Welcome to my site! My bluebird trail consists of around 15 bluebird houses and  stretches over 40 acres in Fosterburg, Illinois. Fosterburg is on the outskirts of Alton, Illinois which is about 25 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri.  I have had excellent luck with bluebirds,and usually have over 60 babies each year.  I also monitor another trail which produces an additional 25 babies.   My bluebirds are offered mealworms.  It is a lot of fun to watch the adults, and it is even more fun to watch when the parents bring the babies to the mealworm feeder.  You can witness the babies showing their authority around food, and even watch as they learn to feed themselves.  It is also a great help to the bluebirds to have supplemental feedings nearby if the weather turns cold or if, HEAVEN FORBID, something should happen to one of the parents.  Please click on "Picture 2" to see one type of mealworm feeder.
There is also a peanut-butter mix that is very good for adult bluebirds and babies. The Chickadees and Titmice love it also. You really need a bluebird feeder to put the mix in because if you put it in an open dish below the bluebird houses, it will attract predators, especially coons, which will discover there is another good meal above the peanut butter! :( Coons are very intelligent, very agile, and love bird eggs. They will also kill the babies and parents. However, if the weather would become very cool and the birds needed a supplemental feeding, or if you just wanted to watch the Blues enjoy the mixture, you could put the dish out below the bluebird house but MAKE CERTAIN to remove it before dusk. Here is the recipe:

Do you know that in the unfortunate situation that bluebird babies lose their mother during the time they have to be kept warm (featherless) that if you can find another bluebird house with the same-age babies, the other bluebird parents will raise the orphans??? One thing to keep in mind is that a bluebird box shouldn't contain ten babies. So, if you could find two boxes to divide the orphans between, it would be better. IF THE BABIES HAVE FEATHERS, AND IF THE FATHER IS STILL ALIVE, he will feed them and raise them by himself. But during the stage when they have to be kept warm, he has no brooding patch on his belly, and he can't help them stay warm. They will die if they become too cold.
    Just a few short years ago, the bluebird was nearly eradicated due to several reasons.  A shortage of natural cavities for nesting, competition from house sparrows and starlings, and pesticides caused the bluebird population to decline by nearly 90%.  Today, thanks to the efforts of people everywhere, bluebirds are flourishing throughout the country.  The success story is one for which mankind can be proud.   By providing nesting sites, humans have the opportunity to observe a creature that demonstrates the aesthetic values of family devotion, love, tranquility, and serene beauty.  Bluebirds could almost be classified as "people watchers".   They will not hesitate to nest nearby if man will watch the company he keeps.   Bluebirds will have no part of any man who keeps company with cats and other predators.


    Besides bluebirds, I also love dogs.  My five "children in fur coats"  help me  monitor the trail each time I go.  My black labs are now getting up there in years, and "Ebonie" has arthritis.  Ebonie used to live and breathe to help me monitor the trail and chase the 4-wheeler.  Then, her age and arthritis threw a monkey wrench into her plans to help.  Knowing Ebonie would never get over it if I checked the trail without her, what was I to do?   My near and dear friend Marcy H. suggested I get a golf cart and let Ebonie ride.  I did so, and Ebonie and her sister Chelsea absolutely love the "buggy".  Their brothers Spook, Bear and Boomer are still young enough to run the trail with us. (Update: I have some very sad news. Chelsea went to the Rainbow Bridge on June 10, 1999. She became very ill one day and was gone less than one week later after being diagnosed with cancer. The cancer had spread throughout her body. She was a very brave girl and an angel right through the end. You can find her picture on this site. You won't have to wonder what she really thought of the "buggy".)

Your comments are always welcome so please remember to sign the guestbook! Also, please come back and visit. I am always adding new stories or notes.

People have visited this site since 04-17-98

All rights reserved:  Some material herin is ©1998 BW publishing, and may not be reproduced without expressed consent from Shirley Adams.