Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 23:38:38 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Mike Callahan Subject: Re: "Attack" bluebird MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Rick, Your Bluebird is a good thing. Bluebirds that act in this way by buzzing people who monitor nesting boxes are ones that are aggressive enough to stand their ground to and fend of English House Sparrows. I have only seen this happen a handful of times over the past 15 years of while monitoring bluebird boxes. It happened to me this spring in Spencerville, Montgomery County while I was banding nestlings with Andy and Dianne Aguilera who monitor the trail at Cedar Ridge Community Church. Usually they buzz or hit the highest point of your body, so wearing a hat or holding a stick over your head keeps them at bay. This Spencerville male was the most aggressive bluebird I have ever experienced and for just reason. They are always being harassed by house sparrows and on this former farm property. In 2000 they were observed chasing off sparrows away form boxes near to theirs. This male buzzed our heads and even went between my face and the underside of my wide brimmed straw hat. I didn't see him coming until it was literally in my face and the wind form his wings blew across my face. It was a little nervie to band the young and be hit in the head at the same time. I was more concerned about this bird than some of the raptors I have banded. So be happy your "Attack Bluebird" is around. Because of him you should not have to worry about harassment of the nest by house sparrows. Naturally, Mike Callahan Howard County Bird Club raptorsrule@juno.com On Thu, 2 Aug 2001 20:06:29 EDT Rick Sussman writes: > Hi all, > Has anyone else experienced this: I've got a bluebird box on a 4x4 > wooden > post, close to a hedgerow, but facing a large expanse of grass, > willows > surrounding a small pond, etc.,; in short, perfect bluebird habitat. > After > the Tree Swallow fledged their brood, I cleaned the nest out, and in > moved > the bluebirds. They had a number of eggs, though I couldn't get > close enough > to the box to see how many without the male swooping in on my head > (though it > never actually hit me). The young have hatched, and should fledge > any day, > but the male has expanded his "war zone" to anywhere within about > 75-100 feet > of the nest. When me or my neighbor walk our dogs nearby, the bird > buzzes at > them, and yesterday, I merely walked around the corner with the dog > and the > male came at me low and fast. If I didn't know better, I'd swear > he'd taken > attack lessons from a goshawk! I really hope the young fledge soon; > it's > getting ridiculous (sort of amusing too, I have to admit). When he > swoops, he > makes a clapping sound with his wings, very audible. I don't know > whether > this is made by clapping them above (or perhaps below) his body. > Anyone else ever experience an "attack bluebird" ? My only other > experience > with them was a more normal pair that let me examine the box/young > regularly. > > Rick Sussman > Ashton,MD > warblerick@aol.com > > ======================================================================= > To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to > listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com > with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey > ======================================================================= ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================