Several bluebirds stop to eat at the Ziessler’s home. Photo Provided.

By Carol Anders

Staff Writer

BREMEN — When you truly love bluebirds, it seems you can’t do enough for them.

Cora and Gary Ziessler of Bremen have been  taking care of the bluebirds that visit their property on the edge of town for the last nine or 10 years.

Gary estimates that his family has served at least 300,000 mealworms each year to make sure bluebirds in their area can make it through the fall and winter months. Gary is responsible for raising the worms as well.

According to Cora, they only have one pair of bluebirds living in one of four birdhouses in the summer.

She said, “There is always one dominant pair. The male ‘shags’ the rest of them away.”  

She said “baffles” have been attached on the birdhouses to ward off other animals such as raccoons.
However, when the weather starts to turn chillier, the bluebirds return where they have learned that food will be available. Cora said they sometimes have 26 at one time.

The Ziesslers provide the worms on bluebird trays made for feeding or simply scatter them on the patio.

Cora said, “We have to make sure that we can feed them all winter. The bluebirds are depending on us.”