EABLs seem to prefer areas where other bluebirds are within ~118 feet vs. 328 feet (Gowaty & Bridges 1991) However, never say never or always. Those bluebirds that choose to "tough out" Iowa's winter have to switch diets (from insects to small fruits and berries) and habitats (from open grasslands to more sheltered, wooded, areas). Every time Kathy Kremnitzer lifts the lid of a bluebird birdhouse, she says it’s as exciting as opening a present. While most bluebirds leave for southern states, up … Every time Kathy Kremnitzer lifts the lid of a bluebird birdhouse, she says it’s as exciting as opening a present. There can be up to 3 nesting cycles per season. This can potentially leave the new nest dangerously close to the entrance hole, … Eastern bluebird in Huntley Meadows Park in Virginia. Living in more open terrain than the other two bluebirds, this species may nest in holes in cliffs or dirt banks when tree hollows are not available. I'm no birder and somehow had never heard of bluebird societies until recently! Eastern bluebirds are very social birds. Once hatched, blue tit chicks spend around three weeks in the nest before fledging. Attracting Bluebirds to Visit and Stay to Nest. VBS is affiliated with The North American Bluebird Society (NABS) and is a Chapter of the Virginia Society of Ornithology (VSO). The past three years we have had bluebirds nest in our front yard. Bluebirds and other cavity nesters often use nest boxes in the winter for nightly roosting. Nest building takes 4 to 5 days but may be built in as few as 2 days. If bluebirds do remain in a region for the winter, they group and seek cover in heavy thickets, orchards, or other areas in which adequate food and cover resources are available. We diligently brought double portions of mealworms out to our bluebird … Early in the season, nest building may take weeks to occur, so do not clean out early nest attempts if you do not see activity for a while. When they are not nesting, these birds roam the countryside in small flocks. Although it is mostly "eastern" in our area, its total range extends south to Nicaragua. A small group of birds may cluster together for warmth, all in the same box. Some species like the bluebird build more than one nest and more than one brood during the breeding season; they are known to as many three sets of young during the season. Be sure to follow exact building specifications to ensure that the box is made correctly and safely. Bluebirds may nest closer to each other if foraging habitat is good, cavities are plentiful and/or they cannot see the other pair from their nest site because something (like a building) blocks their view. February is when: Bluebirds return and begin look for mates and nesting sites. By Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman. Attracting bluebirds with nest boxes is one way backyard birders can make a difference. Later broods tend to have fewer eggs, and Bluebirds tend to lay more eggs per nest in the north vs. south, but southern birds have a longer nesting season. The best chance you have of attracting an Eastern Bluebird is to build a nesting box, which they use frequently and may even prefer to natural nesting options. It often seeks its food by hovering low over the grass in open fields. If you had asked me to guess the first object I would add to the museum's new philanthropy collection, I never would have said a Virginia Bluebird Society (VBS) nest box. Life history. At times, they gather in flocks of a hundred or more. You SHOULD NOT open the box for monitoring after the 13th day after hatching or the chicks might fly from the box prematurely. Eastern Bluebirds begin defining and defending their nesting territories earlier than other species — generally, starting the end of February, early March. Bluebirds primarily eat ground-dwelling insects so a yard or garden that When do Bluebirds nest and what should we do to get ready? Our boxes are designed with lots of ventilation so that bluebirds don’t “cook” inside the boxes in the summer heat. When do baby blue tits leave the nest? Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) live in Virginia 12 months a year.