Really? You’re allowed to keep sorority girls in cages? Man, I miss all the good parts. 
I don’t know about Iowa, but here, they are extremely rare, and a bit of a cause célèbre if a pair chooses to nest nearby.
djm
Bluebirds are migratory, and the range of the eastern bluebirdextends from the gulf states in the winter to Canada in the summer. But the extreme northern limit of their summer range is only barely into Canada, so you should not expect to see many, especially with the U.S. dollar so weak against the Canadian dollar. You can tell if bluebirds have migrated into your area by the number of coconuts littering the ground.
Western bluebirds hardly go to Canada at all, but mountain bluebirds are hardy and well-travelled little birds, with a summer range that extends from Alaska, down through the Yukon and BC, then over into two of Canada’s three Polygonal Provinces, then on south into the western US.
You sure you’re not thinking of swallows?
Bluebird populations have plummeted recently likely due to west Nile. See Washington Post article
I have a bit of a bird story. For me personally, most parrots come across as demented feathered drag queens that act before thinking and will do most anything for attention, including hang by their feet, beat their wings and scream, especially the cockatoos. I got that impression from the ones in the old pet store I worked in. Then we got in a couple African grays. They stopped and sized you up and got along with most everybody. The African grays and I were on the same wavelength. One of them was especially good friends with me, so he liked to ride on my cart while I got the store ready before opening time. I swear they read my mind and understood that the better behaved they were, the more freedom I could give them. I think they were actually self potty trained. The owner didn’t know about our arrangement and was always having me put them back in the cage. Once, when the owner had me put him back in the cage, the one that was my friend nibbled my hand gently but aggressively in a clearly “Please don’t put me in the cage!” way.
Moluccan cockatoo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgLrzciu_eQ&mode=related&search=
“Einstein” the African Gray
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf-ecpV4304
I went to the pet store today, just to walk around like I always do (the people who work there are usually surprised when I actually buy something, usually fish food).
I saw a Bourke’s parrot, which is one of the duller-colored types of parrots. He was coming up to the side of the cage wanting me to pet him and so I asked if I could take him out. But apparently he bites so I didn’t get to. He seemed so intelligent, the look in his eyes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourke’s_Parrot
I love this phrase. May I have it?