We have a “gang” of bluebirds in our neighborhood that frequent our yard on a regular basis. I call them a gang not in a negative sense, but because they work together as a group. Usually there are at least a half dozen or so and sometimes as many as ten or twelve can be spotted together.
They are easy to spot this time of year when the trees and flowers are dormant. On a dreary, winter day, the electric blue of their feathers stands out like a little blue jewel with wings. Plus, I think the guys must be trying to impress the gals before nesting takes place.
From our dining room bay window, we can sit and watch them as they hang out in our front yard. We have several barberry bushes that they love to steal berries from this time of year and a big concrete bird bath that they drink and bathe in.
And here is where they work together…one or two will be in the bushes or on the fountain and the others will sit patiently on the electric line above acting as sentinels for the group. At the first sign of a human or animal presence, the alert is given and all will fly off to safety in our neighbor’s holly bush or move on to another yard. Sometimes one may be lookout on top of one of our birdhouses or oak trees, but usually you can find them on the electric line with a watchful eye.
They also like to play together. We can watch them after a rain playing in our neighbor’s gutters. They drink and splash and chase each other around on the roof. I am not sure if this gang is a family unit or if they are just pals, I am by no means a bird expert. But they obviously benefit from being together and we benefit from being able to enjoy their company through the window.
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