With much gratitude to Linda Violett who has been my bluebird mentor, sharing her experience and professional knowledge.
Bluebird Box with newly constructed nest inside.
First Bluebird Egg appears on Saturday, May 12, 2012
The mated pair of bluebirds land on our french door handles looking inside the house to catch our attention to refill their chopped cranberry container. Yes, I said chopped.
'Who has who trained?'
Sunday, May 13, 2012, Mother's Day :)
A second egg in the nest pictured below.
I placed the hawk feather you see, outside the nest box yesterday and found it in the nest today.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Egg number 3
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Egg number 4
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Egg no. 5,
THE LAST EGG
Now waiting on 13 to 14 day incubation period for a hatch which may be May 29th or 30th.
See you all back here then.
DAY ONE. :)
We are back! Right on schedule too.
It's May 29th and at this point 4 eggs have hatched by 12:06 noon. Not sure if the last egg will hatch.
Good News!
(well maybe)
Below, the 5th egg has hatched by 6:20 p.m. I'm hoping it's not too weak.
Now for the challenge of the parents to keep them all alive. Hopefully worm feeding assistance will help all five survive.
May 31, 2012
Below: Blues get a new two-holed mansion box.
It took only 30 seconds to switch the old bird box for the new one along with the nest.
I was very concerned the parents wouldn't go in their new two-holed mansion. Linda assured me they would. Sure enough, the parents didn't hesitate to fly right in and check on their kids. The new box will be roomier once the chicks start growing.
(Double entry holes to provide a defense from house sparrow invasion.)
Developed by Linda Violett. See my favorite sites above, tab titled-"Linda's Bluebird Boxes"
Snuggling in their new home.
Day 6 below.
All five chicks are alive and healthy.
At this point they look like they are all beaks.
So cute!
June 6th.
Eyes are starting to open.
What a difference a few days make. This pic was taken on June 11th.
The chicks are starting to hop around in their nest box. Unfortunately, nature has taken way.
June 9th was the last time the male bluebird was seen. I'm certain he lost his life to the area coopers hawk. The mother bluebird is feeding the chick all on her own now. He was much help to her.
The bluebirds fledged while Robert and I were on vacation, Sunday, Father's Day June 17th.
Our pet sitter Karen not only watched our two hounds but also helped feed the bluebirds cranberries and meal worms. Karen thinks worms are yuckie but she braved it through assisting the mother bluebird in feeding her kids as the helping father bluebird fell prey to the area coopers hawk.
We appreciated Karen's daily texts and picture account of the birds while we were gone. Here are her Pics of June 17th's fledge.
Good Job Karen. :)
So here we go with the count down below..
June 17th, Count 5
June 17th, Count 4
June 17th, Count 2 (missed count 3 pic)
June 17th, And then there was ONE.
So long sweet bluebirds.......Please come again.
