Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis

Eastern bluebird pair with food for young

Eastern bluebirds readily take to our nestboxes, and have generally thrived here, although they have had some bad years. Their first brood is sometimes affected by cold, wet weather, and 2nd broods sometimes suffer from very hot, dry weather. Modifications of nestbox construction have minimized both of these problems. On rare occasions, supplemental food is provided during severe weather. Predation has been minimal. Competition from tree swallows has been easily managed with proper nestbox placement. However, house wrens had posed major problems, until we stumbled upon the "wren gourd" fix.

Feb 2011 update - Eastern bluebirds have become the most abundant bird species in our yard in winter, with family units of 5 or 6 frequently visiting nest boxes, although seldom, if ever using the boxes for night roosts. They prefer to roost in the protection of the dense cedar grove. The nesting season is even busier, with two and sometimes three pair nesting in our yard. In 2010, both the front and backyard bluebirds each had three broods. The front yard pair moved to a new box each time, using 2 boxes previously used by tree swallows. The backyard pair had all three broods in their favorite box. This is the pair that successfully fend off the house wren that has twice destroyed the nearby titmouse nest. Their nesting never fails and they seem to rule the backyard and garden, even with the kestrels nesting 30 feet away this year. While nesting, they seldom leave the garden and maple tree, spending most of their time perched on one of the many tomato cages.

Articles Female Eastern bluebird with fledgling

photos


Species of interest in our yard - photos and articles
barn owl American kestrel purple martin barn swallow Eastern bluebird
tufted titmouse Eastern phoebe yellow shafted flicker tree swallow chimney swift
house wren big brown bat Carolina wren brown thrasher catbird
Eastern wood-pewee cedar waxwing Northern mockingbird .

Nestcams in our yard
Attracting barn swallows with artificial nest cups
2011 barn owl nest 2011 barn owl prey cam data and photos
2010 Update the flicker drum
the flicker nest box the sliding hole cover trap
nest box video 2001-2011 2010 Barn Owl nesting
Observations and studies using nest box camera starling and house sparrow traps
2005 brown thrasher nest cam 2005 purple martin gourd cam
2004 Carolina wren nest cam 2004 European starling nest cam
2004 gray squirrel nest cam 2006 polygamous barn owl nest cam
2010 Northern Flicker nest cam 2010 Kestrel nest cam
2010 flicker nestbox log 2010 Carolina Wren nest cam
2003 barn owl nest cam 2001 American Kestrel nest box cam
2002 American Kestrel nest box cam 2001 Yellow Shafted Flicker nest box cam
2002 Yellow Shafted Flicker nest box cam 2005 Yellow Shafted Flicker nest box cam
Eastern Bluebird nest box cam Tree Swallow nest box cam
Carolina Chickadee nest box cam house wren nest cam
Barn Swallow nest cam Chimney Swift nest cam
Attracting barn swallows other nestboxes in use
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