1. A Presentation Prepared by Virginia Master Naturalist Bill Fox
Blue Bird Nest Cycle
A Presentation Prepared by
Virginia Master Naturalist Bill Fox

2. Why Attract Birds and Butterflies to Your Yard?
Fun for You to observe
Enjoyment of Nature’s Beauty
Identify different birds and butterflies
Keep your own Bird Journal and/or
Photographs of Bird Behavior
Participate in organized Surveys

3. How to Attract Birds and Butterflies? Focus -on their Needs.
Food: Seed, Suet, Seed and Berry Bearing
Flowers, Shrubs Trees and
Other Natural Goodies
Water
Cover from Predators or
Habitat Foliage
Nest Sites

4. Other natural goodies

5. Bluebird Nest Box Placement
If you have open space for a garden you probably have enough space for a bluebird nest site
Key may be to have the nest box about six feet or more away from heavy cover
Facing East is best
Five and half to six feet high

6. The male house hunts early
12/27/2010
The male house hunts early

7. Female is the decision maker
1/6/2011
Female is the decision maker

8. Yes, that is ice and there are Bluebird Polar Bear Clubs.
A “honeymoon” period
Yes, that is ice and there are Bluebird Polar Bear Clubs.

9. Nest building stars later.
3/17/2011
Nest building stars later.

10. 3/25/2011 7:24 am Predator Attack

11. 3/25/2022 7:24 am

15. 3/25/2011 7:32 am Wing Waving Celebration after the predator has been driven off

18. 3/25/2011 7:32 Calm Returns

19. House Keeping

20. 4/30/ :28 am

21. 4/30/ :28 am
Most young bluebirds leave the nest or fledge between 15 and 18 days of age

22. Wildlife Mapping is Being Used by Many States
Your wildlife observation post can be your backyard
Can help monitor population shifts
Need training (Contact Bill Fox ) or
Can be used for tracking of population shifts ( Bluebirds, Evening Grosbeaks and others)

24. Great Backyard Bird Count
Feb. 15 t0 18, 2013

25. Photography
Point and shoot cameras can be used for stills and bird identification
Digital Single Lens Reflex camera is needed for birds in flight
Scopes with camera for close ups in the wild
Some people like to use videos
Uneven light and focusing are common problems

26. Bluebird half in sun
Note that the wing in direct sunlight has the color washed out in the photo

27. Bluebird Nest Cycle
The End

28. Appendix

29. Presentation Principles
Pleasurable
Relevant
Organized
Thematic
Stop before saturation point
Good story: beginning, middle, end

30. Backyard Birding Outline How to Attract-Focus
Better Enjoy and Appreciate Your Local Habitat
How to Attract Birds-Focus on Needs (Seasonal)
Food
Water
Predator Protection (Cover)
Nest Sites

31. The Exposure Triangle + One
Typical Speeds
1/640 + sec for sports
1/100 sec normal people
1/ sec flying birds
Low F-Stop
Reduces DOF
Needs less Light
Aids auto focus
Shutter Speed
Camera
Low ISO needs
more light
Reduces electronic
noise
ISO (Media Speed)
Camera Processor
Aperture (F-Stop)
Lens
Exposure Compensation=0 at 18% grey