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Why some wild birds seem to be fearless with humans

We’ve wondered why some wild birds seem to be fearless with humans. We have a pair of Western Bluebirds that use the nest box in our front yard. Once eggs are laid, I offer mealworms and both birds will take them from our hands. We wonder what their background was to make them so trusting.

That is a fascinating question! Some birds will accept you as a natural part of their environment if you give them a reason like food or shelter.

Birds can be found all around the world and have been on the earth a lot longer than humans. Stone Age drawings reveal we’ve been able to create mutually beneficial relationships with many bird species since the dawn of man.  

And our love for bluebirds runs deep. Bluebirds (Sialia) are found only in North America. Among some Native Americans, the bluebird has always had significance. The Navajo identify the Mountain Bluebird as a spirit in animal form, associated with the rising sun.

In the 1930’s when many Americans were going through a hard time, the song "The Bluebird of Happiness" became a worldwide hit.

Some of the lyrics are:
Be like I, hold your head up high,
Till you find a bluebird of happiness.
You will find greater peace of mind
Knowing there's a bluebird of happiness.

And when he sings to you,
Though you're deep in blue,
You will see a ray of light creep through,
And so remember this, life is no abyss,
Somewhere there's a bluebird of happiness.

That song is probably where the American phrase "the bluebird of happiness," originated which was next alluded to in the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from the Wizard of Oz.

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Another popular song in the 1940’s "There'll Be Bluebirds Over The White Cliffs of Dover" also used bluebirds to lift spirits. Even though there are no bluebirds in South East England the "bluebirds" might have been a metaphor for the American air force coming in to liberate Britain and Europe.
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Finally in the late 1940’s Disney produced the song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" which I remember because it was the opening theme medley for the Wonderful World of Disneytelevision program.

Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder.
It's the truth, It's actual,
everything is satisfactual!
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay!
Wonderful feeling, Wonderful day!

Disney also used bluebirds in a lot of their animated films. I particularly remember them in Snow White and Cinderella helping the heroines avoid danger and cheering them up when they were sad or felt hopeless.

Bluebirds have made a spot in a lot of people's hearts. Their cheerful song and friendly behavior helped them become a symbol of happiness and love in American culture. So when people noticed an almost 90% population declined of the Eastern Bluebird from the late 1800s to the 1960s, people came together and formed bluebird societies to learn more about a how to help a bird that had been their good neighbor. And since the 1960’s the population has increased 2.4% each year due to man made nesting boxes, better landscaping, and bird feeding practices.

I read on http://www.allaboutbirds.org/ that Western Bluebirds are numerous, but their populations are declining in some areas. The main problem seems to be loss of habitat both from extensive logging and from forest growth from the suppression of natural fires; also development and grazing have reduced habitat availability. Even in appropriately wooded habitat, people may remove dead trees in an effort to clean up; this limits the places where bluebirds nest. And there is a lot of competition from other birds for their tree-cavity nest sites. Again man made nest boxes have helped decrease further declines. 

It so happens that I am a member of the So. California Bluebird Club, which in turn is part of the network of clubs throughout the U.S. and Canada devoted to bringing back all three varieties of bluebirds. Our club is perhaps the single most successful chapter in restoring the Western Bluebird on the West Coast. Though Orange County is one of the smallest counties in CA, our records show that last year our boxes yielded more than 8,000 fledglings. It might be partly due to the fact that we place our boxes in trees rather than on posts (see photo), thanks to the Purvis lifter which was invented by one of our club’s founders, Dick Purvis. Hanging the boxes by open hooks makes it possible to place the boxes in many more locations because people can’t reach them. Regards, Elena 

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Attract Yellow Birds to your yard

One of the highlights of feeding birds in the spring is seeing all the colorful birds up close. I enjoy watching the yellow American Goldfinches. They are in Michigan year-round but switch from their drab winter feathers to bright yellow in April.

Food
These cheery songbirds are vegetarians and like a variety of flower seeds and spring greens in the wild. If you want to bring them to a feeder we recommend offering fresh Nyjer® (thistle). The best thing about feeding straight Nyjer is that it attracts mainly goldfinches and deters squirrels, blackbirds, starlings and other big birds.

Nyjer is teeny, tiny black birdseed, high in oil content and an excellent energy source for these active birds. It has been heat treated to prevent the growth of any noxious weed seeds and does not sprout under the feeder. The scientific name for the Nyjer plant is Guizotia abyssinicaand is not related to the purple, prickly, Canada Thistle weed at all.

Feeders
There are special feeders made to hold Nyjer Thistle. You can choose from a variety of finch feeders at Wild Birds Unlimited. I have five Mesh Finch Feeders at my house. They not only let the finches land and feed in whatever position they choose, but they also allow air circulation to keep your Nyjer Thistle as dry and fresh as possible; something that's very important to these picky eaters.

Gardening Trick for Goldfinches
Habitat can also be a key to attracting Goldfinches. In this case you do less work, not more. Don't worry about dandelions and don't cut off the tops of your Marigold, Zinnias, Cosmos, or Coneflowers...Goldfinches love the seeds. The birds make the flowers dance as they flit from flower to flower looking for food.

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The art of nest building: Recognizing common backyard nests

Bird Nest Identification

The art applied to building a nest is very individual for each bird species.

Bluebird, Eastern – a neat, woven cup-shaped nest made mainly from fine grass or pine needles inside an old woodpecker nest or bird house.

Cardinal, Northern – Builds cup-shaped nest low in dense shrub from twigs, weeds, grass, and leaves.

Chickadee, Black-capped – Another cavity nester that starts building her nest with a moss base and tops it with animal fur or cottony plant fibers.

Cowbird, Brown-headed - Cowbirds do not build their own nest – Instead they lay one egg in several nests and let other birds foster their young.

Dove, Mourning – On the fork of a shrub or tree or sometimes on the ground or on an outside workbench or gutter. Doves are known for their inappropriate nesting sites. Nest is usually a fragile, shallow platform of twigs made by the male.

Goldfinch, American – Nests in August. At a fork of a deciduous tree the female builds a nest from grass and spider silk and lines it with plant down and hair.

House Finch – Messy cup-shaped nest made of twigs, grasses, plant fibers, leaves, rootlets, hairs, string and wool, lichens. Sometimes nest in wreaths on doors of houses or hanging plants.

House Sparrow – Tall messy nest made from a collection of loose litter, grasses, feathers and more stuffed into a bird house.

Hummingbird, Ruby-throated – Female alone constructs cup-shaped nests with a diameter about the same size as a quarter. They start to build with bud scales and spider webs and then camouflage the outside with lichen. To cushion the inside of the nest they use cotton or some other plant fluff like dandelions.

Jay, Blue – Male and female build bulky stick nest in a crotch of a tree or tall shrub.

Oriole, Baltimore – Nests high in deciduous trees. Female weaves a hanging pouch at the end of a branch from grasses, plant stems and grape vines and then lines it with fine grasses and animal fur.

Robin, American – Builds sturdy cup nest in coniferous or deciduous tree or shrub. Made from grass, moss and loose bark and cemented with mud.

Swallow, Tree – Inside a bird house they build a cup-shaped nest of grass or pine needles, usually lined with lots of fluffy feathers to cover the eggs.

Woodpeckers – Most of Michigan’s woodpeckers use their chisel-like bills to excavate their cavity nests in trees, and line it with woodchips. They will also use a bird house that is packed with wood chips.

Wren, House – Male fills a many bird houses full of twigs and lets the female choose. Females then take over building the nest with cottony spider cocoons, fine fibers and downy feathers.
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Photo Share: Barred Owl Laughs

photo by Simon Pierre Barrette
Each spring, the memorable sound of courting Barred Owls echoes through our woods: "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?" The escalating laughs, hoots and gargling howls reinforce the bond between pairs. At the height of courtship and when raising young, a pair of Barred Owls may continue their calls well into daylight hours, and they may hunt actively day and night.

Once while walking in the woods, I looked up when I heard a chickadee scolding and saw a Barred Owl perched high in the tree waiting to swoop down on unsuspecting prey. They like to hunt for mice, voles, squirrels, amphibians and small birds. Below his perch were round pellets of undigested bones and fur he'd coughed up from previous meals.

Unfortunately their numbers are in decline as more and more moist woodlands are being developed.

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- Fun Facts on Owls http://bit.ly/t6elFd
- Amazing Vocals of the Barred Owl http://bit.ly/sguMqL
- Do Bluebirds Cough Up Pellets Similar to Owls? http://bit.ly/t3Gu0D
- Small Michigan Owl Visits Neighborhood http://bit.ly/tlzaoN
- Fall Trees Reveal Their Secrets: Screech Owl peek-a-boo http://bit.ly/uC91a5
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Keep blackbirds away with your seed selection

The Safflower SolutionIf squirrels drive you nuts or blackbirds and starlings crowd your feeder, you might try the safflower solution.

Safflower is a small, white, bitter seed that is high in protein and fat. Many favorite backyard birds - including cardinals, chickadees, finches, doves, woodpeckers, titmice and nuthatches- savor safflower. Blackbirds, starlings, and squirrels typically refuse to eat safflower seed.
 
Start by offering safflower gradually, mixing it with the seed you currently use. Over time increase the amount of safflower until you are feeding straight safflower. The seed looks and tastes different from other bird seed, so it may take your birds some time to adjust.
 
So if you are overwhelmed by the arrival of hungry blackbirds in the spring, switch to straight safflower seed. And remember that after spring rains, the weather will warm up and the bugs will start hatching. That is when you'll be thankful that these menacing birds patrol your lawn for a variety of creepy crawlies and flying insects.
In the meantime here are 4 ways to reduce the numbers of blackbirds from your feeders:
 
1) Change seed: Take away cracked corn or food scraps, their favorite foods. Switch to an all safflower seed diet for a few weeks. Squirrels, blackbirds, starlings, and crows don’t like safflower. It may take awhile for the other songbirds to accept the change but it is a favorite with cardinals House Finches and chickadees. And gradually the rest of the songbirds will switch over to safflower.

2) Change your bird feeders: Replace platform or hopper feeders with tube feeders, the Squirrel Buster Plus weighted perch feeder, or the upside down suet feeder. If the birds are unable to sit and eat comfortably they will probably move on to easier feeding areas.

3) Keep larger birds away from spilled seed: Since song birds knock seed out of feeders, limit access to spilled seed by placing rocks or shrubs beneath your feeders. Smaller birds will be able to hop in and out of tiny places, unlike big blackbirds.

4) Make the area more desirable for songbirds: Lots of trees will make them feel secure, as will the presence of a constant water source. Blackbirds and Crows prefer the open fields or yards.
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Related Articles:
- What’s the best suet for Michigan wild birds? http://bit.ly/nImz5g 
- How to have more colorful birds at your feeder http://bit.ly/qizlNh  
- Choosing a seed blend to feed wild birds http://goo.gl/UxhVs
- What is the best bird feeder? http://bit.ly/qVr7i8 
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Warmer spring weather wakes black and yellow butterfly

The sunshine has awakened the Mourning Cloaks. These beautiful butterflies got their morbid sounding common name because their dark coloring resembles a traditional cloak that used to be worn when someone was in mourning. From above, they are a dark brown and black butterfly with a row of periwinkle spots around the edges of the wings that are trimmed in yellow.

Adult mourning cloak butterflies emerge from beneath tree bark after winter hibernation and seek mates in the spring. Males will perch in sunny areas and wait for females to flutter by. After a brief aerial courtship the pair will mate. The females lay 30-50 eggs together on a single tree or shrub and die soon after.

Caterpillars emerge from eggs after about 10 days. They live in a communal web and feed together on young leaves, then pupate and emerge as adults in June or July. After feeding briefly, the adults estivate (sleep until fall), then they re-emerge to feed and store energy for winter hibernation. Some adults might migrate south in the fall.

Mourning Cloaks prefer tree sap, especially that of oaks. They walk down the trunk to the sap and feed head downward. They will also feed on rotting fruit, and only occasionally on flower nectar.

Source: Butterflies of Michigan by Jaret C. Daniels
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Why a bluebird would nest in mailbox

Eastern Bluebird nesting in a Mailbox
Are birds born with the ability to create an area for eggs? Research has found that the basics in nest construction are primarily instinctive, but birds’ building skills improve through trial and error.

Nests keep eggs and nestlings warm and safe from predators and bad weather. We usually think of them as grasses twisted into a bowl shape high in a tree branch but some birds build nests on the ground, some in bushes, while still others burrow into the sides of cliffs or trees. Barn swallows build mud pellet and grass nests around barns, while House Finches prefer to build near our houses in wreaths or hanging house plants. Wrens will build stick nests in almost any cavity, from empty bird feeders to man-made bird houses.

Sometimes you look at the crazy places birds build nests and ask, why? The answer may be as easy as they’re young. One Eastern Bluebird study in Michigan found the older birds quickly reaffirm the connection to their mate from the previous year and begin nesting earlier than first year males and females. As a result the more experienced birds get to choose the preferred nest boxes and the younger birds are relegated to the less perfect natural cavities or mailboxes.
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