Have you noticed the pretty bright blue of the Western Bluebird on our course?  We are very fortunate, because from 1930 to 1980 the bluebird population dropped by nearly 80% due to loss of habitat supplying nesting cavities and the introduction of competition for these sites from the more aggressive cavity nesters introduced from Europe--the now familiar House Sparrow and European Starling.
      Most birds have been able to stand their ground with these intruders, but they're too much for the timid little bluebird.  House Sparrows actually kill nestlings and even adult bluebirds to steal their homes.
     The formation of the North American Bluebird Society in 1978 resulted in a bluebird movement that swept across the continent.  In 1994, in affiliation with the National Audubon Society and the North American Bluebird Society, the California Bluebird Recovery Program was established.  CBRP is non-profit, has no paid staff, and is supported entirely by donations and volunteers.
     Under these programs,  nest boxes were developed that have openings large enough for bluebirds but too small for others.  CBRP members have located and reported on over 8,000 boxes with over 6,000 birds fledged.
     We at the Village Country Club are doing our part in this recovery. We have 13 nest boxes on our course.  Our tree-lined course provides an ideal environment for birds and the boxes provide protection from their competitors;  Just this season since I've started monitoring these boxes we have fledged 36 bluebirds and a second brooding is on the way.
     Bluebirds eat lots of insects, so keeping them around is far better than increasing pesticide use.  Bluebirds are here year round and generally nest in the same location each year.  

UPDATE:
Since this article was written, we now have 30 boxes and have fledged over 300 baby bluebirds.

Western Bluebird (Adult male) © Peter LaTourrette


Western Bluebird (Adult female)  © Peter LaTourrette

Some Bluebird Facts
Bluebird breeding season starts from early April and may produce two broods.
Bluebirds lay between 4-6 bluish white eggs which incubate about 14 days before hatching.
Nestlings remain in the nest 19-22 days before fledging.
Both parents help feed the nestlings (watch the nests a while and you will see the parents bring food.)
Parents continue to care for the fledglings for 3-5 weeks after they leave the nest.
Papa bluebird may take on the care of fledglings while Mama begins a second brood.

NestboxCam
You may enjoy some online views of birds nesting at (click to follow link):

And, for more information on bluebirds, check out the following websites:

Please send questions and comments on the Cooperative Sanctuary Program to Bob Taeger
Give comments about the Bluebird trail to Dick Willey

Thanks to Peter La Tourrette for permission to use his beautiful bird pictures.