Exciting Bluebird news

It's been some time now, but I believe all five of the baby bluebirds are back... They are teenagers now, large with spots awaiting their adult feathers... They come for worms and cranberries when I whistle. The same whistle  before I fed them as they were growing.  They seem to let me get within about 3 feet, whereas, others fly away. Also, they aren't afraid of the barking dogs as they heard the dogs barking from the time they hatched.  There are five that stay together.  They've probably always been around, I just haven't kept up with a regular feeding schedule as they needed to learn to feed on their own.   It's rewarding to know all five were able to survive and are back visiting. They are so beautiful. :)  I hope to have a picture of them before too long. My Canon camera is broken and have to take it to be repaired.
                 Scroll Down to Saturday, May 12, 2012's post below for their growing journey....

Hummingbird in Hand

Daughter Shannon is holding a baby hummingbird. She works at a garden center in Montana where she saw this little bird apparently exhausted. It was given some water and before long it flew away.

 

Bluebird House-1st Egg, Sat. May 12, 2012 (Scroll downward for bluebird progression) Enlarge Pics by double clicking on them.

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.

American Robin Video (Turdus migratorius)

Click on video link after picture.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9479342&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1

American Kestrel

This little bird is packed with power. He's so small it's hard to believe he is of the raptor family. He perches in our front yard birch trees awaiting his prey.
Hear his call by clicking on the sound link below.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_kestrel/sounds

Western Scrub Jay

This pretty Scrub Jay comes to get his daily peanuts from our fence.

 He's quite friendly. Hear his song by clicking on this link: 

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_scrub-jay/sounds

Spice Finch

These three spice finch come by when I place thistle and millet seed in our covered feeder.  Click on the youtube link below to hear its song.

youtube.com/watch?v=9r9sJF8z1io

Swainson's Thrush

This Swainson Thrush (fledgling) was trying to learn to fly in our backyard. He got stuck in a plant so I lifted him out of the plant, placed him in this small bird feeder. Soon the parent bird landed by him and coaxed him to fly away.  That was a good day. :)    

Here his song by clicking on this link    :http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/swainsons_thrush/sounds

Northern "Red-shafted" Flicker Woodpecker, 10/17/2011

I first heard an unfamiliar bird sound and then saw a  Northern flicker   in our pine trees.  I did not know what it was nor had I heard its sound before yesterday... I'm working to get my own  picture. For now here is a link to show you what it looks like and its nice sounds. Sometimes I feel as though I'm in the country or in the forest thanks to the birds around town.   http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_flicker/sounds

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped_Warbler/sounds

These little Yellow Rumped Warblers follow the western blue birds around the yard. I think they wait to see if the blue birds have found food then they fly in to get their share. He is perched on the yard mealworm dish stand.

Common Yellowthroat Warbler (Geothlypis trichas)

This Little Male Yellow Throat Warbler was seeking insects in our Angel Trumpet Plant. I shot the pic through our glass slider and screen doors so it is a bit fuzzy. Notice the black mask which signifies it is a male. I notice when I have seen this bird that it is usually in a lower growing plant. 

:

Common_Yellowthroat/sounds

Daughter Shannon's Pictures from Montana - Eagles. She saw them on the side of the road while driving to work. The birds in the snow were surveying a near-by deer carcas. She took the picture about 10 feet away from them. In the blue sky photo, the eagle was sitting on a telephone pole.

Bird Nest in Front Door Wreath :)

It seems not only is  friend  & neighbor Jane's front door wreath an eye catcher for passer bys but also to birds who found it a favorable place to build their Spring nest. Amazing Surpirse, and a testiment to a peaceful  front yard. Great photo by Jane!

(photo not to be duplicated without permission)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

The quintessential early bird, American Robins are common sights on lawns across North America, where you often see them tugging earthworms out of the ground. Robins are popular birds for their warm orange breast and cheery song.

This little guy visits me often. :)

Click below to hear his song and calls:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/sounds



Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)

The Bewick's Wren was formerly common across the Midwest and eastern mountains. Eastern populations dropped drastically starting early in the 20th century, and now it is nearly restricted to the West.

As of now, I'm only able to take a picture of this Bewick's Wren through the window.

Hopefully, he'll allow me to take a picture when I'm outside. This one doesn't  warm-up to humans as well as some of the other yard birds.

Hear his lovely song by clicking below:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bewicks_Wren/sounds

Red Breasted Nuthatch -

 

An intense bundle of energy at our feeder, that moves so quickly it is very hard for me to photograph.  Red-breasted Nuthatches are tiny, active birds of north woods and western mountains. These long-billed, short-tailed songbirds travel through tree canopies with chickadees, kinglets, and woodpeckers but stick to tree trunks and branches, where they search bark furrows for hidden insects. Their excitable yank-yank calls sound like tiny tin horns being honked in the treetops. They seem to enjoy the suet I provide.

Click below to hear their song.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-breasted_Nuthatch/sounds

Northern MockingBird

These healthy northern mockingbirds visit our yard daily. They usually sit out on our deck chairs waiting for their daily feeding of mealworms. They are somewhat trained. When they are hungry, they come to our back windows and squak-- click below to hear their song. 

   http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Mockingbird/sounds   

 

 

 

CLICK ON "OLDER POSTS" BELOW TO SEE MORE BIRDS

Hooded Orioles - Male & Female (Icterus cucullatus)

 

These beautiful bright yellow-orange Orioles frequent the backyard. They try to sip sugar water from the hummingbird feeders.

I placed a tiny container of grape jelly in a oriole feeder and found that was their favorite.
Enjoy our purple morning glories too :)

The picture above and these next four are Males. The last picture is a female.

Click below to hear their song....

Female Oriole in my tomatoe bush

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Oriole/sounds