Did You Know?
Bluebirds don’t need glasses. A bluebird can spot caterpillars and insects in tall grass at the remarkable distance of more than 50 yards. Bluebirds aren’t actually blue! Well, sort of. Bluebirds have no blue pigments in their feathers. Instead, each feather has a thin layer of cells that absorb all wavelengths of color except blue. We only see the blue wavelength, as it is reflected and scattered. It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s… Bluebirds can fly at speeds up to 45 miles per hour if necessary.
If you’re wondering why your newly planted sprouts are ridden with bites and bugs, you’re probably in need of a little help from a friend. Bluebirds are the special friends of gardeners as they feed on insects in areas they inhabit. Bluebirds usually begin looking for nests in the South in March, so it’s not too late to build a bluebird box and attract some natural pest control.
A medium-sized member of the thrush family, bluebirds are typically admired by ornithologists and birdwatchers for their unique color. But over the past few decades, the bluebird population has dwindled, making bluebird sightings especially scarce in the South.
Efforts among bird lovers have been working hard to bring the bluebird back by giving them many places to nest through bluebird trails. Bluebird trails are areas where bluebird nest boxes are set about 300 feet apart. Bluebird trails can have anywhere from few nests in a neighborhood or hundreds in a vast area.
Here in Chattanooga, you can find bluebird trails in Brainerd’s Belvoir neighborhood, along greenways and even at Signal Mountain Golf & Country Club.
Want to Build Your Own Bluebird Box?
If you live in a suburban or rural area, small boxes can attract nesting bluebirds. ¦ Experts suggest that the boxes be made of durable wood like cedar, have ventilation holes on the top and drainage holes on the bottom. ¦ A box built 5 by 5 inches and anywhere from 8 to 12 inches tall is big enough for the bluebird. A small 1 inch diameter hole is perfect for the birds to fit through. ¦ Boxes can be mounted on a standalone post, on poles, fence posts, utility poles or trees – so long as it’s more than 3 feet off the ground. ¦ Good areas for bluebird nest boxes include open fields, fencerows, orchards where no pesticides are used, cemeteries, large lawns, golf courses and pastures.