Actually Kendra,I've seen them here in winter. A flock flew over my head last February (could hear them communicating) I just don't feed them in the winter. Too much else to worry about, haha. And when they are ready to mate, they won't nest for weeks! They check out boxes every day and stay together but don't start building nests until the end of March/April. The blues either know there's a Hosp claiming it, wait, or don't realize it and I end up trapping it before the blues are ready to nest.

That is just so awesome. Not just to have the same female return, but to absolutely know it is her because of her unique color. I'm certain I have a different pair this year because they are very shy around me and don't come to the mealworm feeder when I call them. They won't go near it for about half an hour after I fill it. Also, this is the first pair I've ever had that built their nest out of short pine needles. In the past they have always used the long pine needles or grass.

For some reason bluebirds are intent on forgetting their responsibilities and this is a good reason their attempts to nest end in failure. I'm sure they would have gone extinct if it wasn't for us! Unusual indeed. Last season I had one parent (male I believe it was) feeding the hatch-lings, and the female NEVER went in to feed the babies. That's if my memory is serving me correctly. This is my 6th season, so it's getting hard to remember what exactly happened when. In one case here in Ohio, it was 70 degrees one evening - nice and warm - the babies were ALL gaping like crazy! The blues didn't seem to feed their young AT ALL. I was SO mad! This resulted in the ENTIRE clutch starving to death the next day when it was cold, blustery, cloudy, and only 50 degrees. The mom continued brooding but the young were doomed. I pulled the poor things out of the nest, buried them, and called it a day. Sounds like things are getting better. Unfortunately I suffer set-backs nearly every season. This time the 1st egg of the season disappeared. Could have had a full clutch by now! Sometimes it's just irritating seeing these birds become so careless, but so long as the parents stay alive, everything will be okay. I'm just not fortunate to have many successful attempts each season despite doing so many things right. Good luck from here on out! ~Tim~

Will let things work themselves out.