuts)
1/2 – 1 cup Zante currants (or raisins cut in halves)

DRIZZLE and STIR IN: 1 cup rendered, melted suet. COOL
Resulting mix will be crumbly and should have bean/pea sized lumps from the drizzling of the melted suet. If too sticky after cooling, mix in a bit more flour. If too dry, drizzle in more melted suet. Refrigerate any mix you are not using – to prevent suet from turning rancid. You can use a commercial pure bird suet cake or you can render you own suet. To render suet, grind or cube butcher store suet. Melt over low heat. Watch carefully as suet is a fat and can start on fire with too high heat. A microwave can be used. Strain out the stringy bits (cracklings). Cool. Remelt a second time for the recipe.

Phil

Hi! I’m new to this site, and fairly new to Mercersburg, PA. in Franklin County.  I made contact with Joyce Stuff last Summer, at which time she gave me some bluebird boxes to put up.  This Winter, I’ve been seeing lots of bluebirds, which prompted me to put up a bluebird feeder.  I’ve been stocking it with two different types of food that I bought.  One is Bluebird Nuggets “Plus.”  They are a combination of suet, roasted peanuts, and raisins.  The bluebirds don’t seem to like the nuggets very much.  I have also been using dried mealworms.  They really gobble up the worms, and leave the nuggets mostly alone.  It’s hard for me to tell at a distance whether the birds that are getting into the feeder are bluebirds, but I’m pretty sure they are, because on occasion the birds getting into the feeder also will perch on the rail of my porch, where I can tell for sure that they are bluebirds.  I’m wondering if there might be other birds small enough to get into the bluebird feeder, though.  I was buying the mealworms in little bags containing approximately 2000 worms each.  I found that was quite expensive, considering the rate at which the bluebirds were consuming the worms.  Last week, I found a web site where I could get a plastic container with 10,000 worms.  The cost per worm was a lot less that way.

nukeguy001   <Franklin County>

I’m not sure exactly how to blog, but I was checking out the bsp site so I thought why not. I have a completed nest in a Gilbertson nest box I installed last year  in a park near my house.  Last year I had chickadees in it but the house wrens took over and fledged two broods. What should I do to protect the bluebirds when the wren migrate back? Also, I haven’t had HOSP problems yet but I know its just a matter of time, I’m not looking forward to it but no one in my family really understands what is needed to do, I guess I just some psycho bird lady!

First Time Landord,

Signed as  myalci

Hi Everybody,

This is only my second year with BSP, but am enjoying it tremendously.  Last year I got my boxes up too late to get a Bluebirds to nest, so I kept them up all winter, and made sure they were clean and ready to go in the spring.  I have spotted 2 females & 1 male Bluebird.  Usually only 1 female & 1 male come in to feed, but at times I see the females fight at the boxes.  I was jumping for joy when I noticed the female start to build a nest in my PVC box.  She worked feverishly for hours.  I thought for sure she would have the whole nest built in that time(remember I’m new to all this).  After I noticed neither bird at the box I went & checked & the floor was just covered, nothing else. Again I thought there would be more of a nest there.  Also I noticed two doors down a neighbor put up a box, and now it looks like this pair is building in both boxes.  Is that common??????  Could it be the male has a different female for each box.  I haven’t noticed any nest building since.  Does it always take this long.  Any feed back would be appreciated.  I am soooooo excited to have my first nest of Bluebirds in my box (hopefuly my box).  The whole 2 nest building things & 2 female thing is what has me stumped.   Please give me some insight.  Also I’ve never done this blog thing either so be patient with me.

Tammy/Bluebird Fanatic

I had a male bluebird arrive early as February 23^rd and now I have a pair of bluebirds today March 4, 2009. Both are going in and out of the nest box and really giving it a close inspection. Both looked very healthy and looked to be mature birds. I noticed the male was pecking at the top side of the next box at the roof area. I just then remembered the duct tape is still over the ¼ inch vent area at the top of the roof and sides. The male was actually trying hard to remove this tape.  I got my coat on and went out to remove the duct tape off both sides of the vent area and I noticed he was sitting in a near by tree watching me. I turn toward him and welcomed him back and at the same time he flew right at me and then returned to the tree again bouncing around and flickering his wings. I’d like to think he understood what I was saying and at the same time thanked me for removing the duct tape. Both were on top of the nest box before I got back into the house. I watch them both closely from inside and they seemed happy bouncing around on top on the birdhouse. The next thing I noticed both entered the nestbox, one after the other. They were both inside for quite sometime, I wonder what they were doing,  ( little ones on the way ) lol.  The weather is still cold but we are getting warmer temperature later in the week. It’s so nice to see the bluebirds are back, that means spring is just around the corner.

Harry Schmeider  < Butler County Pa >

House Sparrows are the most common problem blue-birder’s have. This invasive species introduce in the 1800’s has become the most abundant song bird in North America. Do to the fact it bonds with the nest box and will defend it aggressively, we must find a way to deal with it. The house sparrow is not a protected bird, so you may dispose of it. The male house sparrow during the breeding season has only one thing on his mind: Procreation. Continuously destroying his nest, he becomes increasingly “frustrated”, aggressive, frequent house sparrow nest removal, without permanent removal of the house sparrows, is NOT a viable house sparrow control method. Little did I know I was creating a “vindictive” house sparrow? I will never forget  that day when I opened up my nest box and found a male bluebird that was viciously attacked. I feel solely responsible for its death even to this day. I admit I was an inexperience monitor and learned the hard way. I now trap the house sparrows and  I have found the Van-ERT Universal Sparrow trap works well for me and I highly recommend it to you. If my story can help other new blue birders and monitors to be aware of the house sparrow, then maybe my bluebird will not have died in vain. Please forgive my ignorance, my inexperience and my lack of knowledge at that time. Today; because of that experience, I have studied and educated myself concerning bluebirds and sparrows and their nesting habits. With this knowledge it has inspired me to share bluebirds with others as I can through being an Ambassador for the Bluebirds.

Harry Schmeider  < Butler County PA >

Was thrilled last Friday morning about 8:30 a.m. to see 2 males and 1 female BB checking out a bluebird nest box in the front yard. Not sure if they were roosting in the box overnight. I hastily put out some special food with fruit and berries. Had to leave for work , but the food was gone that evening. Time to make a batch of Bluebird Suet!

< Cumberland County PA >

When ever you see a bluebird it brings happiness, if you want to experience these beautiful birds, place a nestbox designed for bluebirds on a pole in your yard and experience the mystery of the joy that they bring.  I recommend reading about bluebirds first, then approach this wonderful world of Bluebirding. Recommend reading;  Bluebird Book by Donald and Lillian Stokes and The Bluebird Monitor’s Guide a Cornell Bird Library Guide to bluebirds and other small cavity-Nester’s.  Check our BSP online store for both of these wonderful books.

Below is a link to a YouTube Video created by friends of mine;  Maria Rose and Danny Elswick  just watching this video will bring happiness and joy. Experience it yourself   :   watch?v=sRE9RLDDnI

Harry Schmeider   < Butler County PA >