1. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BLUEBIRD CLUB THE CALIFORNIA BLUEBIRD RECOVERY PROJECT Jim Semelroth Socal Bluebird Club 2008

2. Western Bluebird What is a Western Bluebird? What is a Western Bluebird? A Bluebird is in the thrush family, like a Robin redbreast. A Bluebird is in the thrush family, like a Robin redbreast. Robin Robin It is called Sialia Mexicana. It is called Sialia Mexicana.

3. WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS? Bluebird populations declined by an estimated 90% from 1920-1970, threatened by competition from introduced species (House Sparrows and European Starlings), loss of open space and nesting cavities (bluebirds can't excavate their own holes), increased pesticide use, and climatic events. None of the issues that caused the decline has really gone away. Without assistance from people like us, bluebirds will continue to have difficulty surviving and thriving. Bluebird populations declined by an estimated 90% from 1920-1970, threatened by competition from introduced species (House Sparrows and European Starlings), loss of open space and nesting cavities (bluebirds can't excavate their own holes), increased pesticide use, and climatic events. None of the issues that caused the decline has really gone away. Without assistance from people like us, bluebirds will continue to have difficulty surviving and thriving.House Sparrowshas really gone awayHouse Sparrowshas really gone away

4. WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS? Bluebirds offer hope and happiness. They have probably appeared in more songs, poems and literature than any other bird. In 1909, Maurice Maeterlinck published The Blue Bird, a fairy tale about the bluebird of happiness. In 1909, Maurice Maeterlinck published The Blue Bird, a fairy tale about the bluebird of happiness. In 1934, tenor Jan Peerce made the Bluebird of Happiness a nationwide hit. In 1934, tenor Jan Peerce made the Bluebird of Happiness a nationwide hit. It’s hard not to smile when hearing about Mr. Bluebird on My Shoulder from the Disney film Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah. It’s hard not to smile when hearing about Mr. Bluebird on My Shoulder from the Disney film Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah. In 1939, in the movie The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland sang plaintively that "Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly." In 1939, in the movie The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland sang plaintively that "Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly." One of the most famous WWII-era pop classics was a song by Nat Burton: “There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover, Tomorrow, just you wait and see, There'll be love and laughter and peace ever after, Tomorrow when the world is free.” One of the most famous WWII-era pop classics was a song by Nat Burton: “There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover, Tomorrow, just you wait and see, There'll be love and laughter and peace ever after, Tomorrow when the world is free.” 1955: Marvin Rainwater sang Gonna Find Me A Bluebird 1955: Marvin Rainwater sang Gonna Find Me A Bluebird 1964: Frank Sinatra recorded I Wish You Love 1964: Frank Sinatra recorded I Wish You LoveI Wish You LoveI Wish You Love

6. WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS? Bluebirds are unique to North America. Bluebirds are unique to North America. Bluebirds are family oriented. The courting male dotes on the female, waving his wings, enticing her to select a nest site, and offering her treats. He courageously guards the box during nest construction. He delivers food to the incubating female, and participates equally in feeding nestlings and fledglings. Both parents will die defending their young from House Sparrows. After fledging, young birds tend to stay with their parents, begging for food, and sometimes altruistically helping tend to siblings in a second brood. Bluebirds are family oriented. The courting male dotes on the female, waving his wings, enticing her to select a nest site, and offering her treats. He courageously guards the box during nest construction. He delivers food to the incubating female, and participates equally in feeding nestlings and fledglings. Both parents will die defending their young from House Sparrows. After fledging, young birds tend to stay with their parents, begging for food, and sometimes altruistically helping tend to siblings in a second brood.

7. WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS? Bluebirds are friendly. They seem to almost enjoy human company. They display no fear of nesting near human habitation. They usually tolerate monitoring of their nests as we peek in to see their fuzzy-headed hatchlings. They quickly learn an association, whether it be a whistle or a banging door, with a mealworm feeder being filled, and instantly show up to investigate. If we do not fill the feeder in a timely manner, they may follow us around the yard, warbling away. Bluebirds are friendly. They seem to almost enjoy human company. They display no fear of nesting near human habitation. They usually tolerate monitoring of their nests as we peek in to see their fuzzy-headed hatchlings. They quickly learn an association, whether it be a whistle or a banging door, with a mealworm feeder being filled, and instantly show up to investigate. If we do not fill the feeder in a timely manner, they may follow us around the yard, warbling away.

8. WHY LOVE BLUEBIRDS?  Bluebirds do no harm. In the days before pesticides, farmers put up nest boxes around their fields, as they were aware that bluebirds eat many insects, and the fruit they eat during the winter is not of the cultivated variety. While bluebirds will compete for nesting sites and defend their own abode, they do not maliciously attack other birds, eggs or nests.

9. WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS? Bluebirds remind us of both the bad and good humans are capable of. Almost all impacts to bluebird populations, both negative and positive, have been directly associated with human activity. On the negative side, there is the introduction of House Sparrows and starlings, pesticide use, and loss of open space. But on the positive side, grass roots conservation efforts by individuals and groups across the continent are a shining example of the power we all have to make a difference. Bluebirds remind us of both the bad and good humans are capable of. Almost all impacts to bluebird populations, both negative and positive, have been directly associated with human activity. On the negative side, there is the introduction of House Sparrows and starlings, pesticide use, and loss of open space. But on the positive side, grass roots conservation efforts by individuals and groups across the continent are a shining example of the power we all have to make a difference.

10. WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS? Attracting bluebirds is a challenging hobby. Since the number of natural cavities has dwindled and competition from exotic species like House Sparrows and starlings is severe, bluebirds depend on humans to survive and thrive. Because of this, we feel an almost parental sense of ownership and satisfaction when we enable successful nesting. Bluebirding taps into problem solving skills and creativity, scientific curiosity, and a love of nature and the outdoors. Attracting bluebirds is a challenging hobby. Since the number of natural cavities has dwindled and competition from exotic species like House Sparrows and starlings is severe, bluebirds depend on humans to survive and thrive. Because of this, we feel an almost parental sense of ownership and satisfaction when we enable successful nesting. Bluebirding taps into problem solving skills and creativity, scientific curiosity, and a love of nature and the outdoors.

11. WHY I LOVE BLUEBIRDS? They are beautiful!!! They are beautiful!!!

12. WESTERN MALE EASTERN MALE SIALIA MEXICANASIALIA SIALIS

13. MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD

14. Bluebirds are Cavity Nesters

16. Hello, John Wayne Tower, Bluebird On Final Approach

17. Hey, Mama, I found a house for us. It’s over there.

18. Hmm, nice and roomy.

19. OH, THIS ONE’S NICE, TOO,

20. OK, let’s buy this house. Here’s some grass for the nest, Big Boy.

21. EASTER GRASS KILLS

22. Yep, five it is.

24. WOW, TWO WEEKS OF THIS?

26. Worms, worms, I need some worms.

27. Me, Me, Me.

28. How about a meal worm?

29. Bluebird’s favorite food, Mealworms

30. Anybody awake in there?

31. OK, who’s first?

32. I think I see another mealworm for the kids

33. What no worms? OK, we’ll take a berry.

34. Scoot over, you’re on my foot!!!

35. I’m outta here today. Too crowded for me.

36. WHY ARE THEY ALWAYS WATCHING US?

37. Last one out is a rotten egg.

38. OK, I flew. Now where’s my treat?

39. Does Dad have a worm for me, too?

40. Take your pick. Mom’s or Dad’s?

41. Hey, what about me?

42. Mom says eating worms’ll give us pretty eyes.

43. Starbirds Cafe

44. DICK PURVIS, Bluebirdman of Orange County

45. USING THE PURVIS LIFTER TO PLACE A BOX ON LIMB

46. Manny Ackerman

47. Sully Reallon and school class

48. It’s OK, I’m checking your babies.

49. What have we got in there?

50. Let’s see, one, two, three, four, five.

52. Up she goes.

53. There you are, Mama. Get back in the nest.

54. 2007 RESULTS County #Trails #Boxes Total Fledged WEBL Fledged County #Trails #Boxes Total Fledged WEBL Fledged Orange 47 1293 5612 5212 Merced 2 688 3436 38 Santa Clara 52 703 1582 491 Los Angeles 5 144 808 795 San Mateo 20 274 631 247 Contra Costa11 165 368 203 Santa Barbara 6 96 335 245 Yolo 1 92 321 84 Amador 3 59 259 196 Solano 1 79 223 12 El Dorado 2 58 171 115 Riverside 3 36 151 132 Alameda 2 243 87 44 Nevada 3 37 65 49 San Diego 6 10 40 26 San Bernardino1 7 37 37 Placer 2 27 36 26 Kern 1 2 10 10 Butte 1 2 7 7 Mendocino 1 2 4 Yuba 1 10 3 3 Ventura 1 5 2 1

55. Bluebird Recovery 1996 vs 2007 1996 2007 Counties 20 22 Reporters 113 128 Nestboxes* NA NA Tries 966 2053 Eggs* NA 11156 Hatchlings* NA 9086 Fledglings 3020 7973

57. Success. At the community pool

58. www.socalbluebirds.org www.socalbluebirds.org www.socalbluebirds.org www.cbrp.org www.cbrp.org www.cbrp.org www.sialis.org www.sialis.org www.sialis.org www.nabluebirds.org www.nabluebirds.org