Jim had a big surprise this morning when a male Eastern bluebird landed on the support for the satellite dish outside our kitchen door. We have numerous bluebird residents in our bluebird boxes during the summer, but in the past, we haven’t seen the colorful, feisty birds once the weather turns cold.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All about Birds” website at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/search, Eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) are considered “resident to medium-distance migrants,” which means that bluebirds in the northern United States and Southern Canada will migrate south to Texas and Mexico, while those who reside in the southern United States may travel short distances in winter or remain in their home grounds.
Ever-vigilant about protecting their young from predators, Eastern bluebirds nest in oak or pine tree cavities or nest boxes placed in open areas with light ground cover.
Most of the year, bluebirds forage on the ground for insects, including beetles, cricke...