The Tale of the Bluebird Trail
by the Virginia Bluebird Society
Table of Contents
Slides 3 - 15: Bluebird Basics
Slides 16 - 19: Causes of Population Decline
Slides 20 - 28: Saving Bluebirds with Nest Boxes
Slides 29 - 46: Lifecycle of a Bluebird
Slides 47 - 50: Other Native Birds
Slides 51 - 55: How-To Guidelines
Bluebird Basics
What is a Bluebird?
What do they look like?
Where do they nest?
When are they here?
Where do they live?
Which bird is an Eastern Bluebird?
Yes, this is an Eastern Bluebird.
Bluebirds are members of the Thrush
family, cousins to the
American Robin.
No, this is a Blue Jay, the bold and
loud relative of the Crow.
No, this is an Indigo Bunting, a
songbird related to the Cardinal.
How does a Bluebird sound?
Three Species of Bluebirds
The Eastern
Bluebird is the
bluebird found in
Virginia. It lives
across the east
and mid-west.
Bluebirds stay in
Virginia all year
long.
Mountain Bluebird
Western Bluebird
The Western and
Mountain Bluebirds
occupy the western
portions of North
America.
Eastern Bluebird
Male Bluebird
• Sky blue on his back
• Red on his chest
• White on his belly
Female Bluebird
• She has the same
coloring as the male, but
not as bright
Juvenile Bluebird
• The baby has a spotted
chest
Photo by Helen Ellis
Bluebirds live in open areas with scattered trees …
such as parks, golf courses, schools, farms and
suburbs. Mowed areas not too close to buildings
are ideal.
Bluebirds nest in holes, called cavities
Just like holes in teeth are called cavities, so are holes in trees
Snags, old trees with holes, are nature’s condominiums and
cafeterias. Bluebirds’ beaks aren’t strong enough to make their
own cavities, so they must find natural holes in trees, or …
Bluebirds nest
in old holes
made by
woodpeckers,
who are the
primary
cavity
nesters.
Since bluebirds
adopt old holes,
they are called
secondary
cavity
nesters.
Home
Sweet
Home
Many bluebirds today
nest in man-made
cavities, also
called nest boxes.
Food!
Yum, yum – Bluebirds eat bugs and berries
Summer - Insects
Winter - Berries
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Herman, D.E. et al. 1996
Menu: crickets, beetles,
spiders, worms
Menu: dogwood, cedar, holly,
sumac and other berries, and
sometimes seeds
Water!
Tip: Put out a bird bath to
attract bluebirds and other
birds to your yard.
In all seasons, birds need a
reliable source of clean
water for bathing and
drinking.
It’s Tough Being a Bluebird
Causes of Population Decline
•During Colonial times, the bluebird was as common
as the American Robin.
•Then, from the 1920s to the 1970s, the numbers of
bluebirds went severely down, almost to extinction.
Loss of Habitat
Development chews up
natural areas and
bluebirds lose the open
areas they need for
nesting and feeding.
Herbicides & Pesticides
Chemicals pollute birds’ drinking water, and interrupt the food chain by
poisoning the insects and/or the plants the insects need. This destroys
the bluebird’s food and water supply.
Invasive Species
European Starling
House Sparrow
The house sparrow & starling were
brought here from Europe. They aggressively
compete with the bluebird for nest sites,
and will chase away or even kill bluebirds
and other birds.
How do we save bluebirds?
Simple Math: Nest boxes + Volunteers = Bluebirds
Bluebird numbers are up because volunteers install and monitor nest
boxes. Volunteers install boxes in bluebird habitats: open, mowed,
grassy areas with scattered trees, but away from brush, buildings, traffic
and where people eat.