A Presentation Prepared by Virginia Master Naturalist Bill Fox Blue Bird Nest Cycle A Presentation Prepared by Virginia Master Naturalist Bill Fox

Why Attract Birds and Butterflies to Your Yard? Fun for You to observe Enjoyment of Nature’s Beauty Identify different birds and butterflies Keep your own Bird Journal and/or Photographs of Bird Behavior Participate in organized Surveys

How to Attract Birds and Butterflies? Focus -on their Needs. Food: Seed, Suet, Seed and Berry Bearing Flowers, Shrubs Trees and Other Natural Goodies Water Cover from Predators or Habitat Foliage Nest Sites

Other natural goodies

Bluebird Nest Box Placement If you have open space for a garden you probably have enough space for a bluebird nest site Key may be to have the nest box about six feet or more away from heavy cover Facing East is best Five and half to six feet high

The male house hunts early 12/27/2010 The male house hunts early

Female is the decision maker 1/6/2011 Female is the decision maker

Yes, that is ice and there are Bluebird Polar Bear Clubs. A “honeymoon” period Yes, that is ice and there are Bluebird Polar Bear Clubs.

Nest building stars later. 3/17/2011 Nest building stars later.

3/25/2011 7:24 am Predator Attack

3/25/2022 7:24 am

3/25/2011 7:32 am Wing Waving Celebration after the predator has been driven off

3/25/2011 7:32 Calm Returns

House Keeping

4/30/2011 11:28 am

4/30/2011 11:28 am Most young bluebirds leave the nest or fledge between 15 and 18 days of age

Wildlife Mapping is Being Used by Many States Your wildlife observation post can be your backyard Can help monitor population shifts Need training (Contact Bill Fox 338 8989) or www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlifemapping Can be used for tracking of population shifts ( Bluebirds, Evening Grosbeaks and others)

Great Backyard Bird Count www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ Feb. 15 t0 18, 2013

Photography Point and shoot cameras can be used for stills and bird identification Digital Single Lens Reflex camera is needed for birds in flight Scopes with camera for close ups in the wild Some people like to use videos Uneven light and focusing are common problems

Bluebird half in sun Note that the wing in direct sunlight has the color washed out in the photo

Bluebird Nest Cycle The End

Appendix

Presentation Principles Pleasurable Relevant Organized Thematic Stop before saturation point Good story: beginning, middle, end

Backyard Birding Outline How to Attract-Focus Better Enjoy and Appreciate Your Local Habitat How to Attract Birds-Focus on Needs (Seasonal) Food Water Predator Protection (Cover) Nest Sites

The Exposure Triangle + One Typical Speeds 1/640 + sec for sports 1/100 sec normal people 1/1000 + sec flying birds Low F-Stop Reduces DOF Needs less Light Aids auto focus Shutter Speed Camera Low ISO needs more light Reduces electronic noise ISO (Media Speed) Camera Processor Aperture (F-Stop) Lens Exposure Compensation=0 at 18% grey