The early American settlers called them “blue robins” because of their rust-colored chest and blue back and tail. Today, you and I would call them Eastern bluebirds and they are among the most popular of all the backyard wildlife species that we commonly see in and around Walker County. Watching bluebirds brings many homeowners hours of enjoyment, and I must admit that they are one of my favorite wildlife species as well. They are easily attracted to homes and surrounding open areas when nesting boxes are correctly installed.
The bluebird, like the robin, prefers open areas such as roadsides, cutover woodlands, old orchards, parks, gardens, and of course backyards. They seek hollow or cavity trees in which to build nests, but in absence of hollow trees bluebird boxes will work just fine! In fact, I can’t wait to get the new bluebird box that I got as a Christmas present put up in my own backyard. Normally bluebirds produce two to three broods per year in Alabama. The female begins the first nesting in late March or early April. She will lay one light-blue egg per day for four or five days and incubate them for about twelve days. The young bluebirds will then remain in the nest for about two weeks.
It is the male who feeds the young birds and teaches them how to find food for themselves after they leave the nest. While this training is going on the female will “remodel” the old nest or else build a new one for a second brood of chicks. In the yard and garden, bluebirds consume insects, worms, and caterpillars as well as fruit and berries found near their nesting site.
During the past several years bluebird numbers declined quite steadily due mainly to severe winter weather, changing agricultural practices, insecticide uses that reduced their food source, and exotic species that compete for nesting habitat.
Their population has once again started to increase mostly due to providing them with man-made wooden nest boxes. These boxes take little time to build, install, and maintain. When adequate numbers of boxes are placed properly around your home grounds, the bluebird population can increase quite rapidly. When constructing nesting boxes use one inch pine, cedar, cypress, or even exterior plywood. You can paint pine or plywood boxes on the outside without harming the bluebirds, just make sure you use a light color such as gray, white, or tan to prevent the box from overheating. Only use darker colors such as brown or green if the box is mounted in a very shady location. Do not use treated wood for your box, and do not provide a perch on the front since this will only attract other bird species to your bluebird box. Make sure you drill drainage holes in the bottom of the box.
Try mounting your nest boxes in fence posts, tree trunks, or metal fence posts. I personally like smooth metal posts because many predators such as house cats, raccoons, and snakes have trouble climbing them. This past year a roaming housecat actually climbed up the pole that my bluebird box was mounted on and captured two of “my” bluebirds. This problem can be simply fixed (and I should have done this to start with) by mounting some inverted flange material available at most any hardward store a couple feet or so below your box. You can also place a cone shaped or flat metal baffle just below the box on wooden posts to reduce predator (cats and any of an assortment of other preditor) problems. If predation does occur and eggs or young are destroyed, the parents will probably re-nest in another box nearby.
Place boxes up at the beginning in February and certainly by early March in areas around open fields, pastures, golf courses, cemeteries, gardens, or school yards. While it is a little bit early, I have already seen some bluebird activity around my yard. Bluebird boxes should be placed four to six feet above the ground and from fifty to one hundred yards apart if possible. Face your boxes south or southeast if possible. It is also helpful to locate your boxes close to trees, shrubs, utility wires, or fences that the bluebirds can use perches to find insects. If your boxes are located too close to the woods or brush piles, other species such as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and wrens will use your bluebird boxes. I even saw a few cases where flying squirrels invaded the boxes.
Starting in mid-March, check the boxes weekly by carefully opening the lid and observing any nesting activity that has occurred inside. Tap the box once before opening it so the female can leave the box. Don’t worry she will return to the box very soon. Observing the nesting in this manner can be both enjoyable and educational as you learn about their nesting and egg laying. Do not disturb or check your boxes during the early morning of the first three days of egg laying. Just remember to check the box during the late afternoon when the nest construction is near completion. Also, do not check the box during the last three days or so before the young birds leave the nest. This will begin about ten days after they hatch.
During the summer when the young birds leave the nest, you can clean out the old nest material so re-nesting can occur. After the last brood leaves late in the summer, leave nesting material in the box over the winter. This old material will provide better insulation for birds taking refuge in the boxes on cold winter nights. In February of the following year, clean and repair the boxes for a new nesting season.
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January 17, 2021 at 09:10PM
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Backyard bird watching - Daily Mountain Eagle
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