The Gentle Eastern Bluebird

"As might be expected of creatures so heavenly in color, the disposition of bluebirds is particularly angelic. Gentleness and amiability are expressed in their soft musical voice. Tru-al-ly, tru-al-ly, they sweetly assert when we can scarcely believe that spring is here; tru-wee, tur-wee they softly call in autumn when they go roaming through the countryside in flocks of azure." - Neltje Blanchan, Birds Worth Knowing, 1917 I first encountered the Eastern Bluebird in 1992 when I ventured into farm living in east TN for a period of time. Bluebird boxes were already in place and the resident bluebirds introduced me to their gentle nature and song while I worked in the garden, enjoyed early morning walks and watched nesting activity while sipping coffee on the porch.

As I planted the garden, they collected on the wire overhead and sang. By chance, I discovered that if I uncovered a grub and tossed it a short distance away, a bluebird would quickly drop down to fetch it. Once while watering the garden during the dry days of summer, I delighted to watch two chattering bluebirds repeatedly fly through the sprinkler’s arched spray, every bit as playful as laughing children.

And in the fall, after three bluebird families had raised all their young, I witnessed dozens of bluebirds gathering on tree limbs and along fence wires in the early morning. Flying just ahead of us, from post to post in leap-frog fashion, bluebirds were as much a part of morning walks as the Australian shepherds that eagerly led my way.