Column: How bluebirds made an incredible comeback in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 27, 2026

Bluebirds nest in cavities. So do starlings and house sparrows. These exotic species were introduced from Europe, and as their populations grew, they took over the nest sites favored by bluebirds. At the same time, suburbs were devouring farmland. Old trees riddled with woodpecker holes were pruned or removed from the landscape. Over time, our bluebird population dwindled. Efforts to save the bluebird began in the 1960s. Bluebirds will happily nest in wooden boxes, and as these were erected throughout their range, the population rebounded. ~ Bob Duchesne