Hello to the Bluebirds

 

Well, it's that time of year again, when birds survive the doldrums of winter and immediately go to work on mating with their partner, to bring forth a new generation that will propagate their species. None is more closely scrutinized than the eastern bluebird. Before the trees, plants and flowers are budding and blooming, but after the freezing temps are hopefully over, the bluebirds are checking out the available nesting boxes (bluebird houses). I have two in my yard and I usually only get one tenant each year. So it would seem this year, as a pair has already started building a nest in the newer box but none have entered the old one. This is the first week that the temp has not dropped below freezing overnight.

I am amused to read novices questions on birding sites about how to attract bluebirds to your yard, because Cheryl and I started doing it successfully 16 years ago. 

1. Put up a bluebird house in a spot that is not busy or noisy. Don't place it under or near a tree and protect it from predators with a baffle underneath. They like privacy.

2. Put up multiple meal worm feeders that are easily attainable from the nesting box. I use dried meal worms but I will not get into an argument over which is better, live or dried. I have used the dried ones successfully for over 16 years and they keep coming back.

3. Put out multiple sources of water that are readily available from the feeders and the box. They drink and bathe frequently all year round.

4. Leave them alone and don't do intrusive, invasive searches to satisfy your own curiosities while they are nesting. Let nature take it's course, I believe that God will sort things out, without my help.

The bluebirds are elegant and graceful and they are a pleasure to watch. Here, in North Carolina, we enjoy them everyday and we are privileged to provide anything we can to help them.

Here are some of this year's visitors.