Spring/Summer 2001

Membership Dollars at Work: Low-Cost Housing For Home Grown Birds

The Eastern Bluebird, The Primary Species.
The Eastern bluebird, which is one of the most popular songbirds in Mississippi, is one of several species that significantly benefits from the placement of nesting boxes. Its brilliant blue color, delightful songs, clean habits and family devotion have long provided happiness and inspiration to many citizens and visitors to the Magnolia State.

In the early 1900's, eastern bluebirds and many other species of cavity nesting birds were on a sharp decline in population due to pesticides and destruction of nesting habitat. But thanks to the passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918, and the discovery of the eastern bluebird nest box, the bluebird is now a very popular bird throughout Mississippi.

According to Rob Ballinger, Field Biologist with the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, "For those not familiar with the species, a mature eastern bluebird is five and one-half inches in length. The male has a bright, entirely blue back, a rusty throat and breast and a white belly. Female and young bluebirds can be recognized by their hunched posture, eye ring and the blue in the wings and tail."

Thanks to the discovery of the Eastern bluebird nest box, the bluebird is now a very popular bird throughout the Magnolia State. Photo by the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
A variety of birds will nest in a small nest box. (a) tufted titmouse, (b) Eastern bluebird, (c) Eastern kingbird, (d) Carolina wren. Photos by Michael Kelly.

Ballinger notes that ideal bluebird habitat is comprised of mixed hardwood/pine forests and grasslands such as coastal meadows, old fields, pastures, cemeteries, longleaf pine savannas, yards, prairies, golf courses, clearcuts and highway right-of-ways. Prime grass habitat is short or sparse, such as mowed or grazed areas. Ideal feeding perches include power lines, fenceposts or scattered trees located in grassy areas. Bluebirds will nest in backyards of rural homes or on the fringe of urban areas. Severe competition from house sparrows and starlings often prevents bluebirds from nesting in the vicinity of farmstead buildings.

The eastern bluebird's diet consists mainly of insects. During spring and summer, bluebirds feed on butterflies, spiders, flies, dragonflies, larval forms of insects (caterpillars), sod grubs, moths, crickets, small worms, cutworms, beetles and so forth. During late fall and winter, when insects are mostly dormant, bluebirds will begin eating wild fruits and berries.

Bluebirds are cavity nesters. To provide their nesting habitat, bluebirds naturally rely on woodpeckers and other cavity-makers to bore holes in dead trees and in fenceposts. However, suitable nest cavities have become a rarity as more landowners switch to metal fenceposts and due to a scarcity of large, standing, dead trees. Fortunately for the bluebird, carefully designed and constructed artificial nest boxes, when properly erected, can be used by landowners to reestablish populations of bluebirds.

Bluebird nests are near, cup-shaped structures usually made of fine grass or weed stems. The nest is built in one to six days and one egg is laid each day for approximately five days. The eggs are a pale, sky-blue in color. The female incubates for two weeks. Once the eggs hatch, both adults will feed the young in the nest for 16 to 23 days. The nestlings are fed a variety of small, soft insects which are rich in protein. This source of protein is instrumental to the growth and survival of the young birds. Within 12 days the nestlings are almost adult size, with down being replaced by soft grey and blue juvenile feathers.

The young can fly 50 to 100 feet on their very first flight from the box directly to a high perch and do not return to the nest. At this stage the male usually takes complete charge of caring for the young. The female may renest, often in the same bluebird house, in a matter of hours.

Songbird Nesting Box Program.
In August, 1999, the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced plans to begin a Songbird Nesting Box Program. "Two years later after the announcement of plans to begin the program, many hours of planning and hard work came together as 750 nest boxes have been placed throughout Mississippi. This includes 475 nest boxes on a cooperative project with the Yazoo-Mississippi Levee Board, 200 nest boxes to National Forests, Wildlife Management Areas, State Parks and State Lakes and 75 nest boxes to private landowners.

The nesting box recommended by the North American Bluebird society is the preferred box of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation. It features either a top-opening or a side-opening design. It is a 4" X 4" rectangular box with a a 1 and 1/2" round hole and a slightly sloping narrow roof. The Foundation chose the top-opening box which allows safe observation of the nesting birds foa a longer period of time and with less disturbance to the brooding or incubating female.

"These boxes will greatly enhance bluebird nesting throughout the many counties of the Yazoo Mississippi Delta Levee Board," said Sykes Sturdivant, President of the Yazoo Mississippi Delta Levee Board. Sturdivant went on to say that all of the habitat components needed for bluebird production were present with the many different landowners that the Commissioners worked with. "These boxes will help reverse the problem of declining nesting habitat by providing safe nesting areas for blue birds and other species of cavity nesting birds in the many counties that the Yazoo Mississippi Levee Board serves," said Sturdivant.

On a recent sampling of some of the nest boxes in Humphreys and Monroe counties we noted that bluebirds were utilizing the recently erected boxes.

The Mississippi Songbird Nesting Box Program was developed by the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Yazoo Mississippi Delta Levee Board, Vaiden Timber Company, Anderson-Tully Company and the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility.

According to Leila C. Wynn, President of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, "These boxes produce thousands of songbirds each year. The Foundation has worked with the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility to construct these boxes. Without the lumber contributions of Anderson-Tully Timber Company and Vaiden Timber Company, as well as the contributions by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, these valuable nesting boxes would not have been built."

The Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation would like to pass on a word of thanks to the many individuals, organizations and schools involved who are helping to make this program a success. This project is positive proof that when people in Mississippi with a common goal work together, things get accomplished with positive results.