The Tale of the Bluebird Trailby the Virginia Bluebird Society

Table of Contents

Slides 51 - 55: How-To Guidelines

Slides 3 - 15: Bluebird Basics

Slides 16 - 19: Causes of Population Decline

Slides 20 - 28: Saving Bluebirds with Nest Boxes

Slides 29 - 46: Lifecycle of a Bluebird

Slides 47 - 50: Other Native Birds

Bluebird BasicsWhat is a Bluebird?

What do they look like? Where do they

nest?

What do they sound

like?Where do they

live?Where do they

live?

What do they eat?

When are they here?

When are they here?

Which bird is an Eastern Bluebird?

No, this is an Indigo Bunting, a songbird related to the Cardinal.

No, this is a Blue Jay, the bold and loud relative of the Crow.

Yes, this is an Eastern Bluebird. Bluebirds are members of the Thrush family, cousins to the American Robin.

How does a Bluebird sound?

Three Species of Bluebirds

The Eastern Bluebird is the bluebird found in Virginia. It lives across the east and mid-west.

Bluebirds stay in Virginia all year long.

The Western and Mountain Bluebirds

occupy the western portions of North America.

Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird

Photo by Helen Ellis

Eastern BluebirdMale Bluebird• Sky blue on his back• Red on his chest• White on his belly

Female Bluebird• She has the same

coloring as the male, but not as bright

Juvenile Bluebird• The baby has a spotted

chest

Bluebirds live in open areas with scattered trees … such as parks, golf courses, schools, farms and suburbs. Mowed areas not too close to buildings are ideal.

Bluebirds nest in holes, called cavities

Just like holes in teeth are called cavities, so are holes in trees

Snags, old trees with holes, are nature’s condominiums and cafeterias. Bluebirds’ beaks aren’t strong enough to make their own cavities, so they must find natural holes in trees, or …

Bluebirds nest in old holes

made by woodpeckers,

who are theprimary

cavity nesters.

Since bluebirds adopt old holes,

they are calledsecondary

cavity nesters.

HomeSweetHome

Many bluebirds today nest in man-made

cavities, also called nest boxes.

Food!Yum, yum – Bluebirds eat bugs and berries

Summer - Insects

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Herman, D.E. et al. 1996

Winter - Berries

Menu: crickets, beetles, spiders, worms

Menu: dogwood, cedar, holly, sumac and other berries, and sometimes seeds

Water!

In all seasons, birds need a reliable source of clean

water for bathing and drinking.

Tip: Put out a bird bath to attract bluebirds and other birds to your yard.

It’s Tough Being a Bluebird

Causes of Population Decline•During Colonial times, the bluebird was as common as the American Robin.

•Then, from the 1920s to the 1970s, the numbers of bluebirds went severely down, almost to extinction.

Why?Why? Why?

Why?

Loss of Habitat

Development chews up natural areas and bluebirds lose the open areas they need for nesting and feeding.

Herbicides & Pesticides

Chemicals pollute birds’ drinking water, and interrupt the food chain by poisoning the insects and/or the plants the insects need. This destroys the bluebird’s food and water supply.

Invasive Species

House Sparrow

European Starling

The house sparrow & starling were brought here from Europe. They aggressively

compete with the bluebird for nest sites, and will chase away or even kill bluebirds

and other birds.

How do we save bluebirds?Simple Math: Nest boxes + Volunteers = Bluebirds

Bluebird numbers are up because volunteers install and monitor nest boxes. Volunteers install boxes in bluebird habitats: open, mowed, grassy areas with scattered trees, but away from brush, buildings, traffic and where people eat.