(Copyright © Michael L. Smith - All Rights Reserved)

The eastern bluebird is a favorite migratory songbird of birders and nonbirders alike. The bird's bright blue color and melodious song make it a welcome visitor to backyards. The history of the bluebird spans a series of struggles and successes and only recently, through active wildlife management, has its future been considered secure. During the days of frontier settlement, the bluebird was among the wildlife species that benefited from the decimation of the eastern forests. The conversion of forest into pasture, orchards, and home sites created an abundance of ideal bluebird habitat - open areas that supported the nesting and foraging activities of the species. Farmers unintentionally assisted bluebirds by bordering their fields with wooden fence posts, thus supplying additional nesting sites. Combined, these factors led to a proliferation of bluebird numbers throughout the eastern United States through the mid-1800s. However, this situation changed in the late nineteenth century with the introduction of the European starling and the English house sparrow. In the twentieth century, increased use of harmful pesticides, replacement of wooden fence posts with metal posts, clearing of field borders and fence rows to increase cropland acreage, and a growing human population also contributed to population reductions. Fortunately, the favored status of the bluebird and its acceptance of artificial nesting structures has led to increased efforts to boost its populations to sustainable levels. Placement of thousands of nest boxes by concerned individuals has contributed significantly to ensuring a future for the eastern bluebird. The ongoing recovery of the eastern bluebird is an example of how sound wildlife management practices have been used to increase the survival success of an individual wildlife species.