Appeal (Facscination with Bluebirds)

My husband and sister have both asked me, “Why do people get so goopy over bluebirds?” I think there are a number of reasons why we become fascinated and even addicted to this charming creature.

• Bluebirds are beautiful. Their leisurely flight pattern offers a slow-motion view of cerulean blue feathers, making it seem as though the male “carries the sky on his back.” (Henry David Thoreau)

• Bluebirds are considered harbingers of spring. As WL Dawson penned in 1903, “How the waiting countryside thrills with joy when Bluebird brings us the first word of returning spring.” John Burroughs wrote in 1880, “The bluebird enjoys the preeminence of being the first bit of color that cheers our northern landscape.” Although they may overwinter in colder climes, they actively begin house hunting in February and March, signaling better weather ahead.

• Bluebirds are associated with hope and happiness and things we love. WL Dawson wrote “Reflecting heaven from his back and the ground from his breast, he floats between sky and earth like the winged voice of hope.” They have probably appeared in more songs, poems and literature than any other bird. In 1909, Maurice Maeterlinck published The Blue Bird, a fairy tale about the bluebird of happiness. In 1934, tenor Jan Peerce made the Bluebird of Happiness a nationwide hit. It’s hard not to smile when hearing about “Mr. Bluebird on My Shoulder” from the Disney film Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah. In 1939, in the movie The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland sang plaintively that “Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly." One of the most famous WWII-era pop classics was a song by Nat Burton: “There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover, Tomorrow, just you wait and see, There'll be love and laughter and peace ever after, Tomorrow when the world is free.”

• Bluebirds are unique to North America. Despite the reference to England in Nat Burton’s song, bluebirds are only found on our continent - thus we can call them our own.
  
• Bluebirds remind us of simpler times. They were not only abundant in the tunes of our youth, but also in the countryside, in the days before suburban sprawl. Most of us can clearly remember our first view of that flash of blue. Because they have become less common, it is even more thrilling to see one now.

• Bluebirds are family oriented. The courting male dotes on the female, waving his wings, enticing her to select a nest site, and offering her treats. He courageously guards the box during nest construction. He delivers food to the incubating female, and participates equally in feeding nestlings and fledglings. Both parents will die defending their young from house sparrows. After fledging, young birds tend to stay with their parents, begging for food, and sometimes helping tend to siblings in a second brood.

• Their song is enchanting. The velvety undertones are "...so soft and gentle; they sing to no one save themselves. Not loud and boastful like the mocker; not full of chatter like the purple martin. The bluebird song is a kind and personal "I love you" that one must be close and quiet to hear." (Kenny Kleinpeter) Clyde Todd (1940) said their song, “…like the gentle murmur of a flowing brook in soothing cadence, awakens a sense of well-being and content in each responsive listener.”

• Bluebirds are friendly. They seem to almost enjoy human company. They display no fear of nesting near human habitation. They tolerate monitoring of their nests as we peek in to see their fuzzy-headed hatchlings. They quickly learn an association, whether it be a whistle or a banging door, with a mealworm feeder being filled, and instantly show up to investigate. If we do not fill the feeder in a timely manner, they may follow us around the yard, warbling away.

• Bluebirds do no harm. In the days before pesticides, farmers put up nestboxes around their fields, as they were aware that bluebirds eat many insects, and the fruit they eat during the winter is not of the cultivated variety. While bluebirds will compete for nesting sites and defend their own abode, they do not maliciously attack other birds, eggs or nests.
  
• Attracting bluebirds is a challenging hobby. Since the number of natural cavities has dwindled and competition from exotic species like house sparrows and starlings is severe, bluebirds depend on humans to survive and thrive. Because of this, we feel a sense of ownership and satisfaction when we enable successful nesting. Healthy, interesting debates continue to rage on a myriad of topics such as nestbox style and placement, feeding, monitoring and predator control.

• Bluebirds remind us of both the bad and good humans are capable of. Almost all impacts to bluebird populations, both negative and positive, have been directly associated with human activity. On the negative side, there is the introduction of house sparrows and starlings, pesticide use, and loss of open space. But on the positive side, grass roots conservation efforts by individuals and groups across the continent are a shining example of the power we all have to make a difference.

From: Lana Hunt [mailto:lanahunt"at"kcp.uky.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 6:18 AM
Re: Why we get goopy over bluebirds

You aren't missing a thing, you very eloquently conveyed my thoughts about bluebirds, thank you so much for sharing, and if you don't mind, I'll forward this to a few of my friends who don't quiet understand why I do what I do. Lana

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 7:24 AM
RE: Why we get goopy over bluebirds

I say only a "true bluebirder" knows the feeling. Those that question it, are not on the same level as we are!!!! Seven years into the world of Bluebirds is still as exciting as day one for me! There is nothing like that flash of blue in the sunshine on a cold winter day to make you feel so good inside! Also, the fuzzy topped, naked little babies in the spring and hearing their song all around me when I check my trail! Oh, I could go on and on! Evelyn Cooper Delhi, LA

From: Kenny Kleinpeter [mailto:kpkmajk"at"cox.net]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 7:48 AM
RE: Why we get goopy over bluebirds

Ah, the song! I love the bluebird song! So soft and gentle; they sing to no one save themselves. Not loud and boastful like the mocker; not full of chatter like the purple martin. The bluebird song is a kind and personal "I love you" that one must be close and quiet to hear. Kenny Kleinpeter Baton Rouge, LA

From: Haleya Priest [mailto:mablue"at"gis.net]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 9:04 AM
Re: Why we get goopy over bluebirds

I think Bet and Kenny have summed the goopiness we experience very well. We may NEVER know exactly what it is about these birds that brings us to our knees and that falls into the category of the Great Mystery for me. I think we all love mystery. Especially the Great mystery. Picasso's quote below I think adds to this conversation. :-) H "Everything is miraculous. It is a miracle that one doesn't melt in one's bath." ~ Pablo Picasso

From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 9:33 AM
RE: Why we get goopy over bluebirds Thanks for the comments!

A slightly modified version of goopiness is posted at http://www.sialis.org/goopy.htm - anybody who wants to use or share all/part of it is welcome to. Of course I had to include a photo by Wendell :-) Bet from CT

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 12:59 PM
RE: Why we get goopy over bluebirds

Just this morning, I saw the whole group of five fledglings come and land on the small perch I have out in the front yard. All five of them! I don't feed them, they just decided to all land there. Just the other day, they were chasing each other like kids playing in the yard. There are many priceless moments!!! Evelyn

From: Dottie Roseboom [mailto:rosedot"at"mtco.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 11:25 AM
Re: Why we get goopy over bluebirds

Evelyn, You've hit it right on the nose! That flash of blue always sends shivers down my back. And those little chick faces peeking out the box - see I could go on and on too! Dottie

From: Paula [mailto:PaulaZ"at"columbus.rr.com]
Sent: Friday, June 25, 2004 10:59 AM
Re: Goopiness

I loved Kenny's description of the bluebird song. It truly is a sound that touches your heart. For me, bluebirds are special because when I am blue, the sight of one makes me less so. Their appraising sideways stare is endearing as well, more curious than wary. Their vigilance in parenting gives us all something to aspire to. They need, and seem to appreciate, a helping hand from me and I can see and hear the results of my efforts all around me every day. They are very special creatures to me. Paula Z Powell (central) Ohio

From: Dottie, Hickory Hollow, Brown County, Indiana [mailto:yumyumkatts"at"voyager.net]
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 11:27 AM
Subject: Beautiful BB Morning

It's a beautiful early summer morning here with blue skies and a little morning breeze.   Not too hot, just right for fledging BB babies and that's just what mom and pop BB decided to do about an hour ago. I looked out at my BB box in front of my house which is in a small clearing with deep woods all around the back of the box. I saw mom and pop BB still feeding their babies but just felt something was different so I kept watching.   First thing I knew there was a BB baby sticking his head out the hole.   He kept sticking his head out and then ducking back in for quite a while.   He came out so far one time I thought he was just going to fall out.  But he went back in the box.   Mom and pop going up to the hole and encouraging him to come out.   Well, this went on for quite a while as BB baby didn't know if he wanted to come out in such a strange looking place. Finally, he did it!  But he was so scared he pooped on the way to the trees.   Then another one came out just as a big beautiful tiger swallowtail butterfly went by.   Then another baby came out.   They didn't take any time at all to decide to come out in the new world. The fourth one was ready to come out when two small fawns came around on the edge of the woods with mom doe.   Mom and pop BB must have told their baby to stay inside the box because he ducked back in.   The fawns stayed in the woods but mom doe came out and started munching the wildflowers and pink clover around the front of the box. Mom and pop BB didn't like that at all and started dive bombing mom doe.   Mom doe couldn't figure out what was going on and what was hitting her big ears.   It was so funny.   Finally, she went back into the woods with mom and pop BB still dive bombing her. After another long time, mom and pop BB finally coached the fourth baby to come out.   He was pretty scared by this time after being told there was danger and to stay in the box.   But out he finally came and he pooped on the way to the tree, too.   Then the fifth baby came out right away. So wonderful to be a witness to Nature.   It makes all the hard work worthwhile. The box is already cleaned out and waiting, hopefully, for a third nesting.   I think we have a good chance of that this year.   I still have two active BB boxes with BB babies but they should be fledging this week.
What a morning I have had today!
Dottie, Hickory Hollow, Brown County, Indiana

From: SCooke
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 2:31 PM
Subject: My first baby blue!!!
I just went out to check my box and found a newly hatched nestling (is that a proper term?) Since I knew that only you guys could understand my level of excitement, I just had to share!  (There are 3 eggs left so I'll keep a close eye and let you know what happens.)  Does it get any better than this?!? Sharon in NC

We all congratulate you, and we share your pleasure at this great event. Yes, it does get better, and better , and better. I'm sure that we all remember that magical day when we found our very first Bluebird nest, and our very first blue egg, and our very first nestling. I remember the day many years ago, back in the late 80s, when I saw my first Bluebird in 25 years, after I had long been convinced that they were gone for good. I hadn't seen one since the 60s. Bruce Burdett, SW NH

I'm so excited I can barely contain myself. There IS something to be said for having the Blues depart for the winter. Nothing beats the excitement of seeing them in the spring for the first time. I just saw my pair out checking out the nestboxes. I've got some touching-up to do!
Cher

Lana and Denise and Bluebirdsters:

(True story. All of my stories are entirely true).

Evidently not everyone is "fond of bluebirds" as we are:

Back in about 75' I'll always remember a farm house fellow, when I inquired if I could put some bluebird houses on his place, emphatically stated "I hate bluebirds." And he slammed the door.

Being young and a college student, I thought about that for a bit and - are you
ready for this - went around back to ask the Mrs.!

Of course here he comes. "Sir, excuse me, but do you mean you hate Blue Jays?"

"No, bluebirds, I know a bluebird when I see one - they eat all of my blueberries."

Good birding, Larry H. Joplin MO.

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 9:20 PM
Subject: Getting Your Spouse Addicted To Bluebirds

I am really making progress.

First, my husband never cooks anything, (maybe eggs at camp which he shouldn't eat). His hands and arms just doesn't do culinary stuff. (mostly his brain)

Well, this morning as I stumbled down to the kitchen to get my coffee, there he was hovered over the stove stewing something. I asked him what in the world  he was doing. He said he was stewing some raisins for “his babies”. We were out of them (we give them just a few each day as they come looking for them). He was calling my bluebirds “his babies”.  I just snickered to myself and went back to bed with my cup of coffee. I love it.

Evelyn Cooper, Delhi , LA

I got up this morning and sat on the porch with my coffee. After a whole summer of mid to high 90s, it was very nice to feel a chill in the air and a
breeze. I surveyed my piece of Kentucky heaven with appreciation as
bluebird juveniles and adults alike decided to make a visit. There were about 6-8 of them, flitting in and out of the boxes, flying up to the porch rail and sitting, squabbling and playing, then flying off to a nearby tree,
then back again. I enjoyed their antics for over an hour. They rewarded
me well for my devotion to them.

I just got a very excited call from a friend who lives in our Del Webb retirement community. Last summer I helped her put up a nestbox, as she enjoyed watching the nesting activity in my garden.

This morning she said she saw "The most beautiful, vivid blue bird ever" in her yard. It was feeding on the ground near her seed feeder and she said there were two other similar birds which were more gray than blue (obviously females). She said they didn't actually visit the nestbox but she's hoping they will return and chose to nest there.

So do I! I've been trying to get my foot in the door in that community. It's prime bluebird territory with lots of open space, which is mowed, and many people with the time and interest for be good landlords. All I need is a successful nesting and the word will spread.

I intend to be active in monitoring the nestbox, until my friend feels comfortable doing it herself. I do the same with my neighbor here, who had tree swallows nesting last season.

Right now the blues are checking out territories, but nest building won't begin for month or so. I hear them chirping in the trees every morning, and we've started seeing them around the neighborhood again. This week is supposed to be dry, sunny, and near 70, so I'm hoping we see them more often.

I do enjoy hearing the excitement of someone discovering bluebirds!

Barbara in Cloverdale, CA

Every year it is pretty much tradition for our family to go up to our cabin
for memorial day. My wife was making plans and I told here we could not go
this year. She is upset but does not understand that this year I have blue
birds laying eggs and I have to be around!!! She doesn't understand?? LOL

Steve Murphy
Rochester, MN

Awwwwwww, Steve . . . take the wife to the cabin, the Blues will be okay
without you for a weekend. Besides, she'll be around all winter ~ the
Bluebirds probably won't.

Cher (A wife)

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 8:37 AM
Subject: Re: Women, I don't Understand

Better yet, get her hooked on the bb's. I got hubby hooked and I really get a bang out of it! He wakes up all during the night and looks at the spy cam to check out Ms. BB on the nest sleeping. She sleeps with her beak under her wing.

....

Evelyn

Steve, the bluebirds can lay their eggs without you :-) You will find treasures in the nest when you get back. Many people go a week between monitoring, so one weekend will not be too much. In fact, once the first egg is laid, I avoid the nestbox until I feel reasonably sure that all eggs are laid, to avoid startling the female off the nest at just the wrong time.
They USUALLY lay their eggs in the morning, but not always.

Kate Arnold
Paris, Texas

Hi Steve,

I understand because you and I are thinking alike! My family goes to a
lake cottage with my parents every Memorial weekend just to kick back
and relax. I've got my fingers crossed the babies will fledge before we
leave!

This morning I took some pictures of the parents feeding the young.
While the parents were off getting more food, one of the babies had it's
head hanging out the hole waiting for more food. I think my wish will
come true!

Shari Kastner
New Berlin, WI

From: T LINEHAN [mailto:gtlinehan"at"msn.com]
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 2:16 PM
Subject: Re: 3rd Egg No holes

...my husband can't believe either how much I'm into this bb stuff. I mean he helps out a lot, but I'm asking him all the time to help me on this or that to attract the cavity nesting birds. I mean, I can sit outside for hours with binoculars and he makes joke of this. Watching their every move makes you learn so much. The majority of people around here just go about their business not even aware of the beautiful birds around here, and their daily struggle to live and reproduce. I'm so intrigued with these little guys. By watching them you learn how tough life is for them and I really want to help them. Birds can't tell us what's going on, but you can sure see it if your patient enough to watch.

Gail Linehan
Grants Pass, OR

I think it is pretty cool that especially new bluebirders get all excited and "name" the bluebirds in their backyards. You watch them so close you learn their favorite perches, their habits and they just naturally end up being part of your extended family just as your household pets do.

Just remember that the young they raise are also part of your extended family and you need to educate your neighbors about "your" bluebird families. Also remember that if you fledge even four baby bluebirds from your nestbox this summer and they all survive, then these four children will break up and come back to the same general region with new spouses next year and you will need to be sure that YOU or SOMEONE close will put up and monitor FOUR more nestboxes next spring.

The best time to get neighbors interested in your bluebirds is to invite them and their children or grand children over and expose them to the beautiful eggs and then again as the eggs turn into helpless young and then again in a couple of weeks as the naked pink babies turn into teenagers...Share this miracle of life with the next generation....Today is ALWAYS a good day to start bluebirding. Print out pictures to share during the off season but real life size and vocal experiences are better! KK

PS. If you can name all of your bluebirds then you probably don't have enough in your area.kk

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 1:21 PM
Subject: Re: how many mealworms?/Naming Birds

I get a kick out of some that post about naming birds. I often wonder what prompted them to choose that name. Some folks explain it and others don't.

I have been watching a female now for over a week on the spy cam and have learned much more already. I have decided I will name her Gracie as Grace is a favored name in our family.

The only other time I named a bird was Henry who was born and raised (fledged) in the very same box that Gracie is setting on her clutch of four.

Henry's story was pretty educational for me.

On the second morning this clutch was beginning to form, I found 3 eggs. I said "Uh, oh, something is fishy here". I watched very carefully the next day and saw two females fighting over the box. This went on for a couple of days and on the fourth day, there were five eggs in there. I noticed that only one female was around now. She would sit in the box with her head sticking out of the hole which I had not seen any of them do before.

Well, only one egg hatched out of the 5. I felt like she did not incubate properly and maybe that had something to do with it. Just a guess. Henry did fledge and I saw him with his parents all the rest of the season and all through the winter. This pair would fly back and forth to #3 which is about 400 yards from their nestbox. In the springtime, I saw them on #3 more and I also saw the fledgling with them. I watched them every day. Finally, one day I saw what looked like they were flogging Henry off and more or less telling him to "leave them alone". They built in that nestbox for that first nesting.

I named the bird Henry because I didn't know if it was male or female and I would have changed it to Henrietta if it was a female. Sometimes Sheryl and I refer to our LBBS logo bird affectionately as "Henry". Sheryl saw a lot of him to on her visits to see us.

Well, Keith, you and I are on the same page about writing on this subject. I was writing and saw your post come in and have not read it yet. :<))

Evelyn
www.labayoubluebirdsociety.org

I named mine Iris and Periwinkle because I love blue iris. And Periwinkle also is a blue flower....thought it was more masculine sounding or something. Like Bullwinkle, haha. I love the color blue and I love the bluebirds.

Pamela Goss
Waxhaw, North Carolina

When I was digging the hole for one of my nestbox poles a juvenile BB watched me from a nearby tree.  When I went to the garage I saw him fly down to check out the hole (I probably dug up a juicy worm for him).  Yesterday while I was completing my pole and nestbox installation he was there again and he was singing so loud.  I felt as if he was singing to me to thank me for providing a future home.  <<deep breath, heavy sigh>>>

~Laurie from Southern Maryland

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