Five little bluebirds, hopping by my door
One went to build a nest, and then there were four.
Four little bluebirds singing lustily
One got out of tune, and then there were three
Three little bluebirds, and what should one do,
But go in search of dinner, leaving only two.
Two little bluebirds singing just for fun
One flew away, and then there was one.
One little bluebird sitting in the sun
He took a little nap, and then there was none.
- Children's Nursery Rhyme
Coloring Pages
Click on picture to open - at the bottom of the page, there will be a "print page " button. To save files to your computer for printing, right click on link, and then choose "save target."
Habitat game (Grades 6-8) - Like
musical chairs, with different colors of carpet squares or chairs
to represent habitat where the bluebirds vs. starlings can nest
and find food
Word Puzzle and Solution (download as a MS Word document) To save files to your computer for printing, right click on link, and then choose "save target."
Build your own nestbox - The NABS style box, slot box, or Gilwood are probably the easiest to make. The TX Bluebird Society box is a fine box. 2" long 6D hot galvanized nails are less likely to bend. Be sure adults are supervising and helping young ones hammer. Power tools are not a good idea. An animated presentation is here: Highlights. Remember to make a 1 9/16" hole (not 1 1/2") for Mountain Bluebirds.
If you are a trail monitor, you can let each child decide if they want to take their box home to monitor it or if they would like the box to become part of your Trail. If they choose for you to install the box, have them sign their name and troop number (or class) and, a couple of times during the breeding season, e-mail their leader or teacher with an update on the success of the box(es). (David Gwin of Texas).
Walk someone else's trail during nesting season. Contact your local bluebird society to see if you can find a volunteer monitor to guide the children. Be sure that children are appropriately dressed, have insect repellant and liquids, and adults to help with crowd control.
Three Little Bluebirds (Place the bird nest puppet on your right hand, puppets hidden inside, before you start this rhyme.)
Three little bluebirds without any home; (Raise three fingers on left hand.)
Three little trees in a row.
Come build your nests
In our branches tall (Fly fingers of left hand through the air to "land" in the nest -- lift up the three bluebird puppets inside.)
We'll rock you to and fro. (Fold arms with nest inside and sway gently.)
Adapted from Ring a Ring O'Roses by the Flint Public Library
BLUEBIRD THROUGH MY WINDOW (tune: "Skip to my Lou")
Fly little bluebird, through my window
Fly little bluebird, through my window
Fly little bluebird, through my window
Um diddle um dum dey.
Hop little bluebird, in my garden
Hop little bluebird, in my garden
Hop little bluebird, in my garden
Um diddle um dum dey.
Can use as a circle game that encourages preschool children to follow directions. Teach the song first, then introduce the game.
Ask children to join hands and form a circle.
Youngsters hold their hands up high to represent "windows" and the preschool "bluebird" weaves in and out of the windows during the first verse.
During the second verse the "bluebird" chooses a child and gently pats him/her on the shoulder several times.
Repeat the first verse as both children weave in and out of the windows, with the first child holding on to the second child's shoulders.
Continue until there are no more windows and all the children are holding onto each others shoulders
BLUEBIRD WINTER
In summer, juicy insects crawl
On leaves and through the grass.
I feast on bugs until late fall
Then catch them less and less.
Soon winter comes with snow and ice
And winds all in a flurry.
The bugs are gone, but in their place,
a berry February!
--Mariam Kirby
Bruce Burdett's ditty about mealworms can be sung as a rap tune, with "I like it" as the chorus:
The mewo is a tasty worm.
I like it.
It has a glabrous epiderm.
I like it.
I peck it 'til it's good and dead,
And pulp it up, and smash its head,
Then feed my chicks and go to bed.
I like it.
And another verse suggested by Paula Ziebarth:
A fuzzy caterpillar's a luscious treat.
I like it.
With hirsute body and tickly feet.
I like it.
When older chicks wish to indulge,
I stuff them 'til their small eyes bulge
And sometimes fuzzies get disgorged.
I like it.
an educational packet that includes Bluebird Species Information, Range Maps, Behavior, Wildlife Plantings, Starting a BB Trail, Building a Nest Box, Nest Box, Plans, Predator Guards, Other cavity nesting birds, Activities such as a musical nestbox game and a bluebird mobile you can make ($6.00)
A pocket field guide for kids (with an intro to bluebirding; and information on monitoring, identifying nests, recording, feeding, etc.) ($1.50)
The Cornell Birdhouse Network offers a fascinating 15 minute video, called Inside the Nestbox for a $20 donation to their nestbox cam program. It has actual footage of bluebird nest building and incubation, eggs hatching, and babies being fed.
