Wildlife Wednesday 08/28/2024

Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Today we are showcasing an animal frequently associated with happiness, the Eastern Bluebird!

Fairly common and easy to see from the grounds of The Wilderness Center, a bluebird sighting is always a treat, the males in particular a stunning brilliant shade of royal blue on the back and head and brick-red on the chest.

Eastern Bluebirds can frequently be spotted in open country, perched on low branches, posts, and fences. They prefer a meadow habitat near woods, as they will use holes in trees to make their nests. They are attracted to farmlands, orchards, and pastures, so the land around TWC is ideal habitat.

Their summer diet consists primarily of insects, including caterpillars, beetles, spiders, and grasshoppers. In the fall and winter when insects are sparse they will feed on fruits and berries. 

The species is social and will often gather in flocks of over 100. During the breeding season however they become territorial and vigorously defend their nests from rival bluebirds and other cavity-nesting birds. Eastern Bluebirds often have more than one successful brood each year, with young from nests early in the season leaving the parents during the summer and young from later nests staying with their parents over the winter. 

Bluebirds will readily use man-made nest boxes. Their population had declined in the early 20th century when competition from introduced species such as the House Sparrow and European Starling made defending tree cavities and nest holes difficult. Thanks to nest-box campaigns and establishment of bluebird trails, their numbers have recovered, which is certainly a cause for happiness!