Country Birder... and Butterflies

	Eastern Bluebird female.  I observe Eastern Bluebirds generally year-round in Central Indiana, and a winter thaw brings them out in numbers to forage for insects emerging in the warmth.  Central Indiana - May 12, 2008
	Eastern Bluebird female.  Note the coloring of the female in these photos.  She is just as pretty as the more richly colored male, but her blue is a dusky color -- perhaps appearing gray in some light.  And her breast is not as deeply colored as the male. Central Indiana - June 22, 2008
	Eastern Bluebird male.  Note the more vivid coloring of the male in this photo compared to the females above.  Central Indiana - June 22, 2008
	Eastern Bluebird male.  It's interesting that while I could hear Bluebirds in the distance, they did not come to the yard regularly until I planted a number of seedling trees and shrubs around 3'-5' in height, and we installed the fence for the horse pasture with post heights of around 4'.  From my observation, it seems the bluebirds use structures at these heights as vantage points for insect foraging, swooping down from one point to grab their prey, then hopping back up to the next vantage point structure.  If you keep a garden, try putting stakes, tomato cages, or other stable structure around 3-5' high and invite the bluebirds to dine on unwanted insects. Central Indiana - June 22, 2008
	Eastern Bluebird male.  Central Indiana - June 30, 2008
	Eastern Bluebird male.  Central Indiana - June 30, 2008
	Eastern Bluebird male.  Central Indiana - June 30, 2008
	Eastern Bluebird male and female.  Central Indiana - June 30, 2008

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