Western Bluebird

We are always so happy to see the return of these cheerful little birds.  They always reassure me that spring is truly on the way!   These were spotted on one of  my evening walks…

Cool Facts

• Western Bluebirds are among the birds that nest in cavities—holes in trees or nest boxes. But look at their bills—they’re not equipped to dig out their own holes. They rely on woodpeckers or other processes to make their nest sites for them. This is one reason why dead trees are a valuable commodity in many habitats.

• Occasionally Western Bluebirds have helpers at the nest. Most of the extra birds attending nests are helping their presumed parents, some after their own nests have failed. Interestingly, studies show that many nests include young that were not fathered by the resident male.

• Genetic studies showed that 45% of nests had young that were not fathered by the defending male, and that 19% of all the young were fathered outside the pair bond.

• Western Bluebirds have a gentle look, but territory battles can get heated. Rival males may grab each other’s legs, tumble to the ground, and then pin their opponent on the ground, stand over him, and jab at him with his bill.

• A Western Bluebird weighs about an ounce. It needs about 15 calories (technically, kilocalories) per day, or 23 calories if raising young.

• The oldest known Western Bluebird was 8 years, 8 months old.

• For more information, visit here…

Advertisement

Frozen Lake McDonald

Lake McDonald doesn’t freeze over often, probably every 10 years or so.  With this winter’s rather chilly temperatures, it was no huge surprise to learn that it had frozen this year.