A record 864 bluebirds were reported seen in 52 counties during the Florida Bluebird Society’s 2015 Statewide Spring Blitz.
The count, taken from reports submitted to the FBS and from sightings reported on ebird.org, is 337 more than the previous Spring Blitz high of 527 reported in the 2011, the first year for which records are available, and more than double the 411 bluebirds reported during the 2013 Spring Blitz.
The Statewide Spring Blitz is held to help determine where bluebirds are found in Florida during the nesting season. The FBS also sponsors a statewide Fall Blitz in November in an effort to learn what habitat bluebirds use and where they are found during the non-breeding season.
Seventy-five bluebirds were reported seen in Duval, the most for any county. Leon County was second, with 72 bluebirds reported seen, and Citrus County was third, with 59. Duval County also had 26 reports, the most from any county.
Bluebirds were reported seen for the first time during either the Spring or Fall Blitzes in three counties. The counties and bluebirds reported were: Calhoun, nine; Holmes, eight, and Lafayette, 13.
No bluebirds have been reported in past years in either the Spring or Fall Blitzes in three counties – Broward, St. Lucie and Union.
Twelve counties which reported bluebirds seen in past Spring or Fall Blitzes, but from which no reports were received for the 2015 Spring Blitz were: Columbia, DeSoto, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hendry, Indian River, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and Washington.
Click here to view the Spring 2015 Statewide Bluebird Blitz result map. To view all Blitz results by County click here.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Spring blitz. Your eyes and ears are vital to the FBS. We depend on dedicated individuals like you to help us gather this information.
I hope you will participate again in the fall.
My husband built a small birdhouse and put it on our 7′ wooden fence. We are on our third batch of bluebirds nesting in it. When the last batch came out there were 2 babies fluttering around. Mama is now feeding another new batch of babies but unknown how many this time. They are a beautiful bird and love watching them flying back and forth to feed the young. The birdhouse has ony been up a little over a year here in Spring Hill, Florida.
Peggy,
Congratulations on your bluebirds. Sounds like you have had a great nesting season.
It’s wonderful to hear from fellow bluebird enthusiasts.
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to check out our section on mounting nestboxes on poles, with predator guards. A little bit safer than mounting on the fence, where a cat, or racoon, or snake might get into the box. Thankfully, it sounds like you have been lucky this year.
They are a beautiful bird. And they seem to bring so much joy to so many people. Like you!
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us.
We look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Best wishes,
Cheri Martin-Spray
Oh I am just sick about our latest Bluebird nesting. I discovered this morning that our cat killed the male Bluebird of a current nesting pair. I am so sorry that not really knowing we have mounted in on a tree. We have had a successful Bluebird family a couple of years ago but none since. I am suspecting numerous predators. My question is can the female raise the eggs on her own and what can I do to help at this point. I am not sure there are any eggs or fledglings in the nest at this time. I am planning to keep the cat contained. Any comment or advice appreciated.