Overdue Update .... Nest box #1 and #2

There has been a lot of activity around my two bluebird nest boxes during the past 2 weeks.  I'm happy to say that all 5 fledglings left nest box #1 on May 11.  I was fortunate enough to see 2 leave in the morning and 2 stragglers much later in the day.  I was gone for several hours in between so I'm assuming #3 left  during my absence,  Since then Mom and Pop have been feeding the little ones high in the tree tops behind my house.  I put a few meal worms out each morning and Lady Blue usually comes for them, and with her beak full flies off in the direction of the tree they're in.

The past couple of days I've seen a couple of the fledglings follow Lady Blue to the meal worm feeder.  They perch and then fly away quickly so I wasn't able to get any photos.  Today though they perched for a longer period of time and I was able to get a couple   .....

Blue Bird Fledgling

This cute little fledgling is 2 weeks old and still dependent on it's parents for food, but not for long.  Soon it will be getting it's own insects and worms and Mom and Pop will start building a new nest and start all over again with brood #2. 

NEST BOX  #2

Four eggs were laid in nest box #2.   Lady Blue #2 has been incubating them for the past 14 days and  I think they may have  hatched yesterday as both Mom and Pop have been going in and out of the box. I'll try and sneak a peek tomorrow while Lady Blue is out of the box and maybe get a photo.. 

Peeking out... and a little blue egg

Today the baby blues in box #1 have spent a lot of time looking at the world outside of their box . I think they will fledge tomorrow. It's going to be close to 90 degrees here so it's going to get very hot in that little box with those five growing little birds.  When they spread their wings Lady Blue will lead them to a branch under a canopy of protective leaves high in a tree close by.  They will stay in  that location for a couple of weeks and will continue to be fed by their parents.

One of five little Bluebirds peeking out of the box

And we have one egg in box #2....  hopefully she will lay 3 or 4 more over the next few days.

Front garden Bluebirds ..............

Bluebird couple #2

Bluebird couple #2 are busy constructing a nest.  The female builds while the male stays close protecting the box and encouraging her.
It looks like the nest may be complete in a couple of days and then she will lay the eggs - about the same time that the baby bluebirds will leave Bluebird Box #1.

Male checking on the progress

The new box is close to my Magnolia tree which is full of bloom buds.  The photographer in me is envisioning some beautiful shots of the bluebirds on the box with a backdrop of magnificent Magnolia blossoms.

One pine needle at a time 

The nest is about half done - it can take 3-4 days to complete

Bluebird couple #2 ......

For the past couple of weeks I've heard a Bluebird singing his "I'm looking for a mate song", and then I saw him in my front garden, so I put up another box. Within a few hours of the box going up he was showing it off to a female . They are still in the courting phase.  He brings her worms to eat and she inspects the box .....no nesting building yet but I think it will be soon.

Bluebird couple #2

She's in and out - checking the hole size I guess !

He's also checking ...... 

Weekly Update......

The baby bluebirds are now 9 or 10 days old,  Mom and Pop are on a busy feeding schedule - in and out of the box with food all day long.   Early each morning I put about a dozen meal worms in the dish by their box, then the feeding frenzies begins!  The photo below was taken as Lady Blue leaves the nest after delivering her mealworms and Mr. Blue is about to take his in.....

Nothing more exciting than a mealworm delivery !