Minnesota: Lack of global warming tough on bluebirds

Bemidji Pioneer

Bluebirds typically have their first batch of babies early in the spring. Most have two sets of babies that typically add up to nine.

"Last year, the first (babies) were born the third week of April," Meierhofer said. "This year, most didn't have them until the fourth week of May.

"Because of the cold weather and snow, they were too weak to make a nest. Some of them were dying and others did not have enough energy to mate."

The cold weather and snow kept mealworms and other insects from being readily available.

Kaler has been helping bluebirds for 26 years and said that the late arrival of spring this year was bad.

"This is the longest, worst year with cold spells," he said. "There are people who have gotten (bluebird babies) every year and this year they don't."