Eastern Bluebirds are a small, colorful songbird found in open and semi-open habitats across much of the eastern and central United States. With their bright blue upperparts and orange-red breasts, these birds are a welcome sight in backyards, parks, and gardens. But are they friendly to us humans?
Brief Overview of Eastern Bluebirds
Let’s start with a quick overview of some key facts about Eastern Bluebirds:
- Scientific name: Sialia sialis
- Size: 6-8 inches long with a wingspan of 10-13 inches
- Coloration: Males have bright blue upperparts and reddish-orange throats/breasts. Females are more subdued with grayish upperparts and paler orange breasts.
- Habitat: Open woodlands, orchards, fields, parks, backyards
- Range: Central and eastern U.S., southern Canada, and northeastern Mexico
- Diet: Mostly insects and berries
- Nesting: Natural cavities or nest boxes
Eastern Bluebirds are members of the thrush family (Turdidae). They form strong pair bonds and often mate for life. Their melodious warbling song is a welcome sound of springtime.
Bluebird Behavior Towards Humans
So how do Eastern Bluebirds interact with people? Here are some key behavioral insights:
- Generally unafraid of humans – Bluebirds will often forage close to people and seem relatively unbothered by human presence.
- Can become accustomed to human routines – Bluebirds at feeders or nest boxes may associate people with food or safety and gather at predictable times.
- May “mob” potential threats – Bluebirds are territorial and may flock together to drive off predators or nuisance animals.
- Relatively tolerant of human disturbance – They tend to go about their business even if people are around their nesting or foraging areas.
- Curious and observant – Bluebirds often watch human activities closely, especially when it relates to their nesting/feeding areas.
Research has shown that Eastern Bluebirds do not flush away from humans as readily as many other bird species. They seem to quickly habituate to routine human presence, recognizing people as little threat. However, too much disturbance at the nest can cause them to abandon it.
Interactions with Nest Boxes and Feeders
Two of the main ways Eastern Bluebirds interact with humans is through nest boxes and feeders:
Nest Boxes:
- Bluebirds readily use man-made nest boxes for breeding.
- They may closely watch the placement and maintenance of boxes.
- The presence of boxes seems to increase local breeding populations.
- Bluebirds grow accustomed to routine monitoring by property owners.
- They largely ignore human activity near the nest box if not too intrusive.
Feeders:
- Bluebirds will visit feeders for live mealworms, their preferred feeder food.
- They learn to associate feeders with an easy meal and may wait nearby.
- Feeding bluebirds fosters closer human observation and contact.
- Hand-feeding mealworms may result in very trusting behavior.
So in summary, nest boxes and feeders facilitate increased human-bluebird interaction and may result in quite docile, trusting behavior – especially with routine exposure.
Risks and Downsides of Interaction
While bluebirds may largely coexist benignly with humans, there are some risks and downsides to consider:
- Feeding inappropriate foods like bread or seed can be unhealthy.
- Nest boxes must be properly maintained to avoid issues.
- Excessive disturbance at the nest may cause abandonment.
- Predators may also learn to monitor feeders/boxes.
- Overly conditioned birds may approach humans too readily, raising injury risk.
- They may become too dependent on artificial feed/housing sources.
With proper precautions however, the risks are minimal compared to the benefits of fostering bluebird populations via nest box and feeder programs. Education is key.
Benefits of Developing Relationships
There are many benefits that come from closer relationships between bluebirds and humans:
- We enjoy closer contact with a beautiful, charismatic species.
- We learn more about bluebird behavior and biology.
- We gain opportunities to photograph and observe bluebird family life.
- Bluebird populations increase in areas with nest box and feeding programs.
- We can involve children in fostering and learning about bluebirds.
- Their insectivorous diet makes bluebirds helpful natural pest control.
For many people, a nest box with bluebirds brings great joy as they observe the nesting process through the seasons. Bluebirds readily use habitat we make available to them.
Conclusions
To summarize the key points:
- Eastern Bluebirds are generally quite tolerant of routine human presence.
- They will readily utilize nest boxes and some supplemental feeding.
- This facilitates increased human interaction and observation.
- Care must be taken not to disturb nesting birds or overfeed.
- Ongoing relationships provide enjoyment and help bluebird conservation.
So while not necessarily “friendly” in the traditional sense, Eastern Bluebirds are certainly open to coexisting peacefully with humans. With proper stewardship, we can develop rewarding ongoing relationships with these beautiful songbirds that enrich our properties and neighborhoods.
