The recent history of the bluebird is a tale of adventure and of near disaster. Bluebird population was on a serious decline. Humans took more and more land, relentlessly encroaching on the bluebirds' natural habitat. Worse, people brought competing species of birds to North America from Europe, namely the European starling and the English house sparrow. Bluebirds now had to fight aggressive invaders for their ever-shrinking territory. They were losing.

Then, in the late 1970's and early 1980's, a few dedicated organizations and many wonderful people cared enough to make a difference. They began putting up bluebird houses, or "nesting boxes", and helping in the struggle against pest bird species and predators. They learned what type of bluebird nesting box the little songbirds preferred. They learned where to put bluebird birdhouses to ensure greater success. They learned, in essence, to live in balance with bluebirds, which is an amazing and rewarding feat for a person to accomplish. Over the last 25 years or so, bluebird populations have made a remarkable comeback. However, we must still do more. Humans still need to provide properly placed, properly managed bluebird birdhouses to continue to strengthen the species.

Bluebirds, purple martins, and other wild birds need our help, and will readily accept it. All we humans need is a little knowledge, a little caring, and the will to act.

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Post or a pole mounted bluebird birdhouses will see the most success. A dab of grease or petroleum jelly applied to the post or pole will help deter some craftier predators like cats, raccoons, squirrels, and snakes. Bluebird birdhouses mounted on a tree or a fence are generally more susceptible to these interlopers; if there are house wrens in the area, they also may invade the bluebird birdhouses and do considerable damage to nests, eggs, and hatchlings. (Tree mounted bluebird birdhouses can work if the danger from predation is very limited.)

The terms "beautiful songbird" and "fiercely territorial" do not sound as if they should describe the same object, yet, in the case of bluebirds, both are accurate. Bluebirds will not nest in a house near another bluebird nesting box. The veteran bluebirder will always place additional bluebird birdhouses at least 300 feet away from existing bluebird birdhouses.

Position the bluebird nesting box so that the entry hole faces away from prevailing winds to keep rain out. The bluebirds' entry hole should also face away from direct sunlight to prevent overheating.

As to actual location, think of the edge of a meadow bounded by woods. An open area with low grass, or even no grass, gives bluebirds a nice place to hunt for the ground dwelling insects they feed upon. Woods or even just a few trees nearby provide a nice perch on which bluebirds may rest when they are tired from all the insect hunting.

Tree swallows and violet-green swallows might compete with bluebirds for housing. In this case, the best solution is simply to put up another nesting box 20 or 30 feet away from the original. Bluebirds and swallows will live in proximity to one another in relative peace, as long as they all have a place to stay.

A bluebird nesting box placed in a good location and properly monitored has a very good chance of attracting a pair of bluebirds. It may take two or three seasons for it to happen, depending on how dense the local bluebird population is, but, eventually, bluebirds will nest. Though the bluebird is making a comeback, the species still needs help; help comes one bluebird nesting box at a time.

There are three species of bluebird, all occurring in North America. Distinguishing the Western blue bird from the Eastern bluebird can sometimes prove difficult; thankfully, there is little overlap in their ranges, so location provides the best clue. The Mountain bluebird, though its range overlaps with the Western and the Eastern bluebirds', presents less of a problem for identification because its plumage is more distinctive.

The Western bluebird carries its own distinction from the other bluebird species, in that it prefers open forests and parkland as a nesting site, shunning the field and pasture edges favored by Eastern and Mountain bluebirds. Unfortunately, the Western bluebird has not seen the same kind of population recovery that the other species have, due to changes in pine habitats. Human encroachment led people, quite logically, to protect their homes and property by using various forms of fire suppression, such as clearing out dry brush, for example. Those burned out wooded areas are ideal for Western bluebirds. There is still much hope for these wonderful birds, but they need a bit more help.

The ethereally beautiful Mountain bluebird has a breeding range that occupies much of the western half of the U.S. and Canada, extending through northern British Columbia into Alaska. They nest in cavities, including bluebird houses, around the edges of fields and meadows, or anywhere there are trees from which to hunt and open ground in which to forage.

The Eastern bluebird, that symbol of happiness, would likely be on the verge of extinction were it not for the efforts of so many concerned individuals. Over the last three decades, people put up scores of bluebird houses. Many people create bluebird trails by installing bluebird houses in a series, often along the side of a road. The Eastern and Mountain bluebird population experienced a very encouraging comeback in that time, although more still needs to be done.

Telling the Eastern bluebird apart from the Western is not always an easy proposition. Again, a great first hint is location. If the bluebirds are in Utah, they are Western or Mountain bluebirds, which are more easily distinguished from one another. If the bluebirds are in Connecticut, they are Eastern bluebirds. Both Eastern and Western species have an orange chest, but the Eastern bluebird has an orange throat, as well. The Western bluebird's head is all blue, including its throat. The Western will often show some orange to red on its scapular region, whereas the Eastern bluebird is quite blue-backed.

All three species of bluebird will take to bluebird houses. In many areas, they will face stiff competition from other birds, primarily the English house sparrow. The house sparrow is not protected by law as our native songbirds are; house sparrow nests should be removed from bluebird houses and destroyed.

Bluebirds will usually breed at least twice during each summer breeding season, laying from five to seven eggs each time. As long as there are caring people providing and monitoring bluebird houses, bluebirds have a chance to thrive once again.