Bluebirds fledged

This is a little late in posting, but our family of five baby blues fledged a couple weeks ago and I was in the right place at the right time... so was my flip cam. If you'd like to see the last of the babies fly the nest:

open beak

Now if this doesn't make you want to be a mama...
It's our third spring in Hopkinsville, and our third family of bluebirds. Babies can only hold their big heads up on those spindly necks for so long. When I first open the box, all the heads pop up and the faintest wisp of a whistle comes out of the open beaks. Then, one by one, they give in to gravity and flop back into a restful heap.

New birds

Joe is rather fond of the new bluebird pair, especially the mom becaues she will often stay on her four eggs even when he peeks through the little round hole into the box. She peeks right back.

I got this shot today when she had already gone for a little bug break.

Goodbye, Blues!

Friday between 1:30 and 4:00, the bluebird babies fledged. When Joe stopped home after lunch, he heard the plaintive cry of one of the babies from the next box and recorded it with his digital recorder.
When I came home at 4 p.m., the box was empty save the missing blue egg, which was actually underneath babies the whole time. It was unfertilized. I listened carefully... I heard the soft "churdle, churdle" that I've heard the bluebird pair make to each other hundreds of times. I spotted a frumpy little bird on the wire.
And daddy bluebird making the call from a post in the Sivley's backyard. I'm happy the family has decided to stay in the area as they grow. Our first family (last year) were nowhere to be seen nor heard after they fledged... probably because of a certain mean and nasty robin with territory issues.

blues day 16

We know we aren't really supposed to be baby peeping this late in the game, but the birds were very still-- they didn't seem the least bit inclined to jump for freedom. Notice the blue feathers that have popped free of their sheaths.

You're not my mom.

Mom and Dad said we shouldn't talk to strangers. Plus, you didn't bring any bugs.
Don't worry, Dad is watching you from above.

Hungry beak blues

There were four faintly blue eggs, but over the weekend that we were in Chicago, one of them disappeared. The three hatchlings seem to be healthy, but with the heat and drought, I think they're more sluggish than last years baby bluebirds. At least they're lazing about with beaks wide open :-) Joe took this photo this morning.

I'm trying out Blogger Draft to upload video... I think I prefer embedding YouTube video. What do you think?

Our backyard just got bluer

On Friday I notices some of the bluberries, which have been green for a month, began to blush. Today I snapped this shot... visions of bluberry muffins dancing on my tongue. Yes. My taste buds have an imagination.
As if one miracle wasn't enough, we've finally got our long-awaited, much sought-after, often anticipated pair of bluebirds at the nest box. Here's the female in action. Sorry my hand was so shaky.

A little blue

The nestbox will no longer be the subject of my posts. The birds are big enough to jump the nest, but doing so would be premature. But I saved up the last few days in photos:

Wednesday, June 21


Tuesday, June 20


Monday, June 19


Sunday, June 18

Hopper Meal

Wow, I wonder who gets to eat that one!

Friday

Joe and I worked a double shift yesterday, but we had time to sneak a peak at our favorite little ones.

Thursday

Wow, what a difference one day makes. Look at the development in their wings. Those feathers are ready to pop out!

Wednesday

Sleepy birds, beaks pointed up as they snoozed... as it is most convenient to open up for a snack in this position.

Monday

On Monday, we invited our neighbors, Ravi and Akash, over to check out the babies. Mr. and Ms. Blue were watching us. All four are hatched.

Bluebird update

A lot has been happening at the nestbox of 122 Bruce View Circle. And I've been so very bad at posting all the changes. So I'll do my best to recap the events since the weekend.
On Sunday, we took the feathers from the base of the box... fearing it would attract predators if left alone.

Bluebirds

When we first moved to Kentucky in January the weather was fairly warm and I caught a glimpse of my first bluebird. He was sitting on a stake in Mr. Morris' garden. We had never seen one before so we were pretty much in awe. It struck us that we really did move to the South. Anyway... I ordered a book on bluebirds and learned how to attract them. Joe and I put up a bluebird box this spring... and waited a several long bluebird-less months before this pair settled in. Now they are like our good friends-- or at least we like to imagine they are. On the weekends, I could watch them all day. Better than TV. The male is the bright one, the female is the one with the beak full of building materials. She does all the work and he likes to watch. Actually, he provides distraction for a mean and nasty robin that often chases them. Mr. bird will fly in front of the robin while little Ms. bird swoops into the box.