The following three species of North American Bluebirds, all members of the Thrush family, were in trouble:

• The Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis
• The Mountain Bluebird, Sialia currucoides
• The Western Bluebird, Sialia mexicana

They've lost their habitat. Being a cavity nester, bluebirds acutely felt the highly aggressive competition of introduced European species, the European Starling and the House Sparrow (English Sparrow).

To add to the nesting woes, people cut down trees to make way for urban sprawl. In the country, farmers installed metal posts as replacement for old wooden fenceposts, which contained nesting cavities.

With its gentle ways, beautiful song and colors of the sky, the bluebird won the heart of many people, who experimented with designs of nestboxes for them.

The eastern bluebird needs a hole exactly 1.5 inches in diameter, the other bluebird species slightly larger.

MONITORING, checking the boxes regularly to insure success, and HABITAT, the proper placing of the box, are the two most important factors in successful bluebirding.

People can provide nestboxes along country roads and in rural yards. Bluebirds prefer open areas with short grass — away from wooded and brushy areas which attract the people-friendly, but aggressive House Wren.

People must also consider other predators, such as house cats and raccoons. That's why it's a good idea to use predator guards on the nestbox poles.

Various designs of bluebird boxes offer varying levels of safety to bluebirds. You can obtain a box plan that provides optimal safety by contacting the Conservation Guardians or the North American Bluebird Society (NABS).

The Natural Area Guardians began a Bluebird Recovery Program in 1991 with just 25 boxes. Since then, the number of bluebirders has expanded. Thanks to the efforts of many volunteers, the bluebird population in the county has increased significantly.