Blue Plate Special
by Nava Thompson
Title
Blue Plate Special
Artist
Nava Thompson
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
(Published in Arkansas Living Magazine)A photo taken by Nava Jo Thompson of the Blue bird parents bringing breakfast to their babies. This Blue bird house is with third brood of the year.
Mountain BluebirdBluebirds are territorial and prefer open grassland with scattered trees. This is similar to the behaviour of many species of woodpecker. Bluebirds can typically produce between two and four broods during the spring and summer (March through August in the Northeastern United States). Males identify potential nest sites and try to attract prospective female mates to those nesting sites with special behaviors that include singing and flapping wings, and then placing some material in a nesting box or cavity. If the female accepts the male and the nesting site, she alone builds the nest and incubates the eggs.......Predators of young bluebirds in the nests can include snakes, cats and raccoons. Non-native and native bird species competing with bluebirds for nesting locations include the Common Starling, American Crow, and House Sparrow, which take over the nesting sites of bluebirds, killing young and smashing eggs and probably killing adult bluebirds.......Bluebirds are attracted to platform bird feeders, filled with grubs of the darkling beetle, sold by many online bird product wholesalers as mealworms. Bluebirds will also eat raisins soaked in water. In addition, in winter bluebirds use backyard heated birdbaths..........IIn the 1970s, bluebird numbers had declined by estimates ranging to 70% due to unsuccessful competition with house sparrows and starlings, both introduced species, for nesting cavities, coupled with a decline in habitat. However, in late 2005 Cornell University's Laboratory of Ornithology reported bluebird sightings across the southern U.S. as part of its yearly Backyard Bird Count, a strong indication of the bluebird's return to the region. This upsurge can largely be attributed to a movement of volunteers establishing and maintaining bluebird trails.
Uploaded
June 20th, 2012
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Viewed 739 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/20/2024 at 10:50 PM
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Comments (35)
Debbie Portwood
Oh Nava!! I Love this wonderful capture!! I do so wish I could attract some Bluebirds!! f/l/p!!! :D
Nava Thompson replied:
Debbie---thank you very much! We have 3 Bluebird houses---but they only used two this year--they need to be done a certain way.
Brooks Garten Hauschild
Another wonderful image, Nava! Love your title, as always. Great capture. L.
Randy Rosenberger
I truly love this fine submission to our WFS group site, and am honored to FEATURE this fine piece of work on our FEATURED ARTWORK page of our HOMEPAGE. It is my pleasure to promote your great artworks on our site, as our family of friends and fine artists here in the WFS group are among the best on FAA!
Karol Livote
Beautiful capture, Nava Great title too!! :>) F&V
Nava Thompson replied:
Hi Karol! Thank you--appreciate your comments and f/v! Are you still having deer close by?
Randy Rosenberger
Absolutely marvelous capture of this avian magic, Nava, and the colors and details and movement all add to make this a masterpiece of avian action and attraction. Just love this beauty! fave and vote
Nava Thompson replied:
Thank you Randy! Hoping to have several more new baby Bluebirds--have several in the oven now. Thank you much for your comments and fave / vote!!
Craig Wood
A nice story in a single frame. Very well done, as usual, Nava Jo. V/F
Nava Thompson replied:
Oh--I like your comment Craig--'A nice story in a single frame.' Thank you for the v/f!
JOHN TELFER
Nava Jo, Great shot with such amazing details in the bird house and the birds themselves, along with the great colors captured in the birds. Excellent processing of blurring out the background to make the main subject stand out. Excellent shot, fav, voted, google and tweet promoted
Nava Thompson replied:
Wow--John thank you for the generous comments and promotion---the fave/vote/g and tweet. Much appreciated :)