Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 29, 1994 TAG: 9405270088
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Patricia Held
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
There is nothing that stands out as well in a forest full of green, an overgrown field or in the tall grasses along a stream, than a bright blue bird. Yet most of our beautiful blue birds seem to go unnoticed.
Take a look in a wet area. Around a pond or lake edge, or along a stream, the graceful great blue heron can usually be found. This long-necked, long-legged beauty is as common here in our freshwater lakes and stream as it is in salt-water areas. Watch this giant-sized bird wade slowly through the shallows in search of fish, or sit with its head hunched over on its shoulders.
The kingfisher is another great fisherman. Recognize this bird as it dives head-first into the water, and in flight by its deep and irregular wing beat and big head.
Barn swallows nest in barns and in other open buildings as well as beneath bridges and under overhangs. They have a metallic blue cast to their backs, and orange underparts. Their color and their deeply forked tail differentiate them from their swallow cousins. Barn swallows are known as master craftsmen, especially when it comes to building their nests. They are insect eaters and fly endlessly about catching insects on the wing for themselves and their young.
Purple martins are well-known for their insect-eating habits. In fact, some people call them "skeeter-eaters" because of their fondness for the biting bugs. Purple martins have long been appreciated as natural insect controls. They are cavity nesters and can easily be attracted to man-made nest boxes. Because they will next in large communities, they utilize apartment-style nest boxes that may attract dozens of birds. Their glossy blue-black color and swooping flight pattern as they soar about in search of insects is truly a sight to see.
The blue-gray gnatcatcher is an elegant blue-backed bird with a long tail. This bird, as well as the black-throated blue warbler, seems to sneak in each spring and stay the summer to breed in our rich woodlands. Then, just as quietly, they are gone to spend the winter in a warmer spot.
Another summer resident is the indigo bunting. Found in hedgerows and wood edges, this bird with its iridescent blue plumage is often spotted perching above on electric wires.
While sometimes confused with the indigo bunting, few birds compare to the blue grosbeak. Its violet-blue color and large comical beak give this bird a tropical appearance.
Bluebirds are among the most welcome of our local birds. Yet for many years the bluebird was not a common sight. Loss of habitat and predation eliminated many of our local bluebirds. But these delicate birds seem to adapt well and will nest in man-made nest boxes. To help bolster bluebird populations, people have constructed bluebird boxes and set them out along special bluebird trails as well as along field edges and in back yards. We were rewarded for our efforts, and bluebirds are no longer an uncommon sight in Western Virginia.
Perhaps if bluejays had suffered a similar plight, they might be treated as special visitors today. They may not be as welcome, but the bluejays are here to stay. So, despite the fact that they are bossy at the feeders and tend to dominate the rest of the birds, we may as well appreciate them for their pretty colors.
Patricia Held will respond to readers' questions on the plant and animal wildlife in the region. Mail inquiries to: Patricia Held, P.O. Box 65, Goode, Va. 24556.
Patricia Held is a Bedford County free-lance writer and author specializing in natural history.
by CNB