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Saving the Eastern Bluebird by Michael Rasco
The recent history of the bluebird is a tale of adventure and of near disaster. Bluebird population was on a serious decline.
Humans took more and more land, relentlessly encroaching on the bluebirds' natural habitat. Worse, people brought competing
species of birds to North America from Europe, namely the European starling and the English house sparrow. Bluebirds now had
to fight aggressive invaders for their ever-shrinking territory. They were losing. Then, in the late 1970's and early 1980's,
a few dedicated organizations like the North American Bluebird Society and many wonderful people cared enough to make a difference.
They began putting up bluebird housing, and helping in the struggle against pest bird species and predators. They learned
what type of bluebird house the little songbirds preferred. They learned where to put bluebird houses to ensure greater success.
They learned, in essence, to live in balance with bluebirds, which is an amazing and rewarding feat for a person to accomplish.
Over the last 25 years or so, bluebird populations have made a remarkable comeback. However, we must still do more. Humans
still need to provide properly placed, properly managed bluebird houses to continue to strengthen the species. Bluebirds,
purple martins, and other wild birds need our help, and will readily accept it. All we humans need is a little knowledge,
a little caring, and the will to act.
The first step is simply to put up one bluebird house. Post or a pole mounted Bluebird houses will see the most success.
A dab of grease or petroleum jelly applied to the post or pole will help deter some craftier predators like cats, raccoons,
squirrels, and snakes.
Bluebird houses mounted on a tree or a fence are generally more susceptible to these interlopers; if there are house wrens
in the area, they also may invade the bluebird houses and do considerable damage to nests, eggs, and hatchlings. (Tree mounted
bluebird houses can work if the danger from predation is very limited.) The terms "beautiful songbird" and "fiercely territorial"
do not sound as if they should describe the same object, yet, in the case of bluebirds, both are accurate. Bluebirds will
not nest in a house near another bluebird house. The veteran bluebirder will always place additional bluebird houses at least
300 feet away from existing bluebird houses. Position the bluebird house so that the entry hole faces away from prevailing
winds to keep rain out.
The bluebirds' entry hole should also face away from direct sunlight to prevent overheating. As to actual location, think
of the edge of a meadow bounded by woods. An open area with low grass, or even no grass, gives bluebirds a nice place to hunt
for the ground dwelling insects they feed upon. Woods or even just a few trees nearby provide a nice perch on which bluebirds
may rest when they are tired from all the insect hunting. Tree swallows and violet-green swallows might compete with bluebirds
for housing. In this case, the best solution is simply to put up another house 20 or 30 feet away from the original.
Bluebirds and swallows will live in proximity to one another in relative peace, as long as they all have a place to stay.
A bluebird house placed in a good location and properly monitored has a very good chance of attracting a pair of bluebirds.
It may take two or three seasons for it to happen, depending on how dense the local bluebird population is, but, eventually,
bluebirds will nest. Though bluebirds are making a comeback, they still need help. The next step is simply to put up one more
bluebird house.
About the Author
Michael Rasco is the owner of UtopiaBirdHouses.com, a website committed to providing high quality birding products and wild bird information.
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