Harbingers of happiness

At their home, nestled in the countryside of northern Cape Girardeau County, Janet and Leonard Fiedler always keep a pair of binoculars handy to get a closer look as wildlife wanders through a nearby field.

From their kitchen window or sunroom, the Fiedlers frequently spot deer and turkeys crossing the clearing as they approach a small pond to have a drink.

While Janet Fiedler loves watching from the comfort of her home, she also rolls up her sleeves -- and wears long pants and insect repellent -- to head outdoors and help one of her favorite animals: the eastern bluebird.

"The phrase 'bluebird of happiness' is really true," she said. "You can't help but feel happy if you see one."

Designated as Missouri's state bird in 1927, the bluebirds' population trend has varied over time in response to many factors, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Bluebird eggs rest on a nest in a birdhouse on Fiedler's Cape County property, Tuesday, June 9, 2015. (Glenn Landberg)

The removal of dead trees and branches to use as firewood or to affect a neat appearance continues to eliminate existing or potential nest cavities. So, if it weren't for the many Missourians who maintain nesting boxes, the conservation department suspects bluebirds would be far worse off.

"It's a clear example of how people can be actively engaged in conservation efforts," said A.J. Hendershott, an outreach and education supervisor at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. "You don't have to go out into the wild, necessarily, to make it happen. You can make a difference by putting up a nesting box for some type of bird, like the bluebird."

Janet Fielder said the first time she saw a bluebird was between 1974 and 1982, and it was dead in a creek bed. So, when the couple moved to their rural home several years ago, they began building and placing the bluebird houses.

"Namely, because they're so pretty and they are the state bird," she said. "And they were nearly extinct."

The Fiedlers now have 25 bluebird houses, with a few near their home and others placed throughout 50 acres.

Janet Fiedler stands with one of the 25 bluebird houses across her Cape County property, Tuesday, June 9, 2015. (Glenn Landberg)

Each year, Fiedler readies the houses by March 1 and keeps detailed records of what she sees throughout the summer -- from the number of eggs in the nests to pests that need to be removed. Second and even third nestings may occur through the summer until as late as August.

Fiedler uses an all-terrain vehicle to travel from house to house, with tools handy to perform any needed maintenance work.

Many of the houses come with a story: Some were built or given to her by grandchildren, her husband or family friends. Leonard Fiedler said one of the houses is a gift from his sister, who's in a nursing home.

"When it had its first babies in it, that was my sister's birdhouse, so she was really thrilled," he said.

But maintaining bluebird houses isn't always easy, and sometimes the boxes attract unwanted wildlife. One of the newer houses is occupied by a wasp nest, mud daubers and a pair of frogs.

"Several years ago, I had one box in particular on a railroad tie that was a little bit higher. You normally put them four to five feet off the ground," she said. "I was hanging my nose over the box looking down, and there's a darned old snake."

But the biggest battle, so far this year, has been wasps, she said, which are causing a decline in the number of bluebirds making nests on her property.

"Bluebirds will not make a nest in a box with a wasp," she said, so she has tried covering the lids with Vaseline, soap or vegetable spray and keeps track of the results.

Then, she said, the wasps got wise to her.

"They don't put [the nest] on the lid anymore, where I used to be able to knock them off," she said. "Now they're hanging on the side. So, I take a butcher knife with me, and I cut the thing off. By then, the wasp is mad and the nest is in the bottom of the box. I've not got stung yet."

Hendershott said owners of bluebird houses also have to keep an eye out for sparrows, which are not as tidy as the bluebirds.

"They can come in and make a nest right on top of a bluebird nest with eggs," Hendershott said.

Although keeping up with the houses can be hard work at times, getting to view the bluebirds for hours more than makes up for it, Fiedler said.

"Just the sight of them when they fly and their color ..." she said before encouraging others to build bluebird houses. "By all means, no matter where you live, put one up."

klamb@semissourian.com

388-3639

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Want to build a bluebird house? Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation*'s website for detailed construction steps at mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/outdoor-recreation/woodworking/build-bluebird-house.