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Question
I live in Alabama. We have a birdhouse in our backyard. It appears that a family of bluebirds has moved in (Northern I think.) Why do we only see the Bluebirds at the birdhouse in the early morning? This has happened for several years in a row. We're hesitant to get too close to look inside for fear of making them uneasy. There are a number of large birds living in nearby trees and feeding in the yard - Cardinals, Blue Jays, Crows...
These would be Eastern Bluebirds. A family would not have moved in, but a male and female with the intent of raising a family, I would surmise. The birds will spend the night in the birdhouse and then leave in the morning and spend the day feeding. If they are going to breed, they will visit the house more frequently as they bring in nesting material. After the eggs are laid and the young hatch,there will be many trips to and from the house during the day to feed the young until the young leave the nest. For more information on wild birds, see www.ornithology.com. Roger Lederer
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| Comment | Thanks I think it must be the ice thing. The pond was frozen over just days before, then melted and the temp was dropping again. Today we have a snow storm. Thanks again. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Roger Lederer
Expertise
Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.
Experience
Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.
Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico
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