Birding/eastern bluebirds

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 6/11/2009


Question
little background, over the last 3 weeks I have evolved into a huge wild bird fan,  that being said, I have spent many hours in books & online researching. I have many feeders on my property & the right seeds. Just as the wild birds started showing up to the feeders, a male eastern bluebird is attacking them at the feeders.  He attacks all of them, american gold finches, house finches, ruby necked hummingbirds, chipping sparrows, cardinals, blue jays, carolina chickadees, & even the little wood pewee.  The only bird that he can't attack or chase off is the american kestrels. My question is how can I get him to stop his attacks on the other birds? I have a lot of time & money invested in making my yard bird friendly & feel that this 1 bird is ruining my efforts.

Thank You,
RL

Answer
Wow! How unusual! The Eastern Bluebird is usually quite mild and is at the bottom of the pecking order to most of the birds that you mention. House sparrows kill it and House Wrens smash its eggs and throw its small babies out of its nests. The only thing I can surmise is that it must have a nest of babies near some of the feeders. Send your mailing address to me at walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you my free 20 page Bluebird book. It will tell you how and where to but up some boxes which may solve the problem.

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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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