Birds and Squirrels

  Bluebirds were once a common sight in suburban and rural areas. Much admired for their beautiful coloring and their distinctive song. The Eastern Bluebird (one of 3 types of Bluebirds’) is the state bird of both New York and Missouri.

  All Bluebirds are cavity nesters. Due to loss of nesting habitat such as tree holes, and old fence posts or orchards and the introduction of House Sparrows and Starlings from Europe in the later 1800’s the Bluebird population declined nearly 90% by 1970. But today Bluebirds growing numbers can be attributed to the many humans who are putting up nest boxes to help them. All you need is a fairly open area, along with food and water sources nearby. 

  Bluebirds’ mate in the spring and summer, with the female laying 4 to 5 light blue eggs which will take about two weeks to hatch. Both the male and the female will care for the young. In addition during the second nesting, occasionally one of the young Bluebirds from the first brood will remain to help raise the young.