Garnering much attention from people wherever the bird exists, bluebirds are one of those species of wild birds that are easy to fall in love with. Beautiful blue plumage, reddish breast, and docile disposition - not to mention that they take kindly to the many and varied artificial nest boxes we humans build for them - it's no wonder bluebirds are at the top of birders' lists of favorite birds. Eastern bluebirds are the only of the three species of North American bluebirds that occur in Minnesota.
The other two species, the mountain bluebird and the western bluebird, range throughout areas that their names suggest - within the mountains and western landscapes of the continent. Whereas the range of the eastern bluebird includes all of Minnesota and more than half of eastern United States and southern tips of most Canadian provinces, the mountain bluebird occurs as far north as Alaska.
Here in northern Minnesota, migrating eastern bluebirds begin showing up in late March-early April. Males arrive before females and soon after arrival they begin establishing breeding territories.
When female bluebirds filter back into the state, male bluebirds are waiting and soon begin showing receptive females potential nesting locations that he's already scouted for and located. If any given male suitor impresses a possible mate, she will not only pair-bond with the male, but eventually select one of his nesting cavities for which to lay eggs inside of.
As just mentioned, bluebirds are obligate cavity nesters. Choosing from a wide variety of tree cavities such as naturally occurring cavities or those created by woodpeckers, eastern bluebirds will also readily nest inside of artificial nest structures, aka birdhouses. Probably he has already chosen the cavity or box that he thinks will suit her; lie leads her to it, looks in, and tries to persuade her to accept it, but much persistent wooing is needed before the nuptial pact is sealed.
In the meantime a rival male may appear upon the scene and a rough and tumble fight ensue, the males clinching in the air and falling to the ground together, a confusing mass of blue and brown feathers struggling in the grass; but no very serious harm seems to have been done, as they separate and use their most persuasive charms to attract the object of their rivalry.
At times, a second female may join in the contest and start a lively fight with her rival for the mate she wants. John Burroughs gives an interesting account of such a four-cornered contest, too long to be quoted here, in which the female of an apparently mated pair seemed to waver in her affections between her supposed mate and the new rival; and the latter seemed to have left the female of his first choice to win the bride of the other.
However, after a much prolonged contest, the matter seemed to be satisfactorily settled, for two pairs of bluebirds finally flew off in different directions and started up housekeeping without further trouble.
Visit the main Birdzilla. E-mail: info birdzilla. Local Guides. All Local Guides. To avoid possible retaliation, do not remove the sparrow nest if bluebirds are nesting in the paired nest box until bluebirds have fledged. House wrens have become a problem for all cavity nesting birds. Avoid brushy areas where house wrens are likely to reside. Open the nest boxes weekly to check contents until the nestlings are 12 days old.
Check after a heavy rain for wet nests, which should be replaced with dry grass. Keep blowfly larvae out of the box. Remove a dead nestling immediately. Remove old nests after young have fledged, and before the second nesting begins.
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