Bird of Good Cheer and a Hopeful Spring
Throughout history, and within many cultures, bluebirds symbolize happiness, protection, and hope. People may have first taken notice of the birds because of their unusual coloring, or for their behavior; swooping through meadows and open spaces, cheerful song, or large family units raising young each spring.
When the bluebirds start building nests this spring (2021), it will signal a time when COVID quarantines and isolation may begin lifting. For those with creative inclinations, this cheer inspiring avian may, once again, be used to celebrate hope and authentic community freedom in song, writing, painting, filling in blocks of color on a coloring sheet, or building and distributing nest boxes.
Secondary Housing Shortage
Bluebirds lack beak and skull adaptations to bore their own nesting cavities; therefore, they rely on second-hand holes of a certain circumference.
Like many animals highlighted on Following Deer Creek, human-caused environmental alterations – tree management practices and invasive species – have reduced their numbers.
Providing Bluebird nesting boxes (see Bluebird Nest Box Construction below) and replacing exotic plants with California native plants are two ways that individuals can contribute toward repairing California’s diverse natural ecosystems.
“Bluebird conservation is a shining example of a totally grassroots effort that has been tremendously successful. It illustrates the power of individuals and groups to make a difference.” – Elizabeth Zimmerman Smith 2020, Woodstock, CT at Sialas.org
Nevada County Western Bluebirds are year-round residents.
During spring and summer, bluebirds mostly feed on insects. Their hunting grounds are open grasslands where they perch on branches or fence posts to watch for bugs. When they spot prey, they’ll swoop in for the catch. In addition to insect hunting spaces, bluebirds also need reliable sources of fresh water.
In the winter, they feed on berries.
Females and juveniles have muted feather colors compared to mature males. Both males and females have straight beaks and rusty-colored chest feathers. Mature males have bright blue heads, wings, and tails.
Reproduction & Family Chick Raising
Spring begins with nest building. Bluebirds choose existing cavities in which to nest.
Feb/March/April – males and females pair bond.
Females lay one egg a day for a clutch between 4 – 6 days.
After a fourteen-day incubation, with the male bringing her food and standing guard, all eggs hatch on the same day.
After hatching, both parents feed chicks for approximately two weeks.
Once the young have fledged and begin traveling from the nest box to hearby branches, the female leaves to begin building a second nest while the male finishes caring for the first brood.
Bluebirds remain in family groups. First brood siblings may help raise the second brood. Inexperienced parents with failed nests may participate in helping raise their parents’ subsequent hatchlings.
Spring / Summer
Fall / Winter
- small fruit & berries
- juniper berries
domestic & wild cats
Nesting Box Chick Predators
Undernourished chicks are also susceptible to parasitic infections.
House Sparrows and Starlings are aggressive cavity-nesting competitors that were imported into New York between 1853 and 1890. The first to deal with inchworms and the second to introduce Shakespeare’s play birds into Central Park.
Other Birds that Compete for Cavity Nest Sites
- House Wren
Detrimental Human Effects on Bluebird Populations
- Introduction of competitive invasive species – House Sparrow & Starling
- Tree & Forest Management practices
- Herbicide & pesticide use
- Wood fence post replacement with angle iron posts
- Development of open spaces
The Bluebird Man – One Idaho Man’s Retiremet Conservation Legacy
Bluebird Restoration Project – Near Victoria, British Columbia
Bluebird Nesting Box Construction
If you liked this post, you may also like Woodpeckers – Drumming Horder
Audubon – How to Build a Bluebird Nest Box
Audubon – Western Bluebird
BBC – The birds of Shakspeare cause US trouble
Bear Yuba Land Trust – Bird Banding with Allison Nelson
California Bluebird Recovery Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology – Educators Guide to Next Boxes
Cornell Lab of Ornithology – Nest Watch – national nest monitoring program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology – Western Bluebird
Ebird – Western Bluebird Identification & Call recording
Ebird – Western Bluebird Range Map
The Hatching Cat – 1853: The English House Sparrows Who Took Up House and Hotel in Manhattan
iNaturalist – About Western Bluebird
iNaturalist – Nevada County Western Bluebird Observations
North American Bluebird Society
North American Bluebird Society – Getting Started with Bluebirds PDF
San Diego Tribune – Bluebirds of Happiness keep local resident enchanted
Sailas.org – Bluebird Nest Box Style Pros & Cons
Wild Birds Unlimited (Grass Valley, CA)
Wikipedia – Bluebird of Happiness
Wikipedia – Western Bluebird
More Bluebird Videos:
Eastern Bluebird – Brain Study – Male/Female Song Area
Making of Bluebirdman
Bluebirds in Popular Culture:
From Red Dead Redemption 2 to the Wizard of Oz, Sesame Street’s Big Bird, Niel Young, and Native American folklore the bluebird makes consistent appearances in American popular culture. It has also shown up in as well as in ancient Chinese, Japanese, Native American and European folklore, the bluebird has symbolized hope, happiness, protection and change.
The symbol of a bluebird as the harbinger of happiness is found in many cultures and may date back thousands of years.
Ndege wa Furaha na Matumaini Katika historia yote, na katika tamaduni nyingi, ndege wa bluu hufananisha furaha, ulinzi, na tumaini. Huenda watu waliwaona ndege hao kwa sababu ya rangi zao zisizo za kawaida, au kwa sababu ya tabia zao; wakipita katika nyasi na maeneo ya wazi, wakiimba kwa furaha, au wakiwa familia kubwa, wakilea watoto kila majira ya kuchipua. Wakati ndege wa bluebird wataanza kujenga viota katika majira ya kuchipua ya 2021, itakuwa ishara ya wakati ambapo quarantines za COVID na kutengwa kwa ndege zinaweza kuanza kuondolewa. Kwa wale wenye mwelekeo wa ubunifu, ndege huyu wa kuchochea furaha anaweza, tena, kutumika kusherehekea matumaini na uhuru halisi wa jamii katika wimbo, kuandika, kuchora, kujaza vipande vya rangi kwenye karatasi ya rangi, au kujenga na kusambaza masanduku ya kiota. Kwa sababu ya ukosefu wa vifaa vya kuhifadhi, ndege wa bluu hawana uwezo wa kuhifadhi vichwa vyao vya kuzaliana, na kwa hivyo wanategemea mashimo ya mikono ya pili ya mduara fulani. Kama wanyama wengi waliotajwa katika kitabu Following Deer Creek, mabadiliko ya mazingira yaliyosababishwa na wanadamu - mazoea ya usimamizi wa miti na spishi za uvamizi - yamepunguza idadi yao. Kuandaa masanduku ya Bluebird (tazama ujenzi wa masanduku ya Bluebird hapa chini) na kubadilisha mimea ya kigeni na mimea ya asili ya California ni njia mbili ambazo watu binafsi wanaweza kuchangia kurekebisha mifumo ya ikolojia ya asili ya California. <unk>Uhifadhi wa ndege wa bluu ni mfano mzuri wa juhudi ya msingi kabisa ambayo imefanikiwa sana. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""Mwanamke wa kwanza wa Nevada, Elizabeth Zimmerman Smith, ambaye anaishi katika Woodstock, CT, anaishi katika Nevada County Western Bluebirds." Wakati wa majira ya kuchipua na majira ya kiangazi, ndege hao hula hasa wadudu. Mahali pao pa kuwinda ni kwenye nyasi zilizo wazi ambako wao huketi kwenye matawi au nguzo za uzio ili kuangalia wadudu. Wanapogundua mawindo, wanaingia kwa ghafula ili kuyachukua. Mbali na kuwa na mahali pa kuwinda wadudu, ndege hao wa bluu huhitaji pia maji safi. Wakati wa majira ya baridi kali, wao hula matunda ya matunda. Wanawake na vijana wana rangi ya manyoya iliyo dhaifu ikilinganishwa na wanaume wakomavu. Ndege wa kiume na wa kike wana mdomo wa moja kwa moja na manyoya ya kifua yenye rangi ya kutu. Ndege wa kiume waliokomaa wana vichwa, mabawa, na mikia ya rangi ya bluu. Uzazi na Familia Kuinua Chick Spring huanza na ujenzi wa kiota. Ndege wa bluu huchagua mashimo yaliyopo ili kufanya viota. Februari/Machi/Aprili <unk> wanaume na wanawake wanashirikiana. Wanawake hutaga mayai moja kwa siku kwa muda wa siku 4 hadi 6. Baada ya siku kumi na nne za kuangukia, huku mwanamume akimletea chakula na kumlinda, mayai yote huanguliwa siku ileile. Baada ya kuanguliwa, wazazi wote wawili huwalisha vifaranga kwa muda wa majuma mawili hivi. Baada ya watoto wao kuangukia na kuanza kusafiri kutoka kwenye kiota hadi kwenye matawi, mwanamke huondoka ili kuanza kujenga kiota cha pili huku mwanamume akimaliza kutunza mtoto wa kwanza. Ndege wa bluu hubaki katika vikundi vya familia. Ndugu na dada wa kwanza wa kuzaa wanaweza kusaidia kulea mtoto wa pili. Wazazi wasio na uzoefu walio na viota vilivyoshindwa wanaweza kushiriki katika kusaidia kulea watoto wa baadaye wa wazazi wao. Majira ya joto, majira ya baridi kali, majira ya baridi kali, majira ya baridi kali, majira ya baridi kali, majira ya baridi kali, majira ya baridi kali, majira ya baridi kali, majira ya baridi kali, majira ya baridi kali, majira ya baridi kali, majira ya baridi kali, majira ya baridi kali, majira ya baridi kali. Mbwa aina ya House Sparrow na Starling ni aina ya ndege wa aina ya House Sparrow na Starling, ambao waliingizwa New York kati ya mwaka wa 1853 na 1890. Ya kwanza kushughulika na inchworms na ya pili kuanzisha ndege kucheza Shakespeare katika Central Park. "Mfano wa ndege wa kawaida wa ""Bluebird"" ni ndege wa kawaida wa magharibi wa Amerika, na kwa sababu ya kuvutia kwa ndege wa magharibi, ndege wa magharibi wa Amerika, na kwa sababu ya kuvutia kwa ndege wa magharibi, ndege wa magharibi wa Amerika, na kwa sababu ya kuvutia kwa ndege wa magharibi, ndege wa magharibi wa Amerika, na kwa sababu ya kuvutia kwa ndege wa magharibi, ndege wa magharibi wa Amerika, na ndege wa magharibi wa Amerika, na kwa sababu ya kuvutia kwa ndege wa magharibi." Kwa kuwa ndege wa bluu ni maarufu sana katika hadithi za kale za Kichina, Kijapani, Amerika ya Asili na Ulaya, ndege wa bluu ni ishara ya matumaini, furaha, ulinzi na mabadiliko. Ishara ya ndege wa bluu kama ishara ya furaha hupatikana katika tamaduni nyingi na huenda ikawa ilitokea maelfu ya miaka iliyopita.