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About Site
Before 1985 I had never seen an Eastern Bluebird, but a dear friend, Al Hardison gave me
my first Bluebird nest box. As I began to read up on the plight of our native bluebirds, I
began my search to see them and house them. Their numbers were dangerously low
because of several factors.
1. Use of DDT before it was banned in the US.
2. Loss of natural habitat and places to nest.
3. Competition of nesting cavities from non-native birds- - -house sparrows and starlings.
In the early 1900's when bluebirds were abundant they nested in old rotten fence posts and
abandoned woodpecker cavities. Now they seem to depend on us to provide homes and
protection from their predators. As their numbers are steadily rising their need for more
safe places to nest and raise their families also need to increase.
I have had nesting bluebirds in my yard since 1990 with 2-3 broods each year. Many
lessons have been learned through the years, most the hard way and with losses of baby
blues. It only took one time to lose a brood of newly hatched babies to a snake to teach me
you MUST use a baffle on all poles under the bird box. Due to competition from other
native cavity nesters, erecting more than one house gives better success. Three was the
charm for me as chickadees, titmice and house wrens were running away by bluebirds. By
providing choices all were able to nest peacefully.
Many area bluebird enthusiast have housed them for years in their yard and you are able to
see eastern bluebirds all over Danville and Pittsylvania county. Our new bluebird trails are
accepted readily by our blue feathered friends and this year we have had amazing results
with the houses put up this summer.
After 70 boxes were put along the Riverwalk Trail, we expanded the Adopt-A-Box Program
to include area school grounds. We now have 30 bluebird boxes on 7 area school grounds
and have reopened the Riverwalk Trail on Stinson Drive. Click here if you would like to
adopt a box. We have several schools that are anxious to start a bluebird trail and a few
more spots left on the Riverwalk Trail
Why the website. . . to connect the area bluebird landlords as we can learn from each other.
To share our joys , our sorrows and our pictures.
May all your blues be birds,
Vickie Fuquay
County Coordinator
Virginia Bluebird Sociey
Before 1985 I had never seen an Eastern Bluebird, but a dear friend, Al Hardison gave me
my first Bluebird nest box. As I began to read up on the plight of our native bluebirds, I
began my search to see them and house them. Their numbers were dangerously low
because of several factors.
1. Use of DDT before it was banned in the US.
2. Loss of natural habitat and places to nest.
3. Competition of nesting cavities from non-native birds- - -house sparrows and starlings.
In the early 1900's when bluebirds were abundant they nested in old rotten fence posts and
abandoned woodpecker cavities. Now they seem to depend on us to provide homes and
protection from their predators. As their numbers are steadily rising their need for more
safe places to nest and raise their families also need to increase.
I have had nesting bluebirds in my yard since 1990 with 2-3 broods each year. Many
lessons have been learned through the years, most the hard way and with losses of baby
blues. It only took one time to lose a brood of newly hatched babies to a snake to teach me
you MUST use a baffle on all poles under the bird box. Due to competition from other
native cavity nesters, erecting more than one house gives better success. Three was the
charm for me as chickadees, titmice and house wrens were running away by bluebirds. By
providing choices all were able to nest peacefully.
Many area bluebird enthusiast have housed them for years in their yard and you are able to
see eastern bluebirds all over Danville and Pittsylvania county. Our new bluebird trails are
accepted readily by our blue feathered friends and this year we have had amazing results
with the houses put up this summer.
After 70 boxes were put along the Riverwalk Trail, we expanded the Adopt-A-Box Program
to include area school grounds. We now have 30 bluebird boxes on 7 area school grounds
and have reopened the Riverwalk Trail on Stinson Drive. Click here if you would like to
adopt a box. We have several schools that are anxious to start a bluebird trail and a few
more spots left on the Riverwalk Trail
Why the website. . . to connect the area bluebird landlords as we can learn from each other.
To share our joys , our sorrows and our pictures.
May all your blues be birds,
Vickie Fuquay
County Coordinator
Virginia Bluebird Sociey
Virginia Bluebird Connection