Bluebird populations were reduced by 90 percent in the first half
of the 20th century. Old dead trees were pruned, and wooden fences were
replaced with metal, so there were many fewer places to nest. On top of
that, during the late 1950's, there were some terrible winters that
killed off thousands of birds. Bluebird houses have been put up across
the continent and have helped bluebird populations rebound to some
extent. You are encouraged to install a bluebird house to keep the
population growing.
Bluebirds are beautiful birds. With their bright blue backs, their coloring is unmistakable. Even more enticing than their color is their behavior. The male will stake out several potential nest sites and show them to the female. She will choose the one that she wants and will build a nest there. The female alone sits on the eggs, but the male brings her food while she broods. He also will sleep next to her at night. Once the babies are hatched, then the male will bring the female food both for herself and for the babies. He gives it to her and she feeds it to the little ones. After some time, however, the female leaves the nest. Typically, she moves to a different site to start building a new nest. Once the female leaves, it is up to the male to keep all of the young birds fed.
Although this is the planned scenario, the species adapts to unplanned events. If the male dies, for example, the female will feed the babies, sometimes with the help of other females. Sometimes, for the second or third brood of babies, the male will enlist the help of some of the juvenile birds who were hatched from the first or second brood of chicks. And sometimes, for no apparent reason at all, other unrelated adult bluebirds will help with the feeding of growing chicks.
Bluebirds are beautiful birds. With their bright blue backs, their coloring is unmistakable. Even more enticing than their color is their behavior. The male will stake out several potential nest sites and show them to the female. She will choose the one that she wants and will build a nest there. The female alone sits on the eggs, but the male brings her food while she broods. He also will sleep next to her at night. Once the babies are hatched, then the male will bring the female food both for herself and for the babies. He gives it to her and she feeds it to the little ones. After some time, however, the female leaves the nest. Typically, she moves to a different site to start building a new nest. Once the female leaves, it is up to the male to keep all of the young birds fed.
Although this is the planned scenario, the species adapts to unplanned events. If the male dies, for example, the female will feed the babies, sometimes with the help of other females. Sometimes, for the second or third brood of babies, the male will enlist the help of some of the juvenile birds who were hatched from the first or second brood of chicks. And sometimes, for no apparent reason at all, other unrelated adult bluebirds will help with the feeding of growing chicks.
No comments:
Post a Comment