Bluebirds choose...

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Psalm 84:3 "Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God."

Female Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA.

Sunday, 7:30 AM – On an early morning walk around the block, I found the Red-shouldered Hawk sitting once again on the same fence on Hummingbird Trail that I saw at this same time last weekend. It must be a habit of his to hunt from this perch. Back home enjoying a cup of coffee on the back patio, the Cowbirds again made a showing. This time a larger group of both males and females visited the backyard feeder and perched side by side on the swingset.

A pair of Eastern Bluebirds are busy throughout the backyard. A bright colored male sat high in the persimmon tree, which just today began to bud. He then flew to, and entered, the small birdhouse on the post near the fire pit. Perhaps this would be  their choice for this year’s nest box? Nope. For he emerged with a beak-full of nesting material. But to which box would he carry it?

Female Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA.

Later in the afternoon, the more drably colored female made several staging runs from the Persimmon to the Crepe Myrtle, not far from where I sat. When she gained the confidence, she proceeded to the triple birdhouses over the turtle pond. Which would be her choice? Door #1, door #2, or door #3? She entered the house on the right. Throughout the course of the afternoon she made runs from the backyard, to the Persimmon, to the Crepe Myrtle, to the top of the three houses. Each time cautiously peering about before entering the right hand house. It seems the right hand house is her choice.

Or is it? Best-Ever Backyard Birding Tips writes, “Sometimes the birds will spend a lot of time at one box and seem like they’re going to use it, but then they move on to a different one. Even their removing old nest materials from a box doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the one they intend to use. You’ll only know a pair has chosen a box for sure when they begin carrying nest material into the box, not out of it.” So we will wait and see...

Athens, Georgia
Sunrise 7:19 AM; sunset 7:55 PM.
Day length 12 hours, 30 minutes.
Forecast: Sunny, high near 79°. East wind 10-15 MPH. 10% chance of rain after 5 AM.

Female Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA.

Female Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA.

Male Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA.