Feathers and Fuzz

one woman's cure for the empty-nester blues

Bluebird

Male Bluebird Does Battle With His Reflection

by

During nesting season, the Bluebirds are very territorial.  I've read that Eastern Bluebird nest boxes need to be at least 300 feet apart and my Mr. Bluebird checks every box on the property to ensure his territory is secure!  Sadly, he can't distinguish between an actual intruder and his own reflection.  In between checking all the houses on the property, he's hard at work attacking EVERY reflective surface on the property.  In the images, below, Mr. Bluebird chases his reflection in the windows at the front of my house in the morning -- and at the back of my house in the afternoon.  My den sits at the back of the house, so I listen to "clunk, clunk, clunk" all afternoon as the reflective intruder is attacked.

Mr. Bluebird has been attacking his reflection in the windows of this house for years.  There are times I contemplate whether he is actually following me around the house -- knocking on the windows to let me know when he is out of mealworms.  I wouldn't be surprised!

This year, however, Mr. Bluebird has taken to also attacking his reflection in the glass of the video camera located in front of the nesting box he and his mate have chosen.  I feel for him as he has been after that Bluebird in the camera ALL DAY LONG for weeks.  

 

Georgia Nesting Season 2018 Kickoff

by

The 2018 Nesting Season Kicks Off:  Keep Those Garage Doors Closed!

Our cold temps slowed down nesting season this year, but now the birds are busy constructing.  Three nests are underway.  The season began with the annual territory battle between the Wrens and the Phoebes.  With a tad of human intervention, the Phoebes claimed "Phoebe Place".

The Wrens merrily hopped on ... now actively-furnishing a bamboo box perfectly suited for these creative homeowners.

Nesting Season 2018: Phoebe vs Wren
Nesting Season 2018: Wren in the Box

The Bluebirds have been in and out of all 5 Bluebird boxes on the property.  They are not only investigating potential nest sites, but also monitoring for the presence of other Bluebirds in the territory.  It appears they have settled on "Bluebird North" -- their home for the past several years.  I was hoping they'd opt for the newest house (Garden Bluebird) -- with its afternoon shade, but not this round.  Off I go to construct a more efficient birdhouse sun screen.

Male Bluebird Checks out Birdhouse
Male Bluebird Checks out the Garden Bluebird House

Another Sign of Spring

The first shipment of live mealworms has arrived.  The Bluebirds caught sight of them immediately.  I hope the Hermit Thrush stays long enough to savor a bit of southern hospitality before returning home to Vermont with only trashy things to chirp about Georgia winters.

And Then There's This ...

I remember, in years gone by, telling a senior manager that I am not a fan of Boston (traffic terror!).  His response stays with me these decades later:  "That is a flaw in your otherwise impeccable personality."  (Note to self:  Learn about regional accents!)  The point of this story is ... I've since added a number of flaws to my personality.  I include among these additions, the obsession with protecting the nests on the property.  When nesting begins, I used to toss and turn at night -- checking the cameras at each toss.

One simple change fixed that -- I promised myself not to check the cameras at night.  It's not that hard to keep the promise -- it turns out this "mother's" love has limits.  I conjured up an image of a snake in a birdhouse and attached that image to the knowledge I would feel compelled to head out in the dark to do battle.  All cured!!