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This is MY house!

17 years ago

Yesterday morning I was able to spend some time watching my blues. They were displaying the same behavior as I had seen many other recent mornings......eating @ their feeder, checking out their nestbox, flying into the trees, catching insects....things seemed pretty calm.

In the span of less than 30 minutes, things really heated up. 2 starlings, a red-bellied woodpecker, and a downy woodpecker all repeatedly landed on the box, as if they were trying to claim it. (Though I never saw him, I also heard a hosp in the vicinity.) The blues repeatedly chased them away. It was non-stop action. Then I saw the male blue land on the box with a piece of grass as if to say "I told you, This is MY house!" That seemed to be the "next" level in his communication. He moved around on top of that box, facing every different direction, holding that piece of grass. (okay, I HAVE to say it here......that must have been the final "straw")

To top it all off, this was in the yard too. (not a very good pic, but some sort of hawk?)

Don't know about the blues, but I sure was stressed.

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Comments (9)

LindaMA
17 years ago
Oh I just love to hear stories about Blues defending their box, he looks so cute standing on top of the box with the grass in his mouth. I only hope that the hawk stayed away, poor Blues have enough to contend with without the added stress of a hawk!

Linda
dave_in_va
17 years ago
Hi Mac

We have had lots of that kind of activity today too and most of it involved the starlings. I don't mean to hog your thread but here are a couple of shots of Papa trying to chase them. He bumped them five or six times but it happens so fast it's hard to keep them in focus.

Dave
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greenjean7bga
17 years ago
Good photos from two sources!

Thanks to you both!

Jean
NW GA
LindaMA
17 years ago
Oh my, that starling looks so much bigger than papa blue, glad he was able to hold his own. I get so nervous when I see a blue in any type of danger. What a spunky little guy papa is...god bless him!
mac60
Original Author
17 years ago
Wow! Great action shots Dave. I know how fast and furious the "defending the house" saga occurred here for my blues. Knowing that, makes those photos even more impressive!
mac
organic_bassetlvr
17 years ago
The hawk in your pic is an American Kestrel. They are only about the size of a blue jay so I wouldn't think they would bother bluebirds. They do nest in cavities but obviously would need a larger opening & house than bluebirds. I mostly see Kestrels go after large insects like grasshoppers. They can hover! A very cool bird!
bluebars
17 years ago
Sadly I cannot see the pics. But having known an American Kestrel up close and personal, I know they are incredibly beautiful and colorful falcons. They will sometimes take small birds, but definately not their primary diet. They will nest in appropriate nestboxes in the right habitat, but they also have to compete with the invasive European Starling. When we lived on a farm, we had kestrels nest in a box mounted right outside our window, so we could watch them bring food to their young, and perch nearby to hunt. What a wonderful memory.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ecs/wild/kestrel.pdf
mac60
Original Author
17 years ago
Organic bassetlvr,
Thanks for the ID. I had considered the Kestrel, due to what appeared to be a black streak running vertically on it's face, but my field guide's image showed so much color, I just couldn't imagine that being it. It all happened so fast, and I didn't get a good look. I had never seen one before! Hope to again though!

Bluebars,
Thanks for the link. Great information! I really would like to get a better look @ one. That would be cool to be able to watch them like you did. I will research some more. (this bluebirding addiction has led to a whole new world of bird watching and appreciation!)

Thanks again!
Mac
nature_david
17 years ago
Wow amazing pictures, both of you. Well, hopefully the bluebirds taught the invaders their lessons.

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