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 Society
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 Society
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Virginia Bluebird Connection
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