Birding/eastern Bluebird

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 5/26/2009


Question
Since I moved into this house a year ago I have been watching a pair of bluebirds haning out and feeding. I don't know where their nest is.
Today sitting outside I noticed a second female (both femails were perched on the fence) and the male was close by in a tree.
One of the females flew into my yard into a spot where I had just moved some bricks, she laid flat down, spreading her wings and tale feathers and stayed there for about 90 seconds.
What is going on with her doing that?

Answer
Several possibilities - birds sometimes do that to catch some extra sun, and sometimes they are "anting", letting ants take parasites out of their feathers, but in both cases they usually stay on the ground longer. Also the bird may have been trying to attract the male. Birds often do things that we don't understand. Send your mailing address to me at walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you my free 20 page Bluebird book.

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Bluebird Bob Walshaw

Expertise

I can answer almost any question on Eastern Bluebirds and small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, etc. Also general questions on other songbirds. No pet bird questions please.

Experience

I have had a 100+ nestbox trail for more than 20 years, I do a lot of writing, public speaking and educational work in this field. My hands-on Bluebird talks include more than 1000 people each year.

Organizations
Oklahoma Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society, National Audubon Society, Oklahoma Audubon Society, Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance

Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Oklahoma Today, Fur-Fish-Game, Birds & Blooms, Nature Society News,Back Woodsman Magazine, Tulsa World, Broken Arrow ledger, Teaching Tolerance magazine,Trappers World, OK Hole Story, Birders World

Education/Credentials
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, Graduate of the Home Study Course in Bird Biology from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Oklahoma Master Naturalist. I am also a pofessional speaker and writer.

Awards and Honors
Chosen as a public speaker for the North American Bluebird Society, Bluebird trail accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, Chosen as a panel speaker at the 2006 NABS Convention.

Past/Present Clients
Many

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