Bluebirds

In this activity, participants will learn all about bluebirds--their diet, lifecycle, mating habits, and nesting preferences.  They'll also gain an understanding of the habitats where they live and have an opportunity to build a bluebird nesting box.

This lesson works well with activities highlighting the positive impact humans can have on their surrounding environment through different kinds of conservation and restoration projects. Birds are good indicators for measuring a watershed's overall health, and by installing bluebird nesting boxes, participants can take action for a healthier environment and a healthier Chesapeake Bay watershed. 

This resource has been designed as a multi-part presentation for a class or an after-school club/scouting group for students in late Elementary School through Middle School.  To adapt this resource for alternative formats and audiences, see our suggestions for Adaptations.

Concepts to Explore

Bluebirds are “more than just a pretty bird.” Some years ago their population plummeted due to habitat loss primarily caused by humans. In response the North American Bluebird Society was formed to educate the public about preserving bluebird habitats. Simultaneously the public became more aware of environmental problems affecting the whole Earth. Because of their attractiveness to humans and the success bluebirds have experienced due to human efforts to preserve their habitat, studying bluebirds can lead to increased awareness of other environmental issues and the importance of taking action. A healthy habitat for bluebirds is a healthy habitat for other wildlife, native plants, and the watershed.

• Students will identify and appreciate bluebirds as “more than just a pretty bird.”

• Students will identify bluebird habitat, diet, and lifestyle.

• Students will identify nests and eggs of Eastern Bluebirds and selected nest competitors, as well as nest predators.

• Students will brainstorm ways to help bluebirds thrive.

• Students will be introduced to the concept of a healthy watershed and how it relates to a healthy environment for bluebirds.

• Students will assemble and install a bluebird nest box and will understand the need for nest box monitoring.

Suggested Books to Share with Students

• My Happy Year by E. Bluebird by Paul Meisel and Birds: Discovering North American Species by Shirley C. Raines

Background Resources for Presenter

• UMD Extension Resource 

• Maryland DNR

• USDA

• The Bluebird Book by Don and Lillian Stokes. Little, Brown & Co. 1991

• Bluebird Man - Al Larson Bluebird Recovery Documentary

http://sialis.org/bluebirdstore.htm sources for pre-cut nest boxes if needed 

Hands-On-Activity

Work together to assemble a pre-cut wooden nest box.

Optional Outdoor Activity

Attach the nest box to a pre-positioned stake outside. Review placement considerations with students.

Reflection

Don’t forget to ask your participants what they learned and how they can use their knowledge to take action for a healthy watershed!  

* Stewards may check out a box containing materials for this lesson.

Directions

1. Exploration: Before session begins, encourage students to explore the book display and completed nest box. Begin with brief assessment of students’ existing familiarity with bluebirds. Present the objectives and vocabulary words for the session. 

2. Further Exploration: Follow prompts in the Slides presentation (or on the reverse of the printed graphics) to share information on bluebird diet, lifestyle, and nesting preferences. Create a mindmap to demonstrate connections between an optimal environment for bluebirds with a healthy watershed.

3. Hands-on-Activity: Play the Sialis Bluebird Habitat activity 

4. Continued Exploration Outside, Optional Session Two:  Start with brief review of whatever the children wish to share about what they learned or remember from Session One. Brainstorm ideas to help bluebirds avoid predators and competitors, and to thrive in their local habitat. Assemble nest box and go outside to install it.

5. Reflection: Ask students for their impressions of the session(s). What have they learned? How can they take action?

Suggested Reflection Prompts for Different Age Groups

• 2-5: Where do bluebirds build their nests? How can we help them find good nesting sites?  (They are cavity nesters. We can provide and monitor nesting boxes.)

• Middle and High School:  What do bluebirds need to be successful? (food, shelter) What are the components of a healthy watershed? (unpolluted natural filtration areas, clean water) Are they related? (yes!)

• Mixed Age / Families: we recommend drawing questions from our examples so that everyone will be able to participate.

Sample Lesson Plan

Bluebirds: More Than Just a Pretty Bird Sample Lesson - click the link to see a sample lesson by Watershed Steward Martha Sykora. 

General Suggestions

Program could be presented in two sessions as written: one longer session indoors and one shorter session  to assemble and install nest box(es). If the students seem like they need the active Bluebird Habitat Activity sooner after all the “formal” instruction then the mindmap activity could be saved for the second session. 

Adaptations for Different Audiences

• Middle School:  omit bluebird habitat activity; present as one session

• High School:  omit bluebird habitat activity; present as one session. If time and equipment permits show Bluebird Man - Al Larson Bluebird Recovery Documentary (27 mins)

• Mixed Age / Families: Depending on session length, could do the Bluebird Habitat activity, or show Bluebird Man - Al Larson Bluebird Recovery Documentary In addition, families could be given the nest box plans to make and install some on their own.

Adaptations for Different Formats

• Indoor Classroom Setting: show an  example but omit assembling and installing nest box.

• Outdoor Classroom Setting: use physical props instead of showing the Slides document.

• Program for a Small Audience (10 or less): as written.

• Program for a Medium Audience (up to 20): have additional nest boxes prepared for assembly and installation. 

• Presentation for a Large Audience (more than 20, not as interactive or hands on): as for indoor setting, show example but omit assembling and installing nest boxes.

• Program with a Club - Could be used to help fulfill Scouting badge requirements.

• Table at a Community Event or Festival: display finished nest boxes with some of the printed graphics; give reference for where lesson plan details can be found on AAWSA site.

• Steward Capstone Project: could be presented at after-school, Scout, or library program.

General Resources

Fact Sheets and Plans from the North American Bluebird Society (NABS) - everything you need to know about Bluebirds and building many different styles of nestboxes

Eastern Bluebird: General Information (USDA, Wildlife Habitat Council) - includes nesting box design, materials, predator guard, and a monitoring data sheet

The Eastern Bluebird: More Than Just a Pretty Bird (University of Maryland)

Key Terms

• Habitat

• Nesting Cavity

• Nesting Box

• Ventilation

• Monitor

• Brood

• Perch

• Competitor

• Predator

• Integrated pest management (IPM)

• Watershed

Building and Mounting a Nest Box

How to Build and Mount a Nest Box - pulls together information from several different sources, and provides guidance for a group building multiple boxes

Mounting a Nestbox (nestboxbuilder.com) - overview of many different mounting options

Best Practices to Follow When Installing Nest Structures

Plan for a Stovepipe Predator Baffle

Design for a Children's Eastern Bluebird Nest Box (North American Bluebird Society)

Children's Bluebird Activity Book - A 40-page guide from Montana with great resources, images, and activities about the bluebirds that live across North America.

How to Start Birding with Your Kids - Tips on getting started for birding with kids with a link to a great Beginner's Bird Scavenger Hunt.

Get to Know Birds from Audubon Adventures - Colorful three-page guide offering great tips for kids who want to observe birds in the field.

Celebrate Urban Birds Kit from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Celebrate Urban Birds is a citizen science project focused on better understanding the value of green spaces for birds.  A Spanish Language Version of their kit is available here.