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Changing agricultural practices create well-trimmed orchards with no cavity trees for nest sites.

Severe winters increase winter mortality.

The widespread use of insecticides decreases food supplies.

Population Declineĭuring the last 60 years, bluebird numbers have decreased 90 percent in the eastern United States. They also eat berries and fruits found near their nests, especially during the winter when insects are scarce.

In the yard and around the garden, bluebirds consume grasshoppers, flying insects, beetles, and caterpillars. While the male is busy with the fledglings, the female remodels the old nest or builds a new one for a second brood. He continues this training phase for several days after they leave the nest. He feeds them and teaches them how to find food to feed themselves. The male is in charge of the young bluebirds when they leave the nest. Young birds remain in the nest for about 15 days after hatching. Male bluebirds will not get their full color until after 1 year of life. At this time, bluebirds have a gray back and spotted white breast, with only a hint of blue on their wings and tail. Soon after hatching, the young bluebirds begin sprouting feathers. The female incubates the eggs for about 12 days. She lays one light blue egg per day for about 4 to 6 days. The female begins the first nest in mid-April. Normally bluebirds produce two to three broods per year in Alabama. Build the boxes to prevent larger birds, such as starlings, from using them. Fortunately, the bluebird will also use human-made cavities, such as boxes, for nesting. These exotic species are very aggressive and take cavities or boxes bluebirds could use or destroy occupied nests.

These cavities are often hard to find because nonnative species, such as the house sparrow and starling, also use cavities for nesting. In these areas, the bluebird tries to find a hollow tree (cavity tree) in which to build a loosely woven nest of grasses. The bluebird, like the robin, prefers open areas such as roadsides, cutover woodlands, old orchards, parks, and yards in cities and towns. Youth organizations and school classes can build and maintain bluebird boxes for educational and money-making projects. It is easily attracted to homes and surrounding open areas when nesting boxes are correctly constructed and properly placed. Observing this beautiful bird can bring hours of enjoyment. However females are a grayish-blue with duller rust- colored breast. These birds get their namesake by this vibrant coloration on males. The early American settlers called it the blue robin because of its rust-colored breast and blue back and tail.