When Lisa of Greenbow and her husband were visiting here on Sunday, the guys mentioned that they'd seen a bluebird. I've only ever seen a bluebird one other time in my entire life and that was about three years ago, while working in the vegetable garden. When they casually and unexcitedly stated they'd seen one, I almost didn't believe them.
I'm a believer now.
Last night, while Romie and I were out working in the yard, we saw a bluebird fluttering at the opening of the bluebird house we'd put up when we saw that first one years ago. Romie kept an eye on him while I ran to the house for my camera. He was still there when I returned and I snapped a couple of nice photos of him.
We had another bluebird house that my dad had made, but we'd not put it up yet, because we weren't sure where to locate it. Having a bluebird right before our eyes forced the decision and we immediately hung it at the far end of the grape arbor.
This morning, as I was eating my bagel and doing my morning walk-through back in Max's Garden, I kept my eye out for the bluebirds. In a matter of minutes, there he was, and his mate, too! They both entered the older house, then came out a few minutes later.
Not long after, the male flew over to the grape arbor and entered the house we'd just put up. So it's looking rather favorable that we'll have baby bluebirds one day!
Though we haven't followed all the rules for luring bluebirds to our property, I wanted to share a few of them, just in case you're hoping for bluebirds, too.
- Bluebirds like open spaces, so place your bluebird house away from trees and vegetation as much as possible.
- Place the house no more that 4-5 feet off the ground.
- Face the opening of the house towards the east or south, so that it's warmed by the sun.
- The opening needs to be away from prevailing winds, so if the wind is generally from the west where you live, face the house east.
- Other birds, such as wrens and swallows, also like to use bluebird houses, so erecting two houses increases your chances of having a bluebird take up residence.
The bluebird carries the sky on his back.
~ Henry David Thoreau
"Bejeweled"
18 comments:
What great pictures! I hope they choose one of the houses so you can watch their family grow.
Congratulations! Great photos!
I've had bluebirds check out my bird houses only to be run off by the house sparrows. After pulling two sparrow nests out of the house I finally cover the hole.
I hope you have better luck than me and get to see them nest in your bluebird house.
Catherine ~ Well, it will be rather hard to watch the family grow, since they'll be in the bird house until they fledge and we might miss that part, but we'll be thrilled to have them nest here anyway! Just having them around these last couple of days has been wonderful! They were very much present all day today. :-)
Sue ~ Thanks! I feel like we must have done something right, even if they decide to nest elsewhere. Just getting to see them has been a treat!
Robin ~ Yes, those darn sparrows can do that. We have had sparrows nesting in the older birdhouse several times. Earlier this spring, sparrows built a nest in the box and I cleaned it out. Next day, the nest was back. I cleaned it out again. This continued for nearly a week until I finally gave up. With the bluebirds checking this house out, it makes me think that the sparrows gave up, too!
Good morning Kylee, I followed the link from Lisa's blog and I'm so glad I did. I really enjoyed your blue bird post. I'm way out in the country on a farm and have never had bluebirds either. You must be very excited. I have chickadees and wrens in my boxes again this year--which is fine. Anyway congrats on your bluebird family.
Marnie
YAY! How exciting--I can't wait to keep up with your new "neighbors" via your blog this summer, Kylee. I hope that they stay. :)
Wow .. great photos. I don't have blue birds but I have a few yellow and red ones.
Great photos. I wish we had bluebirds in the UK (sigh!)
Maybe you need to set up a birdhousecam inside the nesting box next year before the birds arrive. It's doable.We had a badgercam for a while - until the squirrels ate the cable!
We usually only see bluebirds in the mountains around here. How lucky for you to have them gracing your garden!
Fabulous shots, Kylee. I've never seen a bluebird around here, but I held a hummingbird in my hand tonight. (he was trapped in hubby's workshop, and I caught and freed him.)
Oh, and I'm envious that you got a visit from Lisa! That's wonderful and i'm glad you had a great visit.
How exciting Kylee. I am so happy for you to have Bluebirds moving in.
You also probably have a Gray Catbird nesting in your spirea hedge. It sang the entire time we stood talking in the front yard. They like to nest in a hedge.
Lucky you!
We have a pair of bluebirds who hunt in our back yard, but they don't come close enough for decent photos. Love your shots of them. Thanks for sharing!
They're beautiful birds. I used to have a bluebird box but none would ever use it. I got tired of house sparrows takin up residence in it so I took it down. Maybe I should do as you suggested and put two up.
I've never seen one in my garden. It is beautiful!
I just read your TWITTER about Hoen. I was there yesterday buy some goodies for my daughters Fairy Garden she loves to put together.
Next time you have to stop out in BGgarden! :-) Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos of the birds.
Happy Weekend (((HUGS)))
I love that shade of blue.
Nice capture.
Wow. I've been trying to take a bluebird photo for years. Your pix are great!
Wow. I've been trying to take a bluebird photo for years. Your pix are great!
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