Bluebirds Yes ~ Hawks Oh No!

February 03, 2016

Bluebirds Yes ~ Hawks Oh No!

This week started out on a high note. While looking out the kitchen window, I spotted a pair of bluebirds flying in and out of the bluebird box. It isn't spring yet, but they are here and doing some pre-house hunting. Then the high note was interrupted by a low note; today while doing dishes, I glanced up and saw a huge magnificent hawk sitting on the bluebird box. This made me very nervous!! One winter I saw a hawk swoop down in the front yard and grab a blackbird in a blink of the eye. What will this "hawk-eyed" bird zero in on for its prey?

red-shouldered hawk...it is a common hawk in Kentucky forests and prefers to hunt along the forest edge. Prey includes snakes, frogs and birds. Nest building starts in February and the young 2-4 per nest per year leave the nest by June

zooming in I'm pretty sure this is a Red-Shouldered Hawk

For several years the bluebirds arrived in the spring, safely nesting and having babies. They would sit on the wire close to the garden all summer. As we worked in the yard, they were our constant companion.

Then one year the whole family of bluebirds were killed by very aggressive house SPARROWS. Several tears were shed!! Last year the family was off to a really good start, but in the dark of night a house WREN came and emptied out the box, not leaving a trace of evidence, except for a small feather on the ground. More tears were shed that morning as I longingly watched the bb sit on the wire, looking down at his home and flying away, not to be seen all summer!

Immediately the wren began building a nest of twigs on top of the soft downy, grassy nest of the bluebird. The wren had a nesting spot in the front yard, but finished her family before the bluebirds and thought that her next nesting choice was the bb box (the male wren picked out several sites earlier and had even laid a few twigs in the bb box; the female wren chose the wren box for her first nest and bb for next). I did reading about this, only it was too late to save the bb's! The bb box should remain open so the wrens won't add it to their "house hunting" list.

arrival of the Jenny wren...sitting on her nesting box in the front yard

Jenny wren eggs

Is this beautiful and protected hawk going to kill our bluebirds!!!??? Spring will come and a new season of life will begin for so many lovely creatures.

Along with the joy of living comes the sorrow of death!