The Bluebird’s Perseverance.

[Harry Schmeider]

Its my passion and desire to help these beautiful birds in their fight for survival. Understanding the causes and the events that led up to the nearly extinction of the Bluebirds and the problems they face today will instill mankind’s compassion to come to their aid. It is not only the Bluebirds that are struggling for nest cavities but all 85 species of North American cavity Nester’s.

It all started in the 1800’s, and not realizing the damaging affects that would occur. The House Sparrow and the European Starling were introduced to North America. Today the Bluebirds and other nest cavity birds will have to fiercely compete for nesting sites. Both the House Sparrow and the European Starlings are killers! These two non-native birds are very aggressive and will destroy nestling’s and adult native birds that get in their way. And top that off, these two non-natives birds are the most abundant songbirds on the continent. Bluebirds feed mainly on insect from the ground and in the winter they depend on many kinds of wild berries for their food supply. However, the supply of wild berries decreased and the berries that remain are often stripped away quickly by large flocks of House Sparrows and Starlings. A large flock of Starlings can clear one acre on land of insects, in less than 60 seconds.

Mankind has played even a larger role in the destruction of Bluebirds. The Bluebird suffered a major decline from 1920 to1970. We lost 92% of the Bluebirds. Mainly due to pesticides known as DDT, Today in the name of progress, the Bluebirds continue to struggle due to (man’s needs) to develop the land. Let’s look at the growth of our country; it’s been hard on the bluebirds. Large amounts of habitat have been destroyed by logging industries for business and residential developments along with progresses in manufacturing. The supply of natural nesting cavities for Bluebirds and other cavity nester’s has greatly been reduced.

In 1973: The Endangered Species Act was passed. Though 92% of the Bluebirds vanished, they have never been placed on any Federal lists of Endangered or Threatened Species. In 1980, many people under the age of 40 had never seen a Bluebird. Even today, there are still many people who have yet to encounter one.

(Mans Best Friends) < Dogs and Cats > cause more injuries and death to Bluebirds than their natural predators. Talking to a wild life rehabilitator they confirm 90% of all injures to birds are caused by Cats and 10% by Dogs. And she will quickly reply, it’s not a cat or dog problem (It’s a People Problem!)

If that wasn’t enough the Bluebird must now deal with Climate Change; And to fully understand how birds will respond to climate change, we need to study not only how they themselves respond but how the plants and insects and other organisms that make up their habitats will respond. Bluebird eggs and nestlings cannot survive temperatures exceeding 107 degrees. And a nest boxes can reach 120 degrees or more and are at least 10 to 15 degrees higher than the outside temperature.

Over the years the Bluebirds has faced a lot of challenges, and there’s more to come no doubt. Together we can make a difference, our concern and compassion to get directly involved will strengthen the Bluebird’s Perseverance. You can help by becoming a member of the Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania. Please visit the BSP Web Site and become a member today. www.thebsp.org Or donate a monetary gift to the BSP and send it to; Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania 756 Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17055-0756 In Care of Joanne Slavinski - Membership Chairperson. You will not only be helping Bluebirds but 85 species of nest cavities birds across North America.

This is just one of the many Blogs I write concerning Bluebirds that you will find on my web page at ambassadorforthebluebirds.com if you have a concern or question about Bluebirds please do not hesitant to ask me about them.

[Harry Schmeider]

Hi Kathy,
Thank You for sharing. I have done some research on nest removal and they say exactly what Taylor P. is suggesting. Bluebirds like to remake the old nesting material as to making an whole new nest. Please let me know how this works out for you and your husband and the bluebirds. I sure would like to hear from others concerning nest removal. So I can share the best information it with my audience. A Landlord is always learning!

[kathy nordstrand]

Hi Harry,

My husband and I are going to be monitoring the bluebird nest boxes at Reedy Creek Park and have been told by Taylor P. to leave the nesting material in the box unless it's stacked too high for any more material to be added. If so, we remove some and leave some.

[Harry Schmeider]

Ernie,
That question comes up often at my seminars < Nest Removal > Please read my blog topic concerning Nest abandonment and Should I remove my nest on my website at ambassadorforthebluebirds.com As for me I remove the old used nesting material after each fledging and I am not sure if that is the correct thing to do? Please read my blog concerning this subject on my Website for more information.

[Ernie McLaney]

Great comments, Harry!
We have not been good stewards of this earth in many ways and it has taken a great toll on the natural world. Thank you for posting the bsp site and your own. We have discussed at a number of meetings whether the nest should be removed between broods and have reviewed reports on both removing and leaving the nest. There seem to be pros and cons to both practices.
What's your take on this?