Bluebird of Happiness

The Eastern Bluebirds are back!

They showed up last week when we were enjoying some warm days and bright sun.

My guess is now the Mrs. Bluebirds are asking their mate why they had to take the early bird flight.

Just as I was completing a nice walk around the Pope Farm Conservancy I noticed a shimmer of blue on a bird perched on a next box.  The sun was on the other side of the bird, so I couldn't tell if the blue was real or an optical illusion.

It flittered away anytime I came within 25 feet, leading me away from his home where presumably Mrs. Bluebird was guarding the nest.

Little, but active... bluebirds typically have more than one brood.  The little chicks born in early spring leave (or may be kicked) from the nest by early summer.  The second brood flies south with mom and dad to spend the winter.

You'll find bluebirds in old woodpecker holes or nest boxes and perching on fence posts.  As a 2nd grader I remember learning that bluebirds were disappearing, in part, because there were fewer wood fence posts.

The places to perch provide safety and a spot to survey the area for insects, berries, and wild fruit.  Occasionally they will even go for bigger game - like shrews, snakes, and tree frogs.  It would be pretty amazing to see one of these pretty little birds taking down a snake!

Mr. Bluebird doesn't do much for the males of his species.  His idea of courtship is delivering nest material to the box, flapping his wings while perched above it.  That's it - that's enough to attractive a mate who actually assembles the nest, lays, and incubates the eggs.

I hope he remembers to deliver something special to his spouse on Mother's Day!