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Eastern Bluebird
(Sialia sialis)

Management Prescriptions

Management treatments should address the habitat components that are determined to be limiting eastern bluebird habitat potential. For planning purposes, select among the possible action items listed below to raise the quality or availability of each habitat component determined to be limiting. A list of programs that may provide financial or technical assistance to carry out specific management practices is provided.

Habitat Component Management options for increasing habitat quality or availability Assistance Programs
Food Plant, preserve, and encourage berry-producing trees, shrubs, and vines (see plant species list insert). WHIP, EQIP, PFW, CRP
  Maintain grassy and open field areas by conducting rotational mowing and managed grazing where appropriate. WHIP, EQIP, PFW, CRP
Nesting and brood-rearing cover Install artificial nesting boxes in open field areas. WHIP, PFW
  Preserve large live and dead-standing hardwood trees conducive to natural cavities in and adjacent to open field areas. N/A
  Preserve snags, wooden fence posts, and rotten tree stumps conducive to natural cavities. Girdle nonmast-producing hardwoods to create snags. N/A
Winter cover Plant, preserve, and encourage berry-producing trees, shrubs, and vines (see plant species list insert). WHIP, EQIP, PFW, CRP
  Preserve old growth timber, including both large, live and dead standing hardwood trees, conducive to natural cavities in and adjacent to open field areas. WHIP, PFW
  Preserve snags, wooden fence posts, and rotten tree stumps conducive to natural cavities. N/A
Interspersion and minimum habitat size Combine above prescriptions to increase interspersion of habitat components or size of habitat blocks available. WHIP, CRP, PFW, EQIP

Landowners interested in making their individual efforts more valuable to the community can work with WHC and NRCS to involve school and scout groups and their families in habitat projects. A bluebird management project is an easy way to provide fun, hands-on learning opportunities, especially for children. If the land is corporate owned, encourage interested employees to become involved. Involve students or scouts in building and monitoring nest boxes. The educational benefits can greatly increase the value of your individual bluebird management project.

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