Between climate change, habitat destruction and invasive, exotic predatory species (like European starlings and house sparrows), our pretty little bluebirds have seen tough times in recent decades. That's the bad news. The good news is that the bluebird population, once in serious decline, is making a comeback.
Why? Groups like the Virginia Bluebird Society (VBS) have spread the word: We need to restore habitats, plant native plants and reduce the use of insecticides. What's good for the planet is especially good for these cavity-nesters who need the insects attracted to native plants.
We learned about the movement to erect nest boxes from VBS. As natural tree cavities became fewer and farther between, human-made homes became increasingly important to the survival of the species. The nearly 5,000 boxes monitored in Virginia tell a story of successful environmental activism, with the number of bluebird fledglings known to be well over 100,000 now each year in the state.
We decided to see what would happen if we put up a bluebird nesting box. We bought one from VBS, designed specifically for the Sialia sialis species: no perch, untreated wood, a bluebird-sized hole, a snake guard on the pole and a hinged side for monitoring. We positioned the box as instructed, and we waited.
Last year, our box fledged a nest of house wrens. It was satisfying, but I was really hoping for a bluebird. I began to doubt one would ever find the box. A year later, I'm a believer—and a happy observer of a pair of bluebirds watching over five, bright, blue eggs nestled in our box.
The blue breeding plumage of the male bird is a beautiful sight, and he's taken to sitting out on branches we can see from the deck. We watch as he canvases the area around him, then swoops down to catch a bug. Which brings up a benefit of attracting bluebirds to your house: it's estimated that a bird can eat a couple thousand bugs a day—including mosquitoes.
Some bluebirds in our area stick around for the winter, when the insects aren't in such abundant supply. So, we have it on our to-do list to plant a few native trees and bushes most likely to keep all our local birds well fed when it's cold. Dogwood, hawthorn, wild grape, sumac, hackberry, eastern juniper and pokeberries are all on the bluebird-favored list.
We're keeping watch now for chicks. And once they've fledged, we'll keep our fingers crossed for another brood. A pair of bluebirds can produce up to four clutches a year. We'll keep you posted.