SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BLUEBIRD CLUBBLUEBIRD CLUB

THE CALIFORNIA BLUEBIRD THE CALIFORNIA BLUEBIRD RECOVERY PROJECTRECOVERY PROJECT

Jim SemelrothJim SemelrothSocal Bluebird ClubSocal Bluebird Club

20082008

Western BluebirdWestern Bluebird

What is a Western Bluebird?What is a Western Bluebird?

A Bluebird is in the thrush family, like A Bluebird is in the thrush family, like a Robin redbreast. a Robin redbreast.

RobinRobin It is called Sialia Mexicana.It is called Sialia Mexicana.

WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS?WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS?

Bluebirds offer hope and happinessBluebirds offer hope and happiness. They have probably . They have probably appeared in more songs, poems and literature than any other bird. appeared in more songs, poems and literature than any other bird.

In 1909, Maurice Maeterlinck published In 1909, Maurice Maeterlinck published The Blue BirdThe Blue Bird, a fairy tale , a fairy tale about the bluebird of happiness. about the bluebird of happiness.

In 1934, tenor Jan Peerce made the In 1934, tenor Jan Peerce made the Bluebird of HappinessBluebird of Happiness a a nationwide hit.nationwide hit.

It’s hard not to smile when hearing about It’s hard not to smile when hearing about Mr. Bluebird on My Mr. Bluebird on My ShoulderShoulder from the Disney film Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah. from the Disney film Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.

In 1939, in the movie The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland sang In 1939, in the movie The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland sang plaintively that "plaintively that "Somewhere over the rainbowSomewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly." , bluebirds fly."

One of the most famous WWII-era pop classics was a song by Nat One of the most famous WWII-era pop classics was a song by Nat Burton: “Burton: “There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of DoverThere'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover, , Tomorrow, just you wait and see, There'll be love and laughter and Tomorrow, just you wait and see, There'll be love and laughter and peace ever after, Tomorrow when the world is free.” peace ever after, Tomorrow when the world is free.”

1955: Marvin Rainwater sang 1955: Marvin Rainwater sang Gonna Find Me A BluebirdGonna Find Me A Bluebird 1964: Frank Sinatra recorded 1964: Frank Sinatra recorded I Wish You LoveI Wish You Love

WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS?WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS? Bluebirds are unique to North America.Bluebirds are unique to North America. Bluebirds are family orientedBluebirds are family oriented. The courting male . The courting male

dotes on the female, waving his wings, enticing dotes on the female, waving his wings, enticing her to select a nest site, and offering her treats. her to select a nest site, and offering her treats. He courageously guards the box during nest He courageously guards the box during nest construction. He delivers food to the incubating construction. He delivers food to the incubating female, and participates equally in feeding female, and participates equally in feeding nestlings and fledglings. Both parents will die nestlings and fledglings. Both parents will die defending their young from House Sparrows. defending their young from House Sparrows. After fledging, young birds tend to stay with their After fledging, young birds tend to stay with their parents, begging for food, and sometimes parents, begging for food, and sometimes altruistically helping tend to siblings in a second altruistically helping tend to siblings in a second brood. brood.

WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS?WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS? Bluebirds are friendlyBluebirds are friendly. They seem to . They seem to

almost enjoy human company. They almost enjoy human company. They display no fear of nesting near human display no fear of nesting near human habitation. They usually tolerate habitation. They usually tolerate monitoring of their nests as we peek in to monitoring of their nests as we peek in to see their fuzzy-headed hatchlings. They see their fuzzy-headed hatchlings. They quickly learn an association, whether it be quickly learn an association, whether it be a whistle or a banging door, with a a whistle or a banging door, with a mealworm feeder being filled, and mealworm feeder being filled, and instantly show up to investigate. If we do instantly show up to investigate. If we do not fill the feeder in a timely manner, they not fill the feeder in a timely manner, they may follow us around the yard, warbling may follow us around the yard, warbling away. away.

WHY LOVE BLUEBIRDS?WHY LOVE BLUEBIRDS?

Bluebirds do no harmBluebirds do no harm. In the days before . In the days before pesticides, farmers put up nest boxes pesticides, farmers put up nest boxes around their fields, as they were aware around their fields, as they were aware that bluebirds eat many insects, and the that bluebirds eat many insects, and the fruit they eat during the winter is not of fruit they eat during the winter is not of the cultivated variety. While bluebirds will the cultivated variety. While bluebirds will compete for nesting sites and defend their compete for nesting sites and defend their own abode, they do not maliciously attack own abode, they do not maliciously attack other birds, eggs or nests. other birds, eggs or nests.

WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS?WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS? Bluebirds remind us of both the bad and Bluebirds remind us of both the bad and

good humans are capable ofgood humans are capable of. Almost all . Almost all impacts to bluebird populations, both impacts to bluebird populations, both negative and positive, have been directly negative and positive, have been directly associated with human activity. On the associated with human activity. On the negative side, there is the introduction of negative side, there is the introduction of House Sparrows and starlings, pesticide House Sparrows and starlings, pesticide use, and loss of open space. But on the use, and loss of open space. But on the positive side, grass roots conservation positive side, grass roots conservation efforts by individuals and groups across efforts by individuals and groups across the continent are a shining example of the the continent are a shining example of the power we all have to make a difference. power we all have to make a difference.

WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS?WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS? Attracting bluebirds is a challenging Attracting bluebirds is a challenging

hobby.hobby. Since the number of natural Since the number of natural cavities has dwindled and competition cavities has dwindled and competition from exotic species like House Sparrows from exotic species like House Sparrows and starlings is severe, bluebirds depend and starlings is severe, bluebirds depend on humans to survive and thrive. Because on humans to survive and thrive. Because of this, we feel an almost parental sense of of this, we feel an almost parental sense of ownership and satisfaction when we ownership and satisfaction when we enable successful nesting. Bluebirding enable successful nesting. Bluebirding taps into problem solving skills and taps into problem solving skills and creativity, scientific curiosity, and a love of creativity, scientific curiosity, and a love of nature and the outdoors. nature and the outdoors.

WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS?WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS?

They are beautiful!!!They are beautiful!!!

WESTERN MALE EASTERN MALEWESTERN MALE EASTERN MALESIALIA MEXICANASIALIA MEXICANA SIALIA SIALISSIALIA SIALIS

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDMOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD

Bluebirds are Cavity NestersBluebirds are Cavity Nesters

Hello, John Wayne Tower, Bluebird Hello, John Wayne Tower, Bluebird On Final ApproachOn Final Approach

Hey, Mama, I found a house for us. Hey, Mama, I found a house for us. It’s over there.It’s over there.

Hmm, nice and roomy.Hmm, nice and roomy.

OH, THIS ONE’S NICE, TOO,OH, THIS ONE’S NICE, TOO,

OK, let’s buy this house. Here’s OK, let’s buy this house. Here’s some grass for the nest, some grass for the nest,

Big Boy. Big Boy.

EASTER GRASS KILLSEASTER GRASS KILLS

Yep, five it is. Yep, five it is.

WOW, TWO WEEKS OF THIS? WOW, TWO WEEKS OF THIS?

Worms, worms, I need some Worms, worms, I need some worms.worms.

Me, Me, Me.Me, Me, Me.

How about a meal worm?How about a meal worm?

Bluebird’s favorite food, MealwormsBluebird’s favorite food, Mealworms

Anybody awake in there? Anybody awake in there?

OK, who’s first? OK, who’s first?

I think I see another mealworm for I think I see another mealworm for the kidsthe kids

What no worms? OK, we’ll take a What no worms? OK, we’ll take a berry. berry.

Scoot over, you’re on my foot!!!Scoot over, you’re on my foot!!!

I’m outta here today. Too crowded I’m outta here today. Too crowded for me.for me.

WHY ARE THEY ALWAYS WHY ARE THEY ALWAYS WATCHING US? WATCHING US?

Last one out is a rotten egg.Last one out is a rotten egg.

OK, I flew. Now where’s my treat? OK, I flew. Now where’s my treat?

Does Dad have a worm for me, Does Dad have a worm for me, too? too?

Take your pick. Mom’s or Dad’s? Take your pick. Mom’s or Dad’s?

Hey, what about me? Hey, what about me?

Mom says eating worms’ll give us Mom says eating worms’ll give us pretty eyes.pretty eyes.

Starbirds CafeStarbirds Cafe

DICK PURVIS, DICK PURVIS, Bluebirdman of Orange CountyBluebirdman of Orange County

USING THE PURVIS LIFTER TO USING THE PURVIS LIFTER TO PLACE A BOX ON LIMBPLACE A BOX ON LIMB

Manny AckermanManny Ackerman

Sully Reallon and school classSully Reallon and school class

It’s OK, I’m checking your babies.It’s OK, I’m checking your babies.

What have we got in there? What have we got in there?

Let’s see, one, two, three, four, five. Let’s see, one, two, three, four, five.

Up she goes. Up she goes.

There you are, Mama. Get back in the nest.There you are, Mama. Get back in the nest.

2007 RESULTS2007 RESULTS CountyCounty #Trails#Trails #Boxes#Boxes Total FledgedTotal Fledged WEBLWEBL FledgedFledged

Orange 47 1293 5612 5212 Merced 2 688 3436 38 Santa Clara 52 703 1582 491 Los Angeles 5 144 808 795 San Mateo 20 274 631 247 Contra Costa11 165 368 203 Santa Barbara 6 96 335 245 Yolo 1 92 321 84 Amador 3 59 259 196 Solano 1 79 223 12 El Dorado 2 58 171 115 Riverside 3 36 151 132 Alameda 2 243 87 44 Nevada 3 37 65 49 San Diego 6 10 40 26 San Bernardino1 7 37 37 Placer 2 27 36 26 Kern 1 2 10 10 Butte 1 2 7 7 Mendocino 1 2 4 Yuba 1 10 3 3 Ventura 1 5 2 1

Bluebird Recovery 1996 vs 2007 Bluebird Recovery 1996 vs 2007

                                 1996                   2007

Counties                        20                       22Reporters                     113                     128Nestboxes*                   NA                      NATries                            966                   2053Eggs*                           NA                  11156Hatchlings*                   NA                    9086Fledglings                  3020                    7973

Success. At the community poolSuccess. At the community pool

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