Eloquent songsters of open marshes and woodlands, the thrushes include many familiar species. With narrow notched bills they feed on insects and fruit.
Eastern Blue Bird (male)Throat, sides of neck and breast are a chestnut color. Belly white. Males are deep blue above, females grayer.Nest in holes in trees and posts, and in nesting boxes.
Bluebird Conservation:
Eastern Bluebird populations increased by almost 2 percent per year between 1966 and 2010, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population at 22 million, with 86 percent spending part of the year in the U.S., 22 percent in Mexico, and 1 percent breeding in Canada.
They rate a 7 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score and they are not on the 2012 Watch List. Eastern Bluebird populations fell in the early twentieth century as aggressive introduced species such as European Starlings and House Sparrows made available nest holes increasingly difficult for bluebirds to hold on to.
In the 1960s and 1970s establishment of bluebird trails and other nest box campaigns alleviated much of this competition, especially after people began using nest boxes designed to keep out the larger European Starling. Eastern Bluebird numbers have been recovering since.
For more information on this beautiful thrush, please visit this web-site – http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Bluebird/id
~Sharing with Charlotte at Prairie Birder for Feathers on Friday
A few additional photos of our, February, 2014, visit to Eastbank camp-ground on Lake Seminole. We have moved on, slowly continuing our journey back to Colorado. We had a wonderful time at one of our most favorite places to spend a few days.
One Last SunsetAn Eastern Bluebird sitting in a Sycamore TreeEastbank Campground=Site A01
Kevin, can you spot Howard’s antenna?
As darkness begins to decend; bats are flying around!
Ever try to photograph bats, at night, in flight?
Through the Pines
Camped among these pines were several ladies, perhaps a women’s club, in their RV’s each with at least one Kayak! They were having fun!
A pretty little Palm WarblerEastern PhoebeLate Evening Activity —As we sat and watched, wave after wave of White Pelicans and Cormorants, landed on the lake. Hundreds!
Bald Eagle, between two and five years old. (It takes five years for their head to turn white)
As we continued down the path, on our hike, we see an Eagle circling high in the air. All of a sudden the Eagle tucks its wings and begins to dive straight at the Red-shouldered Hawk. Thank goodness the Eagle does not strike the Hawk.
The Hawk flies up into the air and into the woods, the Eagle gives chase. We never saw the Hawk again. The poor Hawk was only trying to catch one Coot! Gee, so many Coots, why can’t you share?
The Eagle then perches in a tree looking around, we think, making sure the Hawk doesn’t come back into its territory.
The Eagle sits in a tree for a few minutes, which gives me the opportunity to take a few photos.
As the Eagle flies away you get a nice view of the underside of its wings.
This Bald Eagle sure makes a large shadow.
I beautiful Bald Eagle, obviously less than five years old!
I would guess at least 2nd year Bald Eagle.Away it flies