Bluebird pair spotted, some questions
Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2023 3:12 pm
What grass height is preferred for bluebirds? How tall can I intentionally allow the grass to grow for bluebirds? My mower is set just shy of 4", partly due to rocks. Are there some 'no mow' shorter plants that will be beneficial for bluebirds?
If a bluebird pair nest site is established, will adding a vegetable garden be too much human activity and 'scare' them off? Will it negatively impact their local food supply? I presume it will increase their predators coming nearby, especially raccoons for my sweet corn.
I noticed a bluebird pair using a knot in a White Oak tree, near a road, facing West away from the road. Around the white oak trees are a driveway, some thin lawn, and a few locust trees. Nearby is a well-grazed cow pasture, some more lawns, and a local bird feeder. There is a 'wet meadow' and creeks, but I'm told those creeks run dry frequently. When I looked in person once, it wasn't much running water, but there was a 'deep spot' for water. There are some forests in view, but they are further away. There were some small autumn olive plants and a small 'bush' of it near the oak tree knot, but I cut and removed them because they are now considered an invasive species in WV.
I don't know if they rear babies in the oak tree knot, nor if they overwinter here or migrate.
I read a book The Nature of Oaks, by Douglas W. Tallamy. I learned that oak trees are the best keystone species in the USA, and it helps some insect species to leave the oak leaf litter, underneath the oak trees if possible. Walking sticks go into oak treetops.
As I sought more available information from Douglas Tallamy online, I also learned I can switch my (even just non-motion sensing ones) outdoor lights to a yellow (led) lightbulb, to reduce how many moth species I unintentionally lead to their ultimate demise. This in turn should help prevent decreasing the caterpillars, which are in turn fed to baby birds and other wildlife.
The 'lawn' immediately around the oak tree is basically dry, lots to shade to completely shaded. I can try to do the 'soil test' in a jar later. The hill slope is below a road (may get road salts and sprayed for weeds roadside), and faces west. I don't know what 'no mow' plants will grow well here yet.
The known local wildlife so far is Eastern Phoebes, Cardinals, Red-Winged Blackbird, Carolina Wren, at least 3 Wood Thrashers (may change as I clear out locust tree patch from a place it cannot remain), an occasional bird of prey, rabbits, groundhogs, black bear, lots of whitetail deer. There are also stray cats in the area.
If a bluebird pair nest site is established, will adding a vegetable garden be too much human activity and 'scare' them off? Will it negatively impact their local food supply? I presume it will increase their predators coming nearby, especially raccoons for my sweet corn.
I noticed a bluebird pair using a knot in a White Oak tree, near a road, facing West away from the road. Around the white oak trees are a driveway, some thin lawn, and a few locust trees. Nearby is a well-grazed cow pasture, some more lawns, and a local bird feeder. There is a 'wet meadow' and creeks, but I'm told those creeks run dry frequently. When I looked in person once, it wasn't much running water, but there was a 'deep spot' for water. There are some forests in view, but they are further away. There were some small autumn olive plants and a small 'bush' of it near the oak tree knot, but I cut and removed them because they are now considered an invasive species in WV.
I don't know if they rear babies in the oak tree knot, nor if they overwinter here or migrate.
I read a book The Nature of Oaks, by Douglas W. Tallamy. I learned that oak trees are the best keystone species in the USA, and it helps some insect species to leave the oak leaf litter, underneath the oak trees if possible. Walking sticks go into oak treetops.
As I sought more available information from Douglas Tallamy online, I also learned I can switch my (even just non-motion sensing ones) outdoor lights to a yellow (led) lightbulb, to reduce how many moth species I unintentionally lead to their ultimate demise. This in turn should help prevent decreasing the caterpillars, which are in turn fed to baby birds and other wildlife.
The 'lawn' immediately around the oak tree is basically dry, lots to shade to completely shaded. I can try to do the 'soil test' in a jar later. The hill slope is below a road (may get road salts and sprayed for weeds roadside), and faces west. I don't know what 'no mow' plants will grow well here yet.
The known local wildlife so far is Eastern Phoebes, Cardinals, Red-Winged Blackbird, Carolina Wren, at least 3 Wood Thrashers (may change as I clear out locust tree patch from a place it cannot remain), an occasional bird of prey, rabbits, groundhogs, black bear, lots of whitetail deer. There are also stray cats in the area.