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Eastern Bluebird: WC 721

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted February 4, 2016156 views5 comments

This is the official bird of my home state of New York, as well as Missouri. I chose this photo, with a nest box and a banded female, to show how important human management is to the species. Due to a number of human-caused environmental changes (including competition of introduced invasive bird species and human land use changes) Eastern Bluebird populations plummeted until concerned citizens, environmental groups and government agencies stepped in to secure the future of the species. Building and maintaining Bluebird nest boxes is a popular activity for thousands of people. The number of bluebird nest boxes around the landscape is amazing. One of the more detailed accounts of the Eastern Bluebird story is in this NRCS leaflet.

Canon 20D; Canon 100-400mm.
1/1250 sec. @ f/8; ISO 200

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on February 4, 2016 at 6:09 PM

Here in Eastern Washington Bluebird boxes are also popular with a lot of people (and the Bluebirds, too). Thank you for the information you have provided especially the NRCS article. A lot of good stuff. Speaking of good stuff, your photo is, as usual, excellent. Thanks.

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 4, 2016 at 7:09 PM

Nice way of presenting this species, Wayne. I like your composition as well. The Western version is in the same position, but alas, no one chose to make it a state bird.

devil

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on February 5, 2016 at 8:24 AM

Excellent presentation of this lovely couple and their home, Wayne. devil

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 5, 2016 at 9:53 AM

Wayne, how nice to catch both birds at the next box. The setting makes a fine statement about these birds and human interactions. My backyard in MD must be marginal Eastern BB habitat, since the nest box that I've had up for 30 years gets visited nearly every spring, but has only been used 3 or 4 times as the local population fluctuates depending mostly on winter severity.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on February 6, 2016 at 11:20 AM

I Wayne

I too like your fine presentation.. well composed showing the birds and habitant perfectly. last year my blue birds abandoned their nest boxes early in the summer and never returned. wink

Albert Darmo

Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments