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Bluebirds

Copyright © 2005 Tammy Clayton

This brightly colored bird has always been a romantic symbol for their unusual coloring as well as their gentle loving nature. In Victorian times, they were a common artful addition to romantic floral artwork on greeting cards and calling cards. Today, it is a rare thing to see a Bluebird flitting about.

The Bluebird is a native American. When European colonists originally settled this land, they had been here for thousands of years. It is believed that when the virgin forest on the east coast was in the first stages of being cleared, the Bluebird flourished and became more abundant. Its original adversary the Wren also became more plentiful right along with them though. The Wren is far more aggressive that the Bluebird and searches for a very similar type of abode. So as both species multiplied, the wrens made it hard for the Bluebird to make a home unless it faced due east.

Two events in history caused the dwindling of our brilliant blue native’s numbers. The ships that carried the influx of human immigrants to our shores in 1851 and 1890 also gave passage to two feathered immigrants from Europe; the House Sparrow and the Starling. Both of these newcomers were adapted to the crowded industrial environments of urban and suburban Germany and England. The Sparrow already was known to have spread on that continent. Being resourceful, they quickly adapted to living in rural farmland. Both Sparrows and Starlings like a roof over their head. The new squatters aggressively put pressure on the gentle Bluebirds and took over their nests.

With so many people inhabiting the United States today, it is little wonder we see very little of the country loving Bluebird. There is a growing interest in the creation of housing for this beloved species beyond the bird-watching enthusiasts. The Bluebird house is becoming a popular addition to backyards, school property lines and farms again.

Bluebird houses were first put up in the late 1800’s by bird lovers trying to accommodate their need for housing after the Sparrows and Starlings took over the easily accessible barn rafters, nooks in houses, hollow trees and fence posts across America. Natural nesting sites have also grown more scarce as farmers now manicure their orchards, and wooden fence posts have fallen out of use in exchange for metal ones. By the 1930’s bird watchers were already wondering what happened to all those sweet singing beauties of days not so long gone by.

The first studies of Bluebird nesting habits were conducted in 1919 in Minnesota. Successful nest sites were measured for the size of the holes, as well as for the exact location and the role of predators and competitors. The tests were done in open pastures, orchards and suburban back yards. Concluding that only with massive saturations of scientifically designed predator-competitor proof nesting boxes could the decline of the Bluebird be stopped. So they established and monitored Bluebird trails with tens to hundreds of nesting boxes strung out across the land. The monitors set up communication networks in newspapers, magazines and the mail. Wherever there were Bluebird trail sponsors, Bluebirds began to reappear for people to enjoy. It is quite a thrill to see one, especially when one understands the odds against their gentle souls.

It needn’t be inevitable that Bluebirds, once the most common thing in a yard, continue to loose ground against these alien intruders. Their population has dwindled and become so low, they are almost like a myth. Our Eastern Bluebird has suffered the most serious in loss. Amateurs and bird lovers alike can accomplish the hob in restoring the numbers of our native azure friends. The trails already in existence across the UDA and Canada form a network of hope across the continent. Armies of trail tenders and box erectors will bring more and more of them back to your yards as the number of boxes grows greater.

Found only in North America, these sweet noted dwellers of fence posts have a tender voice to go along with their gentle nature. No other species of bird has been used as much as the Bluebird in poetry and songs as a symbol of love, hope and happiness. The early settlers looked upon this bird as the sign that spring had arrived, and fondly called it the Blue Robin.

In Michigan, as all the other states east of the Rocky Mountains, we have the Eastern Bluebird. There are only two others—Western and Mountain. Their diet is mainly insects, most of which are yard and garden pests. In the spring they love the cutworms that ruin crops and garden plants. Later in the summer through fall they dine on huge quantities of grasshoppers and wild berries. It is said that their courtship is beautiful and amazing, but it


is a rare sight to behold.

The Bluebird is very territorial, the male protecting his food supplies from other male Bluebirds’ trespassing. The nesting site must have sufficient food for them to raise their young and exist themselves for them to be tempted to set up housekeeping. Only the female builds the nest in the chosen shelter, while the male accompanies her solely by singing his encouragement while she works.

Nest building starts in mid-May in Michigan and 3 to 5 clear blue eggs are laid in the clutch. The baby birds grow alarmingly fast, ready to leave the next in 15 to 20 days after hatching. By that time they are strong enough to fly fifty to one hundred feet their first attempt at flight to the nearest perch.

By early September most Bluebirds have finished up their family responsibilities for the season. A fortunate pair will have raised two or even three broods by that time. During the fall, families of Bluebirds roam leisurely through the countryside on a quest for insects and berries in great abundance.

Over these travels, different families join together in a loose flock, as they get ready for migrating. The date of their heading south is timed more by the weather and food supply than by the calendar. They migrate in search for food and congregate in more southern parts of their regions.

It is not that the Bluebird cannot spend winter in the northern areas like Michigan, quite to the contrary they will stay as long as the food supply lasts. Planting trees, shrubs and vines with berries that last through the winter will provide much needed foor for wintering birds. Bittersweet, flowering Dogwood, Cotoneasters, Washington Hawthorns, Privet, Sumac, Pyracantha, flowering Crabapples, Virginia Creeper, multiflora Roses (rose hips), and Mountain Ash are all favorite food sources in the cold season for birds that thrive in the northern climates. They can sometimes be tempted to feeding stations with raisins, other fruits and berries and chopped unsalted peanuts, but they are not seed eaters so you will never find them eating from normal bird feeders. Should the small fruits and berries they depend on become crusted with ice and snow, the effort of providing food will keep them from starving to death. If they are forced to go to roost hungry, bitter cold will cause many of them to die.

Properly built winter houses are enough protection from severe weather for them to live year round even in the north. To accommodate them for winter roosting, the box should be large enough to shelter a number of birds. Floor dimensions should be 10” x 10”, with a depth of 18” and a width of 24”. The hole must be 1 1/2” or Starlings will move in on them, and needs to be at the bottom of the box with a perch placed beneath it. Several horizontal perches should be positioned inside at various levels at staggered intervals up one sidewall using 1/2” doweling The side of the box should be hinged to allow cleaning in the spring. The box must be at least 6 feet of the ground to protect them from predators while they sleep, using a smooth metal pole that is greased so that nothing can climb it to reach the box. Place the winter roosts facing south for the most warmth from the sun.

For nesting boxes, again the hole should measure only 1 1/2” and be situated about 5 foot off the ground for observance of the young in the nest. But for the nesting the hole should be toward the top of the box to protect the young from cold drafts. The nesting box must face due east. Nesting boxes cannot be any closer than 100 foot apart. Too many boxes will result in no Bluebirds—remember they are territorial and will only reside where they know there is enough food for themselves and their young.

Small air holes should be put next to the roof board, and drainage should be provided in the floor so it will not fill up with water. The roof should be slanted downward in the front to stop rain from blowing into the nest.

What a delightful preserve to add to your yard, create your own Bluebird Reserve. Stop spraying the cutworms and grasshoppers, plant oodles of berry-bearing plants, and erect proper housing for both seasons in a suburban to rural setting and trust me, they will inspect the site and set to building a nest.

--------------------

For more great Gardening articles, visit:
http://www.LostInTheFlowers.com

About the Author

Raised by a highly respected & successful landscape contractor in the metro Detroit area, Clayton wanted a career in anything but landscaping! Now an award-winning landscape designer, Clayton runs Flowerville Farms, a mail-order nursery in Michigan. Read more at LostInTheFlowers.com.

 

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Content Menu
  • 10 ways to survive building or remodeling your home

  • 12 considerations when choosing contemporary lighting

  • 3 great reasons to shop for home lighting online

  • 3 tips in landscaping your garden

  • 5 external climatic factors that affect an interior design project

  • 5 reasons fireplace owners think early spring is firewood time

  • 5 styles of rug hooking to choose from

  • 7 easy steps to attract more birds to your yard

  • 8 lawn care tips for your garden

  • about boxwoods

  • acid loving plants

  • adding climbing roses to your landscape

  • adding value to your home with landscaping

  • add some splash to your garden with a fountain

  • all about riding lawn mowers

  • annuals or perennials thats the question

  • arborvitae a multi use plant

  • are your houseplants safe

  • are you new to garden fish ponds

  • asthma friendly gardens

  • attracting wild birds

  • avoid the how much hassle when buying firewood

  • avoid transplant shock

  • a compost primer

  • a dozen tips for producing low allergy gardens

  • a guide to outdoor gas fireplaces

  • a hobby greenhouse will get you growing

  • a look at flower bulbs for sale

  • a new outdoor craft idea for all ages

  • a quick guide to fish pond bridges

  • basics of landscape design

  • basics of pruning

  • beware of toxic mulch

  • bluebirds

  • blue wild flowers for your garden

  • brick patio weed control

  • brighten your path by installing decorative landscape lighting

  • building a garden from nothing at all

  • building liner ponds

  • building or decorating your home requires house plans

  • build your own storage sheds

  • burnings bushes brilliant fall foliage

  • butterfly gardening

  • butterfly gardens for your region

  • caring for and planting a balled in burlap christmas tree

  • caring for a living christmas tree

  • choosing roses for your landscape

  • choosing the right roses for your garden

  • common landscape problems and how to fix them

  • complete home rehab in 10 days

  • composting the easy way

  • concerning mulch part one

  • concerning mulch part two

  • concrete cutting the unknown niche

  • constructing water walls a guide to common mistakes

  • construction loan basics

  • container gardening indoors and outdoors

  • container gardening in the metro

  • courtyard gardens planning tips

  • creating a budget for your landscape

  • creative landscaping with railroad ties

  • daylily a perennial favorite

  • decorating around the garden

  • decorating with rocks the beauty of rustic decor

  • decorative stone uses for landscaping

  • deer dont eat dragons

  • developing the perfect landscaping idea

  • do it yourself landscape design where to begin

  • do it yourself preformed pond kit project

  • dream yard

  • driveway landscaping

  • easy fall propagation techniques

  • edible trees and plants

  • enhance your garden with beautiful edging

  • enhance your home

  • enjoy rose gardening

  • environmentally safe ways to remove weeds

  • evergreens to use for landscaping

  • evergreens you can use for landscaping

  • extending the living space outdoors working with color

  • fall the best time to plan next springs landscape project

  • features of landscape design software

  • feeding your plants

  • fertilizing to create more blossoms on your flowers flowering shrubs and trees

  • finding anything you need about landscaping on the net

  • finding a flower bulb company

  • finding cheap plants for your landscape

  • find a building contractor to remember

  • fine gardening secrets revealed

  • flowers are a great gift

  • freestanding and lean to greenhouses

  • free plants seeds and flowers

  • gardening creating your own private paradise

  • gardening for birds

  • gardening information and design ideas

  • gardening tips and tricks for late autumn part one

  • gardening using bulbs in your landscaping

  • gardening your personality the greens of growth

  • garden fencing

  • garden furniture a natural extension of the home

  • garden furniture a touch of exuberance to your landscape

  • garden gnomes to add whimsey to your garden

  • garden moss how to make moss on your landscape rocks and garden statues

  • garden supplies are the gardeners paint and brush

  • gazebos to build or not to build that is the question

  • geomantic rules in the living room

  • geranium plants

  • getting raw land not a raw deal

  • getting the best price for your home includes landscaping for curb appeal

  • getting your hands on a good pair of gardening gloves

  • give your garden a rippling effect add a tranquil pond

  • granite might of stone info and facts

  • granite preformed rock pond kits

  • growing and caring for rhododendrons and azaleas

  • handcrafted garden bridges builds traditional arched span bridges with modern flair

  • have you been looking for the best advice in relation to landscape designs

  • help your backyard plants get the nutrients they need

  • hidden costs of landscaping

  • hillside landscaping properly watering hillside and sloped landscapes

  • hills and holes not part of your landscaping design

  • history of bonsai

  • history of wild roses

  • home floor plan designing for your future home

  • home improvement loans

  • home security your yard is the first line of defence

  • horticultural therapy

  • how and when to plant roses

  • how to attract butterflies to your garden

  • how to attract butterfly activity

  • how to build a simple potting bench

  • how to build a waterfall

  • how to care for your outdoor water fountains

  • how to change a rooms dimension using wall pictures

  • how to choose a gazebo

  • how to choose a riding lawn mower for your property

  • how to create an oasis of serenity with a backyard garden hot tub

  • how to decorate your space with wall art

  • how to finance a new extension

  • how to finance a new kitchen

  • how to get rid of standing water in your yard

  • how to grow blueberries

  • how to grow flowering dogwood trees from seed

  • how to grow japanese red maples from seed

  • how to grow ornamental grasses

  • how to grow wildflowers

  • how to keep your brick patio weed free

  • how to make a weed dabber

  • how to make money at home growing small landscape plants on 1 20 acre or less

  • how to make money growing rooted cuttings and selling them wholesale

  • how to make your own moss landscape rock and garden statues

  • how to modify your landscaping to protect your house from burglars

  • how to plant a tree

  • how to plant rose bushes in landscaping your garden

  • how to use annuals in landscaping your garden

  • how to use biennials perennials in landscaping your garden

  • how to use color in your perennial garden

  • how to use flower beds in landscaping your garden

  • how to use hedges in landscaping

  • how to use home decor accessories to create a new look in a room

  • how to use vines in landscaping your home

  • hummingbirds jewels of the air

  • improve your homes landscape in 6 easy steps

  • improving curb appeal

  • index

  • installing landscape lighting

  • internet marketing and advertising for the green industry

  • irrigation installation maintenance time savers

  • is a landscape architect really necessary

  • is landscape fabric even necessary in landscaping

  • japanese barberry a multi use plant

  • japanese gardens basic design questions that should be addressed

  • japanese gardens vs western gardens

  • japanese garden styles which one is the best for you

  • jump start your garden with seedlings cuttings

  • keeping soil healthy

  • keeping your water garden clean

  • kick start your landscape with winter gardening tips

  • landscape design

  • landscape design creating balance in home landscaping

  • landscape lighting design ideas to showcase your home

  • landscape plans resolved

  • landscaping 3 ways to use concrete in your yard

  • landscaping an american pass time

  • landscaping for winter fuel saving

  • landscaping how does your garden grow

  • landscaping ideas discover desert landscaping plants

  • landscaping ideas using landscaping rock for maximum effect

  • landscaping stone

  • landscaping to attract birds

  • landscaping with roses

  • lawn care tips

  • lawn edging

  • lawn tractors safety

  • layer your plantings

  • laying out your landscape part two

  • laying out your new landscape

  • light up your garden and brighten your life

  • light up your kitchen with the right lighting

  • low cost home landscaping tips

  • makeover magic how to remodel your deck or patio in less than a day

  • making your garden bloom with flower gardening

  • managing pond motives and expectations

  • minimizing runoff and erosion along your lakeshore stream or river property

  • mosquitoes in your garden try planting these

  • mosquito farms is that what water gardens are

  • mow edge the basics of lawn care

  • mulch your flower bulbs in the fall for a beautiful spring display

  • new for 2006 granite flexible preformed rock ponds

  • online gardening catalogues at your disposal

  • organic gardening going back to the basics

  • organic lawn care

  • ornamental plants that improve bird habitats

  • outdoor lighting fixtures great selection available online

  • outdoor patio furniture exploring the benefits of teak

  • patios the new trend in home remodels

  • patio design and patio furniture the use of focal points

  • patio design expanding your home outdoors

  • patio ponds

  • perennials versus annuals

  • pictures of landscaping using other peoples ideas to design your landscape

  • planning a serenity garden

  • planning a water garden

  • planning next years garden

  • planting and caring for flower bulbs

  • planting white pine seedlings

  • plant hardiness zones

  • plan before you plant

  • plan for winter plantings

  • pond pumps vs pool pumps

  • preparing to build wooden fences in the landscape

  • pre spring garden planning

  • professional decorating tips for fireplace mantels

  • protecting your landscape from insects

  • pruning basics

  • pruning weeping cherry trees and other grafted and budded ornamentals

  • putting passion back into home decorating

  • reliableremodeler com

  • riding lawn mowers machines fun to ride and extremely cool to look at

  • rid your garden of slugs

  • river birch trees

  • rooftop deck makeover

  • rotator

  • safety steps for riding lawn tractors

  • save money on home improvement projects

  • saving energy by planting nursery stock and windbreaks

  • secrets of hydroponics gardening

  • seeing the light

  • selecting roses for the garden

  • selecting the right water feature for your garden

  • selling your house mow your lawn

  • selling your house trim your shrubs

  • simple balcony makeover

  • site drainage problems

  • some thoughts on planting roses

  • spring into lawn mowing

  • spring is around the corner how is your garden

  • spring planting tips

  • starting a shade garden

  • staying focused on the project

  • store seasonal items in your own self storage unit

  • summer gardening tips

  • summer lawn care tips

  • teak furniture the ideal furniture for lifelong outdoors use

  • terrace gardening and landscaping ideas

  • there is an art to perfect landscaping

  • the 7 schools of feng shui

  • the advantages of edible landscaping

  • the american cranberry bush

  • the art of landscaping your garden

  • the basic principles of landscape design

  • the beautiful rose of sharon

  • the benefits of landscaping

  • the birth of a small container flower garden

  • the dawn redwood tree beyond fast grow

  • the enduring alluring gazebo

  • the gardening tool you need

  • the good the bad and the buggy

  • the importance of bedroom design in a home decoration project

  • the incredible daylily

  • the magic of flowers

  • the many types of palm trees

  • the minimal garden

  • the pollen trapping power of a lawn

  • the secret of rooting cuttings

  • the terrorists favorite weed castor bean

  • the true beauty of climbing roses

  • the versatile reciprocating saw the power tool of your dreams

  • the viburnum blackhaw

  • things to consider while designing a guest bedroom

  • things you should know about gardening

  • three easy garden designs you can create

  • tips for backyard fish ponds care

  • tips for building a song bird bird house

  • tips for choosing a landscaping firm

  • tips for keeping costs down when landscaping

  • tips for planning your landscape

  • tips for preparing a planting bed

  • tips for saving water for your landscaping

  • tips for shopping smart for the garden

  • tips on how to plant roses

  • tips to improve the functionality and atmosphere of your patio with plants

  • trades and barter are my favorites

  • training beautiful flowering shrubs into unique flowering trees

  • tranquility in your own back yard

  • transplanting tips

  • trees in the home landscape

  • tree and shrub care programs

  • tree pruning tips

  • turn your patio into a voluminous vegetable garden

  • tylers lock wedding venue extraordinaire reborn from the ruins of a canal pumphouse

  • types of roses to use for landscaping your home

  • types of vines for landscaping your home

  • using landscape design software

  • using the propagation technique known as budding to grow beautiful ornamental trees

  • viburnums have been around a long time

  • viburnums landcape and garden wonders

  • viburnums shrubs with all season interest

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  • water conservation for gardeners

  • water conservation in the yard

  • weed control facts winning the battle of the weeds

  • whack o matic

  • whats in store for national home gardening club members

  • whats underfoot a quick guide to patio surfaces

  • what are light fixtures used for

  • what is the right plant and where do i put it

  • what to look for in landscape maintenance service

  • what type of gazebo is right for you top questions you need to ask

  • what you need to know about planting roses

  • wheelbarrow buyers guide

  • where are all the good contractors

  • which lamp should i choose

  • why buy a candig mini digger

  • why choose a home improvement loan

  • winterizing tips for your lawn and garden

  • winter gardening fun

  • wooden garden furniture

  • working with landscape contractors

  • wow outdoor tile murals any image any size