Mr. Bluebird on my … Rear-view Mirror?

Every once in a while, the interactions between humans and nature produce some, er … unexpected results. Something as innocent as my neighbor leaving his truck parked in his driveway – nothing wrong with that, right? – can cause a seemingly harmless and innocent creature to fly into a rage.

When one thinks of an Eastern Bluebird, images of a beautiful, gentle bird come to mind. After all, they are bedecked in bright royal blue and orange colors, and often are set upon by their randy immigrant neighbors, the House Sparrows and the Starlings (both introduced from Europe), who compete with the Bluebirds for nesting holes in the neighborhood.

But perhaps some Bluebirds have had all they can stand and aren’t going to take it anymore!  At least this one seemed to be ready to defend his territory against all comers – even another “phantom” Bluebird!

My neighbor’s truck window produced a reflection that caused a local Bluebird to have fits about the audacity of “another” Bluebird trying to horn in on his neighborhood.  He repeatedly fluttered and flustered at the bird in the window, trying to drive him away:

Bluebird ready to attack an intruder in neighbor's truck window

Bluebird ready to attack an intruder in neighbor's truck window

After a number of unsuccessful attempts to chase off the intruder, Mr. Bluebird would then sit on the rear-view mirror of the truck’s driver door and “leave his mark” to let that other audacious bird know who’s territory this really was:

Bluebird "marking his territory" on neighbor's truck mirror

Bluebird "marking his territory" on neighbor's truck mirror

I’m sure my neighbor didn’t appreciate all the “deposits” that Mr. Bluebird left behind!

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