We have had luck with having bluebirds stay year round here for the last several years. We have 4 houses for them to choose from and they usually pick one each year to have a brood or two. Once the second brood fledges they disappear into the woods for a month or so. I can hear them nearby calling each other all summer. Then when it starts getting chilly they show back up for dried mealworms. I think we are on the edge of their year round territory, and I’m glad to have them.
With winter upon us, we saw a bunch of activity at the feeders. We have every different type so there’s a lot of variety for birds to choose from. Yesterday I got to watch, not one, but two Fox Sparrows scratching at the ground underneath the feeders. I’ve only seen a Fox Sparrow a few times in the 9 years we’ve been here, and yesterday it was fun to see two of them! That always makes me happy, when it’s a bird I don’t get to see often.
We’ll do some ‘Birding Threads’ this winter when some of us are snowbound, and those in other states are ‘taking care of OUR birds’ in warmer climates for the winter. ;)
We saw our first black and white warbler here this year. Yes it’s exciting to see a new bird.