Dedicated to increasing & protecting the bluebird population of Bella Vista, AR
The Bella Vista Bluebird Society (BVBBS) is a volunteer organization dedicated to providing safe nesting boxes for Eastern Bluebirds. We are an affiliate of the North America Bluebird Society, which was founded in 1978 to promote the preservation of bluebirds. Bluebirds were a species in decline due to the loss of their natural nesting habitats by human expansion, and also by non-native species (Starlings & House Sparrows) taking over their nests. From 1940 to 1990, the population of bluebirds across the U.S. was estimated to have declined by an estimated 90%.
The BVBBS was started in 1980. In our 40th year, 2020, we had a cummulative total of having helped fledge over 50,000 bluebirds! Our annual fledging rate is over 1,500 bluebirds per year, which is why almost everyone in Bella Vista is familiar with bluebirds, particularly around the golf courses, where the nest boxes at one time established the yardage markers for the courses.
On May 8, 1990, the Bella Vista Village Pride Committee named the Eastern Bluebird as Bella Vista’s “Official Bird”. This was confirmed by a vote of property owners via balloting in The Weekly Vista. The results of that ballot ran 8-1 in favor of the bluebird. In 2009, the Bella Vista Garden Club also adopted the bluebird as the “Official Bird” for their organization.
The BVBBS currently has over 50 volunteers maintaining almost 600 bluebird boxes located on the seven golf courses, the local parks, church properties, cemetery and residential areas.
In addition to Eastern Bluebirds, other cavity nesting birds sometimes use the bluebird boxes. These include Tree Swallows, House Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, Titmice, occasionally Carolina Wrens, and rarely such exotic species such as the Prothonotary Warbler. These species are also birds needing conservation help, and being protected species, are allowed to use the boxes. Their number of fledglings can be as much as 20% of the bluebird fledglings.
Unwelcome users of the boxes are House Sparrows, an introduced species that is not protected by wildlife laws. These birds are about the same size as bluebirds and are therefore able to go into the entry holes as easily as bluebirds. They are very aggressive, often killing the bluebird occupants and building their nest right over the bluebird nest. A box that allows House Sparrows to fledge is doing more harm than good, and preventing them from nesting is an important facet of monitoring the boxes.
The primary source of income for the Society comes from building and installing boxes in the yards of Bella Vista residents. Boxes are available for sale at The Bluebird Shed in Bella Vista.
Other sources of income are from public donations, memberships, and on occasion from the POA, such as when multiple boxes have been lost due to flooding. Donations are much appreciated and are fully tax deductible as we are now a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. If you wish to help in this way, go to our Donations/Membership page.
In 2018 the BVBBS Board wrote and approved a set of Bylaws to help guide the group.
Public meetings by the BVBBS are held annually for the purpose of providing information on bluebird nesting and conservation. They are normally held in the spring. The date is announced in The Weekly Vista, the POA Update emails and in Latest News on this site. Our email address is bellavistabluebird@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy of Debbie Rasberry