Attracting Eastern Bluebirds: A Bird Watcher’s Journal

Male Eastern Bluebird in a Snow Storm
Male Eastern Bluebird in a Snow Storm

We’ve lived in our house for 34 years now. In all that time, I’ve only seen Eastern Bluebirds once or twice. Even then, they’ve never stayed long . . . until now. For the past few weeks, two male and one female bluebird pop up at the feeders periodically. Most days I see them for at least a few minutes. I’m trying to encourage them to stay. 

This post will be a bit different than my usual posts. Instead of sharing everything I’ve learned afterwards, I’m going to offer a real time journal along the way. Hopefully I’ll be able to report that I’ve succeeded in enticing a pair to stay and nest in the yard. I hope you’ll take the journey with me. 

Continue reading Attracting Eastern Bluebirds: A Bird Watcher’s Journal

Into the Nest (Book Review)

Into the Nest Cover
Into the Nest Cover

As I’ve gotten more and more interested in birds, I’ve spent more time reading about them. I must admit that I’ve never gotten too excited about the nesting and parenting sections of most field guides. They so often seem to be about numbers: x amount of time to build a nest, x number of eggs, x number of weeks sitting on the nest, x number of days or weeks of fledging the young, etc.

My eyes would glaze over and it just wouldn’t stick in my mind. But I’m currently reading a book about just this topic and I’m completely fascinated. If you enjoy watching birds, I highly recommend that you check it out.

Continue reading Into the Nest (Book Review)