Bluebirds

On a day much like today in Atlanta - sunny, low 70s, light wind - I was hiking one of the small ridges that sits astride the North and South Carolina line near Charlotte. Climbing out of one of the steep ravines and reaching the highest point on the trail, I was surrounded suddenly by thousands of bluebirds moving through the woods and brush. The show continued for twenty minutes as wave after chattering wave passed by. In the 33 years since that encounter, only one event compares with it: seeing eight or ten bald eagles in a tree next to a convenience store in Anchorage. We were leaving for a tour and some of the folks wanted to stop for snacks before we left town. As we pulled into the parking lot, someone - obviously a lower 48 type - said, "Hey, are those bald eagles?" The driver said something like, "Yeah, happens all the time here." Amazing.

Today's happening was on a much smaller, but significant scale. Two bluebirds presented themselves in our woods. They're the first I've seen since 2007 when several pairs found our woods made nice accommodations for raising a new family. This pair spent an hour scoping out apartments in a small dead tree trunk about 50 feet from my patio. First, the male would inspect the premises, then look inquiringly toward the female in a nearby branch. After a few minutes, he would fly to a neutral branch; she would inspect, then fly to her neutral branch. They would meet to discuss on yet another branch, then repeat the cycle. Again. And again. The setting sun made it hard to follow their house hunting and soon they disappeared over our ridge. Will the rising sun lead them to return and make a home in our tree? Tomorrow's weather will be ideal for moving in.