Page 9 - Discover Spring 2021

Nothing speaks more beautifully of Spring than when they do! But don’t despair; even if they reject
the bluebird, likely America’s favorite songbird. When
it has its breeding colors on, the male is a brilliant,
iridescent blue over its head, wings and tail. Its
throat and breast are reddish brown. The female bird
is similar, but with muted colors. They are from the
thrush family, and like true thrushes, the young have
spotted breasts. Providing a nesting home for this
delightful native bird is one of the most frustrating
and rewarding things that birdwatchers can do.
If you’ve ever observed a pair of bluebirds
deciding whether or not they’ll build their nest in the
birdhouse that you’ve installed at the edge of your
lawn, it’s very much like watching a human couple
looking for real estate. They will fly to each boundary
of your yard, as if to “check out the neighborhood”,
then to the roof of your house, then to the roof of
the birdhouse and back to a tree that infringes on a
neighbor.
They might even chase other birds that begin
to also show an interest in the birdhouse. Then they
fly over to another tree where the birdbath sits. Then
it’s back to the birdhouse, where they’ll stick their
heads inside a dozen times and each time your hopes
soar. One of them might even take a piece of dried
grass inside and leave it. This is such a positive sign
that it may cause you to clasp your hands in prayer in
the hope that they bring in more building material.
Instead, she will fly over to the box, cling to
the outside wall, and look inside the round opening
for long moments at a time, turning her head from
one side to the other, as if trying to decide how she’s
going to arrange the furniture. Then she’ll fly away
to a high branch, as if thinking things over. It’s all
repeated. Then she goes inside the box for a long
while. He waits patiently on a nearby ledge. These
exercises may go on for several days. Then, horror of
all horrors, they leave. Some times they come back
within a day or two. Other times, they may choose
your property on the first visit; what a thrill that is
your house the first time, they may use it for their
second nesting. Don’t give up!
Bluebirds are secondary cavity dwellers,
which means that they do not hollow out a home
for themselves in a tree, but rather they use natural
cavities or the former nests of woodpeckers. They will
also readily use “houses” that humans have made, as
long as those houses fill certain needs. In some cases,
it seems that the house must also meet the whims
of a very fussy female, as it is the female who is the
ultimate voice in deciding where she’ll raise her
family.
Given a choice, they prefer that their nest
box faces east. It should be at least six feet off the
ground (if possible), and near a wide expanse of grass.
A nearby hedge row may be perfect. Bluebirds are
primarily ground feeders; the grass provides them
with the worms and insects that they need to survive.
They also eat berries during the cold months of
the year, when invertebrates are not available. Their
territory consists of from two to five acres, so they may
be using the lawns of your neighbors as well as your
own. A birdbath filled with fresh water is an extremely
valuable asset in attracting nesting bluebirds, or
indeed any birds. In fact, many bird watchers get more
satisfaction and pleasure from watching birds come to
the birdbath than they do from watching them at the
feeder. If used properly, a birdbath can also contribute
aesthetically to your garden.
Bluebird houses are readily available for sale
at most places that sell wild bird seed, or they can be
bought online. A basic house costs between $20 to
$25, and will last for many seasons with a minimum
of care. You will want to look for a couple of things in
a bluebird house: First, it should be made from real
wood, without the use of glue. Plastic or metal would
bake the babies. Next, try to find a box that is easy to
clean. You may want to choose one with a panel that
opens, so that old nests can be easily brushed out. Old
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