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First of all, to be the man of the house in a bluebird world you have to be good looking. Looks may not be everything, but especially in the beginning, it is very imprtant. |
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Then, you have to find a desirable house. Personally, I prefer early American barnboard architecture, like this unit. Now, if I can just find someone who likes both me and it. |
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Hmmn! He's kinda cute. I love the light gray side walls in contrast with this beautifully dark charcoal weathered door. The entrance way is perfect, and the rook is, well, adequate. |
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Now, looking to the outside. |
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The neighbors are far enough away to minimize gender competetion. That is so stressful. |
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Other neighbors are around and making a racket, but it is tolerable. |
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There is a tree farmer that comes around and plants these things called chestnuts in mineral soil. This time of year we are insect eaters, so we aren't to interested in that. |
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Besides, he puts these tubes overtop of them to keep the creatures from eating them. We will have to tell the kids to stay out of them. Bluebirds like to go down into holes you know. It could be very tough to get back out of there. |
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This one has a red oak in it. Once the tree is this high, it is no longer a dangerous situation for us or the kids. |
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These are chestnuts that were started at the tree farmers home in these cartons. That is very labor intensive. He's nuts for doing that. He thinks it is neat because this is an attempt to restore the American chestnut. It was nearly wiped out by the chestnut blight in the 1930's. These American/Chinese (75/25%) backcrossed off-spring may have some resistance to the blight. |
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Oh, yes, the neighborhood. Well there are some onlookers that are nosy. But, I guess they are more curious than anything. |
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Others may be harmless now, but when they grow up, I don't think we will get along. However, wherever you locate, you are going to have that trouble. |
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Periodically there is traffic passing by on the adjacent road. |
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Sometimes they do get off the road long enough to do some foraging. |
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Those big staring eyes do have a tendency to make you uncomfortable. |
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But then they move on. |
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The redbud in the woods doesn't bloom very long, but when it is there, it is pretty. |
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The fire pink is beautiful. |
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The jack-in-the-pulpit is a delight. |
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OK, it is a deal, let's turn this house into a home. |
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Here is some nesting material. |
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I love hitting that hole on the wing. |
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This is called wing wave. It is to let other males know that they better not even think about it. She's mine. Oh, she's mine. |
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And, if there is anyone looking from that direction, she's mine. |
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Now we are into the routine. "Sweetheart, don't you think that last grass should go a little more to your left?"
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