Ole Midwesterner at Heart

Karen
- April 24, 2008

Thanks for your wonderful articles!!! They bring me back to spring in the midwest. We raised our kids on the Mississippi River in Champlin, Minnesota and I watched the endless diversity all year round on the Mississippi River. Now we are in the rural area of Davis, CA. It is actually hot and dry here from May to October. I enticed the Blue Birds to the houses in the field a number of years ago. Now the tree swallows have taken over all the houses. Do you have an idea how I can get the dear little Blue Birds back? We miss the midwest; the bodies of water, the thunder storms, even the snow. Our spring begins here in February and so does gardening; actually we garden the year round. The chickadees are missing here too, unless we visit our 20 acres in the forest in the Sierra foothills. That's where I go to get my needed snow showers, chickadees, nuthatches, and the lovely feel of the forest glade. Thanks again for bringing me back to the good ole days.

Dear Karen

It's always nice to hear from folks in California, especially if they are midwesterners at heart, like you.  I'm so happy that I can offer you a taste of life here in Wisconsin each week.  It means a lot  to me that you took just a little time to let me know that you appreciate it.

My advice to you about how to attract bluebirds to the birdhouses may not be what you were expecting to hear.  Once I put out a birdhouse, it's off limits to me until I clear and repair it in the early spring.  I show no preference for the birds who choose to make it their home.

It's always a first come first serve basis and I respect whoever gets there first.

When the swallows seem to start using all the houses my remedy is to put out more houses, further from where the swallows are.  The swallows are very communal birds, often seen feeding together in groups of up to 20-30 or more.  Try keeping the tree swallow houses in a group, a few yards apart.  I think they may like that.  The bluebirds like a bit more space between neighbors, say 30 to 50 yards.  You are lucky to have some property where you can learn so much.

I've always loved to watch the tree swallows and hear their gentle twitters.  I've learned so much about these beautiful little bug-catchers that I could never trade them for bluebirds,  Take advantage of the chance to learn from the birds on your land.  It's not only about what "you" can learn about the birds but what they may teach you about yourself.  For that, their presence is priceless.

I would like very much to hear more about your bluebird adventures sometime.  I'm definitely a California dreamer. Ha!

Naturally yours,

Dan