Eastern Bluebird

Celebrating Our Eastern Bluebirds

Eastern Bluebird - Male

I am writing this post today to highlight our resident Eastern Bluebirds.  We have lived on this property for 50 years and this is the first year we have had resident bluebirds.  We have seen the odd one pass through over the years during migration but we have never had a pair settle into one of our many bluebird boxes.  But that is not all!  After the first pair settled in and started laying in late May, a second pair arrived and busily got started on their nest!

It has been fun to have two pairs warbling from perches around the yard early in the morning and during the day.  The males have been singing from the top of their boxes, from the top of the clothesline pole, from the trellis and often from the roof of the house.  We feel very privileged to have them share our yard.  

Eastern Bluebirds - Male and Female

We were away for about 10 days in late June and all was silent in the bluebird houses when we returned.  We had obviously missed the fledglings.  We were sorry about that because young bluebirds are very cute.  See the photos below.  They are spotted like their cousins in the thrush family, robins and thrushes.  

Eastern Bluebird -  Juvenile

Eastern Bluebird - Juvenile

Annual care for our bluebird houses includes a thorough cleaning in the spring.  Last year's debris is dumped, the boxes are sprayed for parasites and then they are filled with about 3 inches of wood shavings and chips.  Any necessary repairs are also done to the boxes themselves.  Our boxes are around a large field and are mounted on poles or stakes about 6 to 8 feet off the ground.  They generally face east.

Bluebirds build a loose cup nest of grass and plant material in a natural tree cavity, old woodpecker hole, fence post or bird box.  They lay 4 to 6 light blue to white eggs which they then incubate for 12 to 14 days.  The female does the incubating.  We noticed that the male stayed around for a few of the early incubation days but then disappeared.  He returned when it was time to feed the chicks.  Bluebirds eat insects, earthworms, invertebrates, berries and other fruits.  They like to hawk insects from low perches.  We have stakes marking flowers and young shrubs around our yard and they often sit on those. 

Eastern Bluebird - Female

One thing I noticed was how inconspicuous the female is.  Her colours, though noticeable enough, blend in very well often making her look like a sparrow from a short distance.  She knows how to blend in with the environment both in her appearance and in her actions.  They were somewhat trusting of us and our movements around the yard, but wary enough to get out of the way when we were mowing grass or moving through.  We loved having them as neighbours.

Eastern Bluebirds - Female and Male

After the bluebirds had fledged and moved on we were sorry to see them gone.  Well, sixteen days ago on a Monday morning the first thing we heard was the familiar warble of bluebirds!  A pair was busy checking out our boxes again.  The male was thoroughly checking out two different boxes and the female was busy going in and out to see if they met with her approval.  A lot of chatter accompanied these inspections.  We thought they were settling into one box and a couple of days later they moved to another.  Now they are very busy with that box and are obviously preparing for a second clutch.  How lucky we are to have them here for a second round.  Each morning and several times during the day we hear the male singing and see both moving around the box.  Carry on, beautiful blues!