Never would I have put the two together, yet while looking out the window over this newfallen snow, seven bluebirds came out of the bluebird house, one by one naturally, and perched on separate bare branches of the post oak. Seven. Even now I count three of them shaking themselvesand futtering about the opening to the bluebird house. Their back feathers are the deepest, most intense shade of blue, much bluer than the color appears in the spring time. I've put seed on the roof of the porch by my window in hopes that maybe they'll find it by tomorrow so I can photograph this large family. If school's out tomorrow and bluebird scouts find the seed, maybe I'll have bluebirds in abundance to post here.

Sounds wonderful, do you think that they are the parents and brood from last year still together or is togertherness normal for bluebirds?

send me the pics when you got 'em, WW!

Thanks, et'. I don't know whether they'll come to the seed, but it's well in view of the tree on which this one bluebird house has been nailed. 'Tis dark now, but I'm eagerly awaiting tomorrow--and school has been cancelled! Hooray! I sure as heck didn't realize bluebirds hung around so late in the season, but, then again, it's been unseasonably warm till recently. If they do alight on the porch rooftop, I have my little digital ready to shoot right by the window. Fingers crossed!

And, Zed, this family looks fully developed. I haven't acquired an eye yet for telling apart males and females, but will study some pix tonight on google.

This site says they're not seed-eaters:

http://www.bluebirdsforever.com/treat.html

But then it's selling stuff. You might want to look around and see what they do eat.

Thanks, Faldage. I noticed that the suet contains raisins and 'assorted grains.' Maybe I can leave raisins and dried oatmeal.

Considering it's winter and all, you might not want to leave out the suet.

Apologies to the MIA birdfeed

Why so? Because it would be too hard? I've never tried suet before--well, maybe a long time ago, but not in recent memory.

Aplogies to Faldage. I completely misread your post.

Suet is horrible sticky stuff to work with when melted but it does give them a good energy boost in cold weather. You can use peanut butter in a pinch but it sticks to their beaks even worse than the suet. (no joke) Use barely enough of either to coat the seeds.