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 !

What a difference a day can make .......

Five little one day old Chickadee chicks

 I began to notice more activity around the chickadees nest yesterday and sure enough the eggs had hatched - all five of them.  There's also a mocking bird that perches close to the Chickadees nest box.  I've seen him chase off big crows but I've also seen him chase off the Chickadees - not a good thing.  It's a tough world out there for these little birds.






 Lady Blue was still incubating the eggs this morning, then this afternoon while making lunch at my kitchen window (perfect timing!)  I noticed Mr. Blue fly into the nest box leaving behind what looked like a grasshopper caught in the hole.  It didn't stay stuck very long - one yank and it was in the box! Next came a flurry of activity - both birds in and out and that's when I snapped the photo of them exiting and entering at the same time !!  They are so fascinating to watch . Definitely eggs hatching, and both wanted to see .....  

Excuse me......coming through !

Later in the day I also had to take a peek.  There wasn't much activity - just fresh from their eggs - but tomorrow I'm sure it will be a different story.

Little Bluebirds - just a few hours old

Still incubating..... Bluebirds and Chickadees

I checked the Chickadees nest box yesterday and it's still home to  5 little speckled eggs.  The chickadees' comings and goings are hard for me to follow as their box is at the front of the house and not visible from my kitchen window where I observe most of the bird activity in my back yard.  But after seeing the eggs in the box I sat and watched for a while and sure enough a little Chickadee flew back to continue the incubation.  The incubation period for Chickadees is 12-13 days - about the same time as  Bluebirds so I may have babies in both boxes about the same time.  

Lady Blue still incubating her eggs

Chickadee

I thought I'd post a photograph of a Chickadee while waiting for the eggs to hatch but don't have many to choose from - probably because they flit and fly so quickly.  But I did find these taken during the ice storm in February, and coincidentally, a photo of both a chickadee and bluebird on the same feeder ................
I wonder if these two  are part of the nesting pairs today :

Chickadee and Bluebird 

When I first became interested in the amazing little Bluebirds I read many times that they seldom come to feeders (except for those with mealworms) so this winter, during a sudden onset ice storm, I was surprised to see them enjoying the nuts and berries in the mixed bird food.......and also the peanut suet !