By Spring Sault
In a regional conservation effort towards saving the Eastern bluebird, LeeAnn Sharp and her family have installed bluebird nesting boxes on their 250-acre Indian Blanket Ranch in Utopia, Texas. For many, the bluebird is a symbol of happiness, but few have actually sought out this species so-named for its plumage, unless they’re birders or participating in local counts, although they’re not hard to spot!
A valued member of the local food chain in the Texas Hill Country, approximately two-thirds of its diet consists of insects while the remainder is comprised of berries or wild fruits. Favoring beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids, they’ll also eat spiders, earthworms, millipedes, snails, centipedes, and sow bugs.
On Indian Blanket Ranch, situated on Blanket Creek, they’re quite familiar with the care and feeding habits of the Eastern bluebird, and they know the species is very trusting of the humans in their vicinity that care for them. The portion of their ranch featuring the nesting boxes is aptly called Bluebird Hill, featuring guest quarters where visitors can stay over, tour the area and, if they’re lucky, peer into a box and see little bluebird babies!
While you’re visiting the area, you may also get the opportunity to witness other species that have made the ranch property their home. Eastern phoebes, hummingbirds, and vermilion flycatchers have all been known to reside and feed in the area. Lesser goldfinches and red house finches also make feeders on the property their hangouts. Home to nature trails for bird watching, jogging, mountain biking, and hiking, the property also features six benches spread throughout the ranch for wildlife viewing and photography. After a long day of looking for the bluebird of happiness, you can also relax in a hammock, pool, or hot tub, and it’s all right here in the Texas Hill Country!
