Eastern Bluebirds at the Boal Estate

Eastern Bluebirds at the Boal Estate. . , About the Eastern Bluebird, The Eastern Bluebird is the most widespread of the North American bluebirds-a group of medium-sized; mostly insectivorous or omnivorous birds that can be found from Canada's southern provinces in the north to as far south as Mexico and Honduras in central America. The Rocky Mountains mark their western border (see range map below)., Eastern Bluebirds are cavity nesters: they make use of natural chambers such as trees, rocks, cliffs, dirt mounds, and even chimneys to lay their eggs and raise their young. They can be found in open fields and sparse woodland areas but also live in meadows, gardens, and hedges. They can also be found in artificial refuges like the nesting boxes found here at the Boal estate., While populations are thriving today, that was not always the case. In the 1920s, the number of Eastern Bluebirds began to decline due to loss of habitat, increased use of pesticides, and weather changes, as well as competition for nesting sites from the House Sparrow and Eastern Starling-birds that were introduced to the United States in the late 1800s., By the 1970s. There was concern that eastern bluebirds were headed for extinction., Dr. Lawrence Zeleny founded the North American Bluebird Society (NABS) in 1978 to provide education, conservation, and research to promote the preservation of bluebirds. NABS promotes nesting boxes and bluebird trails as the most important steps in saving the Eastern Bluebird. Boxes should be well ventilated, watertight, and easy to open, monitor, and clean., About the Eastern Bluebird Boxes , The bluebird boxes at the Boal estate are made of recycled wood polymer composite. Using this material reduced waste and helped create a longer lasting birdhouse., Bluebird Nesting Facts , . Clutch size: 207 eggs , . Number of broods: 1-3 , . Incubation period: 11-19 days , . Nestling period: 17-21 days, Eagle Scout project completed by Matt Cropp, Troop 380, Boalsburg, PA.