WHAT'S NEW IN NATURE?

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This Month:

Bluebird picture by Beth Donald

Bluebirds in Winter? Sandy caught the sight of a bluebird pair in her yard this month and was very surprised. It seemed very unusual to her to see this delightful bird at this time of year.
The Eastern Bluebird is the only one of the 3 bluebird species regularly found in New Hampshire. It is a member of the thrush family and related to the American Robin. Adults are blue on their heads, backs, and tails, though the female's blue is spread over with gray-brown. They have a reddish orange breast and flanks that are offset by white bellies. Glimpsing a bluebird contrasted against the white snow is quite a stunning sight on a winter's day.
Peterson’s Field Guide for Eastern Birds shows the northern edge of the bluebirds’ year-round range along the Connecticut and Rhode Island coasts and out to the Cape. But, because of this winter's extensive warm spell some bluebirds haven't left New Hampshire. In mild winters bluebirds do stay around southeastern New Hampshire and their over wintering is most likely influenced by humans providing the necessary ingredients to make survival possible, such as nesting boxes and food. They aren't bothered by the snow as they typically arrive at their nesting boxes in March, when the ground is still snow-covered. In spite of the snow, they get busy building their nests, beating out competing birds such as swallows and house wrens.
Bluebirds eat mostly insects in the summer season and wild fruit, berries and seeds in winter. They are attracted to peanut butter mixes, suet and fruit, but the bluebird's special favorite is mealworms. They perch erect on wires, posts, and low branches in open country, scanning the ground for prey. They feed by dropping to the ground onto insects in season or by perching on fruiting trees to gulp down berries, in fall and winter.
Bluebirds are usually found in fields, open woodlands, parks or along golf courses or other open areas, including suburban locations with open spaces and scattered trees.
All bluebirds are cavity nesters and will use an artificial nest box if provided. Natural habitat and nest cavities had been disappearing for many years, but bluebird populations have steadily increased for the past few decades due to thousands of bluebird nest boxes being installed across the country. Put up a few nesting boxes in your yard next year and see if the bluebirds move in. Maybe they will even stay for the winter!

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