On the last day of February, I watched a female Eastern Bluebird check out one of the birdhouses I keep in my yard. That was another reminder that early spring nest-box activity is already picking up here.
Just yesterday, I wrote about a Carolina Chickadee returning to one of the same birdhouses this spring. Now a bluebird is showing interest too, which makes this part of the season even more interesting. You can read that post here: Carolina Chickadee Returns to the Same Birdhouse This Spring
Wildlife Notes
The female Eastern Bluebird gave me hope when she inspected one of the birdhouses near the end of February. In my yard, this kind of birdhouse activity usually starts building as winter gives way to spring. Seeing chickadees and bluebirds check boxes within days of each other shows how active this season is becoming.
Bluebirds have nested in my yard several times each year, and I have written a lot about them raising their young. This spring, though, they may have a problem.
A Northern Mockingbird has turned into a bully and has been chasing birds out of the area. I have watched it go after the bluebirds, but it has also chased Northern Cardinals and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. It is not focused on one species. It seems determined to control that part of the yard.
I’ve covered this pattern before. If you’ve dealt with the same thing at your feeders, take a look at my posts Northern Mockingbirds Drive Away Other Birds Near Feeders and Territorial Mockingbirds in My Yard This Winter. It can get relentless.
A Tough Start to Spring Nesting Season
That kind of aggressive behavior is not unusual for mockingbirds in breeding season. They defend territory hard, and one bold bird can disrupt a lot of activity around feeders, shrubs, and nest boxes.
The good news is that I have two birdhouses for the bluebirds. I think they may still be able to use the second one if the pressure stays heavy around the first box. Bluebirds can be persistent, and that second birdhouse may give them a better shot this season.
For now, I am watching and hoping for the best. Between the chickadees and the bluebirds, early spring nest-box activity is off to a busy start in my yard. The only question is whether the bluebirds will get enough room to settle in.
Photography Notes
I photographed the Eastern Bluebird with my Canon EOS R5 Mark II and Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM at 800mm. My exposure was f/10, 1/3200 second, ISO 2500, with +2/3 exposure compensation. I used a bean bag on the deck rail for support. That fast shutter speed helped freeze the bird cleanly while it checked the birdhouse area.
I photographed the Northern Mockingbird with my Canon EOS R5 Mark II and Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM at 500mm. My settings were f/8, 1/2000 second, ISO 3200, with +1/3 exposure compensation. I also used a bean bag on the deck rail. Those settings worked well for a bird that is quick, alert, and rarely still for long.
Closing
Spring birdhouse season is starting to build in my yard, but it may come with a little more drama this year. I will be watching both birdhouses closely to see if the bluebirds can work around their noisy neighbor and get a nest started.