Nesting time, that is.
For the past few weeks, I’ve heard my backyard male bluebird warbling. By the way, I have backyard and front yard bluebirds. Even though they’ve been with their mates all year, the makes take nothing for granted and woo the females, lest a younger bird move in on their territory.
Then yesterday, I saw the backyard male pulling up dead grass and flying to the birdhouse his lady friend has selected.
Last year the hen was on the nest by the first of April, and it looks like they are on the same schedule for 2024.
There are three things you need to do if you want bluebirds: Provide water, have at least one feeder with sunflower hearts or chips, and put up a bluebird house, preferably several because you never know which one they will choose.
The natural nesting site for bluebirds in the wild is a hollow tree, but starlings and house sparrows – both invasive species – have taken most of those places. In the past twenty years, however, birders have erected thousands and thousands of bluebird houses along golf courses, in parks and natural areas and back yards, and bluebirds have made a tremendous comeback.
Now it’s time. It’s time to make a few more bluebirds.