I have a friend that maintains two Bluebird trails (the Eastern Bluebird) and has great success with the boxes she builds and installs along meadows and along woodland edges and near golf courses. She posts their nests and the young who are a blue-gray with gaping mouths on Facebook.
My experience has been that Bluebirds have unique and individual personalities. Years ago when one nested in a box near my rose arbor I used to get all kinds of acrobatic judo attacks with the snapping of wings and angry chirping just a foot from my head. This year I have a Bluebird couple nesting in that same box, but he (female may be on eggs) flees the minute I cross the lawn. He perches on the outer edge of a large tulip across from the driveway and tweets incessantly but melodiously as I weed in that flower bed. He is clearly distressed but not brave enough to dive over my head. Is he younger and timider? Is he older and wiser? Is it just a less aggressive personality he has? He sure is pretty when he doesn't know I am watching behind a window.
I had a pair of bluebirds nest in a birdhouse one year I just plopped on top of the wall of the bunker over on the shop property. apparently they didn't like that I would peek in there now and then because it's never been used since.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine a bird more beautiful than a bluebird. Your photos are gorgeous. I like that you have a bluebird couple nesting in your yard. I think whether the males are aggressive or more cautious is related to genetics, which behavior leads to more success for them.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beauty. I’ve never seen them. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHe looks young and gentle. We have lots of blue Jays here on the Point, but nothing here near the house.
ReplyDeleteHe does look lovely. I guess personalities are as variable in animals as in humans. Well maybe not 'as' but you know.
ReplyDeleteBeutiful birds, I seldom see them around here, I think you need more of an open meadow then we have in the suburbs.
ReplyDeleteI used to help maintain a trail of bluebird boxes in a neighboring park. We kept notes on each weekly visits. Tree swallows used to take over from the less aggressive bluebirds. The park people found that putting a second box a few feet from each bluebird box got the swallows to leave some boxes for the bluebirds. Wrens would build in the boxes, too. The bluebirds had quite a bit of competition for housing. But they're doing well now.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful bird, and one we don't have here. I think birds must have personalities. Other creatures do.
ReplyDeletethat is cause for consideration. I know I've had some very aggressive crows to put up with.
ReplyDeleteWhatever the reason for his non-attacks, i hope he comes to figure out you mean no harm.
ReplyDeleteI have similar supervision when I venture outdoors by resident mockingbirds. Bluebirds are so attractive, I wish we had some here, also cardinals.
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