Anyone who has seen a bluebird falls in love with them right off. Those who have not seen this bird may dream of catching a glimpse of one. Many put up nesting boxes in their yards hoping to lure a pair into nesting there so they can watch them.
When I purchased property in the Southern Tier, I set up some boxes in hope of attracting a pair and it worked. As I made the land attractive to wildlife, the bluebirds benefitted from the mowing of my open fields. Several pairs raised young each summer and then when I built a cabin I christened it “Bluebird Overlook,” with a beautiful sign made by the late Ray Callard hanging over the door.
There are several national bluebird societies nationwide and many chapters of them. So why all the interest in and dedication to bluebirds? Well, they are a beautiful bird and the brilliant blue color just can’t be ignored. They are also very trusting and people oriented, preferring areas near humans.
They eat undesirable insects and they just plain make folks happy to see them. Bluebirds are members of the thrush family, which includes the American robin. From 1966 to 1978 bluebird numbers declined drastically, due to several factors, mainly habitat loss.
When small farms faded away so did the habitat the birds require. Short grasses were replaced with huge, treeless crop fields lacking dead trees for their nesting cavities, or replaced with concrete and asphalt. Increased use of pesticides was no doubt another contributing factor.
However,.