Detailed information on Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

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RustyBrown

| May 2017 | Neutral

Has anyone ever had bluebirds nest in town? I always thought they were strictly open countryside.
I have seen 53 birds at the feeders on our 1/5th-acre lot in town and 6 have nested here, but I've never even seen a bluebird ever.
I would put up a nest box if I thought there was a chance of luring bluebirds here. I will try putting out meal worms if that might attract one or two to the feeder.
I did see a red-headed woodpecker last week at my feeder. First time ever! It was here for two days, then apparently moved on.
I live in southern Ontario in a small town.

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Chillybean

(Zone 5a) | June 2015 | Neutral

I enjoy the bluebirds that nest here. We provide and clean the housing for them. We keep the house sparrows out. Yet I cannot say that I really go nuts about these birds over others. It is easy to see why other people do since they are approachable, pretty, and back yards are an ideal habitat for them. It gives folks a chance to help birds while observing them up close. I am awed by so many birds and the BBs add their own flavor to the buffet on our property.

Our BBs are not that aggressive here, but then they have Tree Swallows for neighbours. Talk about aggressive... We pair up boxes. Maybe pairing up the smaller holed Chickadee boxes with the Bluebirds' box would help the little "dees"?

A benefit to having the BBs around is all the bugs they eat. ... read more

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barquester

Council Hill, OK | May 2015 | Positive

I was over 50 when I saw my first bluebird and it was love at first sight. I built box after box with bluebird society approved designs. The HOSP would terrorize them. I even tried shooting the HOSP but they are too smart for that, traps didn't work either. what did work is incredible. I have saved all my aluminum cans for 15 years and stack them in wire circles about 3 1/2 feet in diameter x 5 feet tall. I finally got disgusted and threw a couple of the bird houses up on them, laying sideways. Now there are Bluebirds in one, Carolina Wren in the other, yes I like them too. My cats won't even jump onto the aluminum cans either. Win/win.
Be advised though, bluebirds won't nest closer than about 75 yards from another bluebird. They don't seem to mind the wrens though. ... read more

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jaguarlady53

Natchez, MS | April 2014 | Positive

I am so excited to have a Bluebird family in my box this year. We had a big problem with Sparrows trying to take over the box one evening and the next morning. We (me,my grandson, mom and dad Bluebird) were all fighting them off. She just could not handle them all by herself. The dad would leave to get food leaving the mom to fight them off. They would attack her while she was inside feeding her babies. I couldn't find any live meal worms so I tried crickets. They loved them. I wasn't sure if they would go into a cardboard box but they did. I had hardly turned and taken a couple of steps till mama bird was in the box. I ended up going and getting more since they loved them so. I put 2 rows of packing tape around the top of the box and that keeps the crickets inside. They didn't have to lea... read more

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ladyincleburnet

Cleburne, TX | June 2013 | Positive

Love having bluebirds in my yard. If you have bird houses, beware! Do a bit of research on the House Sparrow, HOSP. These sparrows (not all sparrows) are little terrorists when it comes to bluebirds. They will actually go into the bluebird house and murder the parents as well as the babies. If that isn't bad enough, they build their own nest right on top of the slaughtered Bluebird family. They will cut your Bluebird population way down. This has actually happened in our yard. After doing a little research, I hung colored streamers from the top of my Bluebird occupied bird house. The streamers did not bother the Bluebirds, but did keep the HOSP away. No guarantee that it will always work, but so far so good.

I have learned so much from watching my bluebirds and rese... read more

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bluebirdsnbells

Stafford, VA | April 2011 | Positive

This is my 4th season with the bluebirds. I have a nestbox with 4 eggs as of today and I expect one more tomorrow before the female begins the incubation. Over the past 3 years we have had 21 fledglings. I expect this brood to fledge around May 15-16.

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themikeman

Concord, NC (Zone 7a) | August 2010 | Neutral

I love the beautiful color of these eastern bluebird, when i was a kid in upstate new york you almost never saw one, here in central north carolina they are much more plentiful. I put up some bird houses the last two years, and was overjoyed when bluebirds moved into them..HOWEVER, a little black and white chickedee couple moved into a different one, and I witnessed a male bluebird that already had a nest in a birdhouse in the front of the property attack with his other female bluebird mistress the chickedee couples birdhouse. they did not succeed in chasing the chickedees from the nest but when the chickedee babies were born his female mistress bluebird tried to attack them and still try to steal the nest even though she already had her own nest by this time. The female in the front yard,... read more

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BillandJan

New Milford, PA | August 2010 | Positive

I had a pair raise 5 young this early spring/summer. After about two weeks they cam back and rebuilt a nest. I stayed away for two weeks and then checked the box. There were three eggs in there that were destroyed. Another bird must have run them out. I watched a pair of wrens chase bluebirds out of a nest box last year.

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Doppler

Rosseau, ON (Zone 5a) | June 2010 | Positive

Have a successful nesting in one of our Blue Bird boxes... four eggs, four fledglings as of late June 2010.

Tree Swallows in a couple of other boxes.

We are located near Parry Sound, Ontario. About two hours north of Toronto.

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SassyBrat326

Ferrum, VA (Zone 7a) | May 2010 | Positive

This is my first year of "blue birding" and I have had so much fun. First crop fledged last week and as far as we can tell, they all survived. Have had fun watching the fledgelings practice their flying.

We can't be sure if it's the same pair or not, but nest building has already resumed for another brood. We've put a second nest box up in the front (not in line of sight of the first) and since we are very rural, on an acre lot, with adjacent woodlands on one side and in back, we are hoping to witness two mating pairs at once.

Both boxes were up in early spring, but could be seen from each other. We did see a second pair checking it out, but have since learned they don't like to be within sight of each other. One box was purchased and my hubby made the ot... read more

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Lin52

Tecumseh, MI | May 2010 | Positive

I live southern Michigan and I've had Bluebirds for the last 3 yrs. I've lived here. They stayed the winter this year and i fed them meal worms all winter...The pair began making a nest in one of the nesting boxes i have ....unfortunately the sparrows caught the female inside the nesting box and killed her...The male comes every morning and lets me know he's ready for his meal worms...I watch him as he sits atop the nesting box....I wish they were a little more aggressive and chase the sparrows away...
Lin
Tecumseh, MI

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ZoeV

Humble, TX | April 2010 | Neutral

Chickadees had taken over one of my 2 bluebird boxes and there were 4 eggs in it a week ago. I had bluebirds nesting in the other box.

Well, I sat for 20 min. yesterday watching a blue bird couple go into the box of chickadees while fighting off the chickadee parents. They went in 4 times and came out with a newly hatched chick and flew off with it in their beak. All the while the chickadees are diving and trying to stop them. After I saw 4 babies carried out I knew it was over. So I went out and cleaned out the box so the blue birds could build theirs.

Maybe you have witnessed this before, but it was my first. I didn't know they were so aggressive! It was an interesting incident.
Just thought I would share.

Diana
Kingwood, Texas ... read more

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WineofLife

Salem, MO (Zone 6a) | April 2010 | Positive

I saw my FIRST TRUE BLUEBIRD here in MO at my Birdfeeders in my front yard. Beautiful!!!

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ladybug_pc

Adairsville, GA (Zone 7b) | February 2010 | Positive

A pair of bluebirds nested in one of my boxes late last spring. Only one nestling survied. One egg did not hatch and one baby bird did not survive. I think this was due to the poor quality of bird house that had poor ventillation. I replaced this birdhouse this year with a better quality bird house with full ventilation slits in the back and in the front. I also use baffles around the entrance holes to deter predators. I hope to have more success this year.

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DarrinDidIt

Alpharetta, GA | January 2010 | Positive

This time of year, particularly, Bluebirds will come to feeders supplied w/shelled seed. Their bills are unable to crack sunflower and other large shelled seed types. It is so great to see them this close!

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Malus2006

Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) | April 2009 | Positive

They like open habitation with at least some weedy spot or grassland habitation. Cavity nesting so prefer birdhouses.

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REBLOOMER

Cary, NC (Zone 7b) | February 2009 | Positive

I saw my first Eastern Bluebird when I moved from MI to NC. I was startled at how blue they were. Beautiful birds.

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis

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