Carol DM
I have been posting lately about the bluebirds in my backyard. Many of you have never heard of or seen bluebirds. I would like to talk a little about the Eastern Bluebird. In the US there are other types, Mountain Bluebirds, and Western, but in my area we have the Eastern Bluebird. Here is another photo I took a few minutes ago of the male and female. The male is always the brighter color, he is on the left.
Photos ©CarolDM2018
The Eastern Bluebird is smaller than a robin, with a orange-brown throat and white belly. Their diet is made up of insects: grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, spiders, and caterpillars. They also enjoy mealworms. They are very particular about their houses. There are instructions online on where to purchase the houses or how to build one yourself. I purchased a house online, and it is mounted on a pole in Dustin’s garden. They use only pine straw for their nests. Notice the pine tree behind the house. I have a row closeby so they don’t have to go far. The nest is very neatly made. The female usually builds the nest while the male is a lookout for predators.
I checked the nest yesterday and it looks almost complete. There is a door that opens from the front to peek inside the house.
The only other thing you need to do to attract these beautiful birds is to keep fresh water nearby. And do not put out any feeders to attract other birds, mainly the sparrows. They will trap the bluebird in the house and sometimes kill the bluebird, and build a nest on top of them. If there are babies, they are killed as well. Sadly this has happened in my backyard a few times. Some things cannot be prevented but I keep trying. Even during the winter, if you will keep fresh water, you are usually assured to see them in the spring.
They typically have more than one successful brood per year. Young produced in early nests usually leave theirparents in summer, but young from later nests frequently stay with their parents over the winter. Parents generally are very tolerant of monitoring the houses once the nest is built. I go out every day once the egg laying starts to make sure no predators have taken over the nest. And I quickly (trying not to disturb them and make them abandon the nest) take pictures every day of the entire egg laying, hatching and fledging process. The parents will continue to feed the young up to four weeks after leaving the nest.
I hope this answers some of your questions about my Bluebirds of Happiness. I will be posting more about them.
365 Photos Challenge and I am on Day 160.
Thanks to you so much for commenting.
Awww, why are they so cute! Wonderful post, Carol!
They are beautiful, thanks Ellie.
Oh nice, the inside! I never noticed how pretty the female was as well. Great information here Carol. Can’t wait for the next update!!
Thanks Kim, I will get more closeups as the process moves forward. Nest building continues today!
Wonderful! Capturing inside the next was extremely cool! I am always amazed by birds nests. I still take great delight in looking into a tree and seeing one!
I know, they are treasures when you find one. I am amazed at how neat the bluebird nest is. They take a lot of time getting it just right.
Makes me feel bad looking around my messy office.
I really enjoy these posts about the blue birds that visit your home.
I am glad to hear that, I love talking about them!
Birds are nice to see in any backyard.
Honestly, I haven’t seen them in my country. But it does look like love birds. c”,)
You probably so not get them in your country. They are love birds for now.
I guess I will just going to imagine them. Thanks for sharing the snapshot. c”,)
I am very pleased that you introduce us in this way to these beautiful birds. I did not know anything about them. I like the female more. I will be happy this year to see pictures of blue eggs in their nest
Thank you Elenka, you are the main reason for this post. There is so much more to say about them. They are still working on the nest so it will be a little while before any eggs are seen. I will post them as soon as they are laid.
That’s great to know…thank you for sharing & wonderful photograph!
Thank you Courtney, love sharing the bluebirds.
Best of luck to you and your bluebirds
Thank you very much.
The nest looks so detailed!!!! Love it!
They pack the pine straw in there one piece at a time!
Your post about them is more fun from time to time! I was curious about the close up picture of their nest, Did you take them when they left? Both of them? And what do you usually do if sparrows come?
Thanks Albert, now you can actually see why I get so excited. 🙂 The bluebirds were on top of the house when I started walking out to them from my deck. They watch me until I get a few yards away then fly into nearby tree. I take my time and I think they know me by now. As for the sparrows, all I have to do is walk to the door and they fly away. If they go in the house I will write about what I do. 🙂
Your questions are helping me for my next post. Thanks!
I really feel involved with your activities in serving bluebird
And it is just getting started.
Oh Carol, they are such lovely birds. So cute. It’s lovely that there are people like you around that help them and have a nest for them.
Thank you very much. I have been waiting for the weather to cooperate for them to start nest building. I would have more if I had the room!