2. How did you become interested in Bluebirds?
1. Read about them first, then saw one in my area.
2. Have a long-standing interest in birds in general. Have an ideal location (big field, woods edge) for the blues to nest. Built a box, put it up, watched them move in: I was hooked.
3. Saw one at the farm, was hooked immediately.
4. I have always loved the bluebirds. They nested in a little ceramic birdhouse that my mother had on the clothesline pole when I was a little child (many years ago). My mother held me up so I could peek inside and see the babies. Decades later when I moved to a rural area I saw bluebirds, so I put up my first nestbox and became a "bluebirder".
5. A dozen of them showed up at my heated birdbath one winter, prompting me to get a nestbox for the following spring. I only had a house wren nesting that year, but the next year I had Bluebirds, and I got hooked.
6. One day I was sitting on my back porch in Oklahoma during a particularly difficult time in my life and I saw this beautiful cobalt blue bird land on my fench, and I had never seen one like it before...I asked my father-n-law, and he said "that's a blue bird", and I said, no not a blue jay, and he said, I know...so I looked them up, went to Wal-Mart and proceeded to by a box, mounted it on my back fench (BIG mistake) and that bird brought a female and they laid a 5-egg nest...Although I lost that entire first brood to a snake after the first baby hatched, I have learned a lot, fell in love with these birds and am now in 4th season...Finding them, I think, was a divine encounter!
7. The nature center offered me a summer job checking the trail at the state park.
8. Just love the way they are. A collegue in school made boxes for a club with the kids about 18 years ago and I made one too. Have been birding ever since,
9. My sister has been backyard bluebirding so I put out a house to see if I could get any. first sighting was June 15 and today I have 4 babies.
10. 1) Biology classes in college and 2) Picked it up as a hobby where I could also take our youngsters.
11. Making a bluebird box to attract tree swallows away from a purple martin house. A city park nature program established a bluebird trail and requested volunteers
12. bought a place with boxes and birds
13. just by watching them in my backyard
14. i had never seen a blue bird, but came accross a home made box for $5. i got one for me and my friend. a tree swallow was the first to make a nest. i thought is this a blue bird?? the sparrows killed it. then i found this site and the mono filaments.
15. Moved to rural Maryland from New York, found interest in bird varieties, learned then decided to help bluebirds. Local bluebirder (expert) Betty Nichols taught me step-by-step
16. A boyfriend some years ago had a few boxes.
17. We moved from NYC to the country. Now one of my favorite things to do is sit on the deck and watch the animals & birds. As I learned more about the birds, I became interested in setting up birdbird houses.
18. From childhood. Just love birds.
19. From the gardenweb forum.
20. I remembered bluebirds from my youth and was sad that I no longer saw them as an adult. Then one day a beautiful blue appeared in my yard and I determined to do everything I could to help him.
21. Interested in ALL birds and wildlife. Host not only Eastern Bluebirds but also Purple Martins, Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows, Chimney Swifts unused/uncapped chimney), Mockers, Carolina Chickadees, etc. Landscaping planned with native birds in mind.
22. I saw one in my backyard when we moved to Powell. I had never seen one before. They were beautiful. I learned I could attract them with a nestbox and was hooked.
23. I was given a wren box years ago, put it in a tree and eastern bluebirds arrived and nested. It was the first time in my life I'd seen an eastern bluebird. So I read everything I could on bluebirds and, of course, changed boxes and how they are hung.
24. 13 years ago when I moved here on one acre in the middle of about 60 wooded acres with 5 or 6 surrounded clear acres and saw my first EABL!
25. During the horrible storm of 1993 (Blizzard) in Georgia, I found a dead male bluebird after all the snow (24 inches) melted. This happened in March of '93. Until this happened, I did not even realize there were bluebirds around here. Guilt overcame me as I wondered if the bird had a box, he could have survived the wind and snow.
26. I was invited to our BB club meeting by a friend. I bought a BB box from our President and put it up around the middle of July four years ago. I got a family of 5 BB babies right away that fledged. From then on I was hooked.
27. As a birder who lived in the city suburbs, I dreamed of one day living in the country and having bluebirds nest in my box that was always used by chickadees. Eventually that dream came true and then some. I now have 6 boxes on my three acres and monitor 25 others. I am surrounded by bluebirds.
28. I noticed a lot of them wintering in Brooksville, florida and thought they would all go north. When some stayed I put up some houses for them and other birds and got lucky with a pair.
29. I have been feeding birds for a long time because my Mom got me into it. Then I heard about our local park making some bluebird boxes to attrack these birds. I kept my eyes and ears opened and decided to try to attract them because I actually saw one in my neighborhood one day as I was out jogging. The rest is history!
30. I have a cabin 75 miles from home and have seen bb around for years, I put up a nesting box last year,early this spring I saw a flock of about 30 males. One brood of 5 or 6 has already fledged. As of last weekend, 5 eggs in the nest. We are really getting hooked and have been feeding them mealworms, and now raising mealworms.
31. I put a box up because, doesn't everyone want bluebirds? Five years later, they nested in that "unfit" box and then I became a serious (obsessive) bluebirder and set up a safe nesting box, pole mounted and baffled and have been a bluebird lover since! :)
32. I am a biologist studying cavity nesting birds
33. They found me when we were building our house. I fell in love with them.
34. Moved into a new subdivison and saw my very first bluebird EVER!!!!
35. One day a few years back my mom said I'd like to have bluebirds. I went and bought us both a box and did not even install correctly(baffles,etc.). I've learned a lot since.
36. I have been intersted in ALL birds for over 50 years and began working with bluebirds when we moved to an area where they were plentiful
37. The first time I saw a Bluebird I said I would like to have some in my year.
38. I have always been a bird lover from childhood.Once I saw a birthday card with the picture of bluebirds.They looked beautiful.I asked everyone where I could find this bird and NO One knew.I went on a search.Finally found the bird in my yard 10 years ago.
39. I remember seeing bluebirds one time as a child and my mom got so excited and said they were a promise of happiness. I don't believe I had seen one again until recently. After moving into my current home 18 months ago, one day I saw a flash of blue and knew bluebirds were around. I started immediately reading everything I could and preparing to have a nestbox this spring. This is my first year.
40. Saw them in field near house and became addicted to bluebird forum on internet.
41. A Bluebird trail and monitoring of that trail are things that can be done to meet two of the requirements for a wildlife tax evaluation of our rual property.
42. Moved back to the country after living in the city for many, many years. Put up a BB house and immediately a family moved in. When I lost the momma and 4 eggs to a raccoon one night, I became much more determined and protective toward providing safer BB housing.
43. I saw a beautiful, blue bird, bathing in my birdbath fourteen years ago. I looked it up in my guide, and learned it was a male Western Bluebird. I went to WBU and bought a nestbox. The rest is history.
44. Back in about 1984, having not laid eyes on one in decades, and supposing that they were gone for good, I saw one in our yard in CT and put up one house. Bluebirds took it the same day, but were ousted by House Wrens. I was too busy and too ignorant, so I gave up. In 1989, having retired to NH, I saw another, and I've been a Bluebirder ever since, now monitoring 72 boxes.
45. I saw a pair in my yard, so my DH is into woodworking, built me some birdhouses. A pair of blues nested in the box...been reading everything I can get my hands on.
46. Was asked to put a few boxes out on Golf Course. Put one at my house which borders Course and got BB. Didn't think Course was properly monitored so started monitoring myself. Added several boxes and now have fifteen out.
47. One sunny winter morning while walking my dog a bright blue bird flew by and the absolute beauty of this bird against the snow stunned me. When I returned home I did research on the bird and decided I would do everything in my power to help repopulate this beauty. I've been blue birding for 5 years.
48. My brother-in-law is an avid birder. I listened to him, then put up some nest boxes. When I got my first pair of Eastern Bluebirds that year, I was hooked. They are so beautiful. It makes me feel good to provide nest boxes for them, since so many of their natural cavity nest sites have been eliminated.
49. Four years ago I discovered bluebirds nesting in a hollowed out fence post in view of my kitchen window at the farm. I was facinated by thier activties and sweet nature. I put up a real blue bird house for them which they used the next nesting. I now have four active nest boxes and plan to put up at least four more.
50. As a small child, my parents inspired my interest in birds. Large folio bird books were Christmas presents, such as "Birds of the World" and Audubon books.
51. Grandmother got me interested, but never really pursued "birding". Then moved into a house with an established nestbox and was hooked.
52. I had bluebirds nest in my box that I bought for decoration, from then on I was hooked!
53. I saw a pair on my clothesline
54. I've just always loved them as long as I can remember.
55. Participation as a trail monitor, then saw bluebirds at home and put up boxes. Now I'm the trail's manager and have boxes at home.
56. A year ago I bought a birdbath and feeder, then this spring I spotted a bluebird, the first one I had seen here in Louisiana in 24 years. I was so elated I immediately found designs and constructed 2 nestboxes.I also began finding out as much as I could about the bb's. To my surprise and glee I had a bb nesting and laying eggs. The lasttime I checked 2 of her 4 eggs hatched. I have even gone so far as to get a bb tattoo on my shoulder because they have brought me much happiness. I want to help as many as I can.
57. I have fed birds for years. I had never seen a bluebird. Then one winter I had 7 show up to my feeders. I fell in love immediately. I put up nest boxes and have kept them in my yard for the last 2 years.
58. I saw a bluebird land in my own backyard and was facinated at the color of it. Plus I had read Christy Packard's Bluebird article in my areas newsletter also.
59. I saw one. It was up where my trail is now, on family ground. My cabin is there. My husband and I went to an informational meeting on Bluebirds, given by a couple (married) who are officers in our BAN (Bluebirds Across Nebraska) group. We joined and got our first box free, for joining. Then I became county coordinator for 2 counties, after my husband passed away, to help fill my time.
60. By seeing their beauty in the neighborhood
61. referred by friend
62. I have been interested since I was a young child living in Massachusetts. My father built and put up bluebird nestboxes and we had bluebirds nesting. The boxes were eventually taken over by TRES and then HOSP. I renewed my interest once my children were grown and the activities of life slowed down.
63. I'm a wildlife rehabilitator. If you've ever held baby bluebirds in your hand, you're HOOKED!
64. First saw blubirds in 2000 using an improper bird house I put on a tree. They were succesful. After that I started reading about them and making proper housing for them.
65. I saw my first live bluebird when we were building our house. He came to sit on her deck. I decided then and there to attract them to my yard.
66. I bought a house that had a box and saw the bluebirds nest the first year, I knew nothing about what to do so we just watched from the deck and actually saw them fledging, this spring I was looking forward to seeing them again so I got on line to get some info on them..The rest is history! I have 3 boxes now and am having a second nesting.
67. Was interested in helping them repopulate
68. My husband and I moved to a 50 acre farm 3 years ago and bluebirds were abundant! I fell in love with with that first glance of cobalt blue flashing in the sun. here were 3 bluebird nest boxes near the houses at the time we moved, unfortunately, in our ignorance, we let a HOSP nest in one of hte boxes. The next spring, all bluebird boxes were taken over by HOSP. We spent that entire second spring/summer tearing out nests, trapping and destroying HOSP. That winter, I fed mealworms all winter long to three little bluebirds that I had seen down near our stand of woods. This year, we have 3 known pair of bluebirds nesting in three bluebird boxes (complete with predator guards of course) and I see at least one more pair down by the woods. We have put up 2 more bluebird boxes and this evening during a horseback ride, saw a male sitting on top of one of the new nestboxes!
69. My father gave me 2 nestboxes he had built as birthday gifts for me over 10 years ago.
70. I had bird feeders and my In-laws gave me a BB nestbox. I had no knowledge of HOSPs or predator baffles. I have since learned this and have mounted two boxes properly.
71. volunteered to monitor on the golf course

If Yes, what is the further you've ever traveled for birding?

1. Alaska
2. But I always watch when we travel; farthest was Australia
3. Arizona.
4. 50 miles
5. about 100 miles
6. 250 mi or so?
7. 150 miles
8. 400 miles
9. 100 miles
10. Florida
11. About 60 miles.
12. 300 miles
13. 75miles
14. Kearney, NE
15. 2400
16. Costa Rica
17. Haven't yet, but certainly will.
18. Indonesia
19. I bird where I travel. The farthest was Paradise Island, Bahamas
20. 1 hour to a state park for a banding I was permitted to watch, and it is my main reason for looking forward to going to the farm on weekends, 20 miles away.
21. 45 miles
22. 350 mi.
23. Not just for birding, but included in traveling - Arizona and Alaska
24. Just completed a road trip with my daughter and visited 2 bluebird friends, one in Illinois and one in Nebraska!

If yes, which ones?

1. Kalamazoo Nature Center
2. Amer. Assn. Field Ornithologists. Aud. Soc. of Missouri. Inland Bird Banding Assn. Kansas Ornithological Soc. Oklahoma Ornithology Soc.
3. National Wildlife Federation Nature Conservancy
4. bio gems
5. Nature Conservancy, others
6. I am a member of the Ohio Wildlife Center.
7. Audobon Society, National Bluebird Society
8. TNC, Cornell Ornithology, New England Wildlife Society, Elm Watch, Project Native.
9. Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Feeder Watch, TheBirdhouseNetwork, eBird), NWF, Audobon Society, Purple Martin Conservation Association
10. NABS, OBS, PMCA
11. League of Kentucky Sportsmen Harrods Creek Field & Stream
12. Ohio Bluebird Society; Cornell Lab of Ornithology; ABA; Ohio Ornithological Society; Cincinnati Bird Club; Hummer Bird Study Group; Muscatatuck Wildlife Society
13. Nature Conservancy Paskamansett Bird Club(treasurer) New Bedford Garden Club (life member)
14. Central Indiana Purple Martin Asso. Brown County Bluebird Club
15. Audubon,North American Bluebird Society, Tennessee Bluebird Trails
16. Audubon Society. NRDC, NWF, others
17. Cornell lab, Maryland Bluebird Society
18. Too many to recount here
19. Michigan Bluebird Society Ohio Bluebird Society North American Bluebird Society Genesee Audubon Society
20. North American Bluebird Society
21. Texas Bluebird Society
22. Texas Bluebird Society National Bluebird Society Purple Martin Society
23. NWF, Audubon Society
24. Blue Bird Society of Pennsylvania
25. Nature Conservancy, National Arbor Day Society, Audubon, West Wisconsin Land Trust, Wisconsin Bowhunters, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
26. Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, part of the farm has been approved for this program where non native grasses are destroyed *burned* and replaced with natural grass, mowed only in segments every three years, planting wild life cooridors consisting not only of native plants for protection while traveling but provide berries for winter feeding. Dead wood brush piles for bunnies and ground birds, and watering holes. A segment of pine trees for cover and natural forest.
27. Audobon
28. Cornell, Bluebirds Across Nebraska (BAN)
29. Nature Conservancy, Carolina Raptor Center, North Carolina Beach Buggy Association, Audubon,
30. National Wildlife World Wildlife Audubon Cornell Lab. of O.
31. National Wildlife Association Georgia Wildlire Association Atlanta Audubon Society Nature Conservancy Cornell Ornithology Lab (and TBN)
32. The Nature Conservancy National Wildlife Federation
33. when I wa in Colorado I was a member of the mineralogical society, and we are members of GPA (Gold Prospectors)
34. North American Bluebird Society
35. NABS, MD Bluebird Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

If yes, which ones?

1. Birder's World, Birds & Blooms
2. Birds & Blooms
3. National Geographic if that counts?
4. Purple Martin Conservation Assn.
5. birds and blooms
6. birds and bloom
7. Wildbird
8. Birds and Blooms
9. Cornell's magazine
10. Birdwatchers Digest; Journals of above org's
11. Kentucky Outdoors
12. Birding, Birders Digest; Backyard Bird News
13. Birds & Blooms and Wildbird
14. Birds & Blooms
15. Wild Bird, Bird Watcher's Digest
16. Birds & Blooms which I am going to cancel
17. Why not list them in your next query so that we can check mark those which are applicable
18. birds and blooms
19. Birds and Blooms; Missouri Conservationist
20. Birder's World, Bird Watcher's Digest
21. Birds&blooms
22. Birding
23. Living bird, Wild Bird, Bird Watcher's Digest, Audubon, Birds and Blooms
24. Birders World, Birds and Blooms
25. Birds and blooms, Audobon
26. birds&blooms
27. Bird Watcher's Digest
28. Birds and Bloom
29. Wildbird, Bird Watchers Digest Birders World
30. Bird Watcher's Digest, Audubon, National Wildlife, Living Bird
31. Birders World
32. Birds & Blooms
33. husband gets fish and stream
34. Birds &Bloom