Time to start bluebirding thread number 4

Here's Mama getting ready to go back on the nest.

Here's one of her, amid the sparrow spooker strips.

Papa still wing-waving.

Beautiful!

Your pictures always amazes me. I so love the details in the birds and all the info you give about them. They're very sweet. Thanks for taking the time, to share them with us.

And, a great big howdy to you, OPbirder. We were at that location a week ago, and these little blue bird darlings were in and out of the houses as if checking out the best hotel but didn't actually see them carrying any nesting materials at that time. Will give you a report on the next trip. Did you see the American Finches that I forwarded to your area? (I suppose they do visit you.) Those little guys are really a joy to watch and were here about two months only with their voracious appetite. We enjoy birds earlier, but you all have the most beautiful gardens. Our temperatures have been reaching 101 degrees mid-summer, and there aren't a lot of plants that can tolerate that heat.

Dave - 10,000 mealworms every 2 weeks? OMG!!! That is incredible!

Yes, can you imagine $100 a month, just for that?

Um, yes.

Whew, but I'm sure they appreciate it!

Flowerette - goldfinches stay with us year round. Thanks Dave. It's a joy to see your daily pics. I fed mealworms to the bbs that nested in my box last May-July. They quickly expected the service! It sure was fun watching them take turns taking worms to the babies. A couple more warm spells (42ish) and I'll bet they'll be looking for the nesting boxes.

Well, Blue Bird Stardom DOES have it's privileges!

Here is Papa this morning. Very overcast, so I used the Mark III in AV mode with the 400mm attached, and pushed the camera to its limits (f/4, ISO 3200)

Here he is late yesterday, in the shade

Here is a little experiment of sorts that I tried early this morning. It was 7:00 a.m and in very poor light, due to the early hour and the fact that it is very overcast and about to rain. I took the glass bowl out of the wire cage feeder and set it in an old plate, to see if the birds would find it. The camera is the 40D with the 300mm f/2.8 lens, set at ISO 1600 and the lens wide open (f/2.8). First to arrive was Mama, who probably heard me on the deck, setting up the tripod.

This message was edited Mar 27, 2008 10:43 AM

Next was a nuthatch, who was very skitish, hearing the noise of the shutter flapping.

See what I mean?

But, he comes back

Next was a Carolina wren: a frequent visitor

He is anything but shy.

But then, here comes the reason I have to keep the bowl inside the wire cage.

He has a hearty appetite

This message was edited Mar 27, 2008 2:17 PM

So, with the bowl gone, and a few worms scattered on the old plate, I continued the experiment. The mockingbird soon came back but before he did, here are some shots of Papa.

Sitting down on the job

And finally, just before the Mocker came back, ending the experiment for today.

I found this in my bluebird box yesterday...

I had bluebirds start nesting in this box but haven't seen them in a day or two. Am hoping they will come back :(

Dave, I'm amazed at the detail you get with ISO 1600 and 3200. I never knew such a thing was possible. Nice to get the details!

Also truly enjoyed the mealy experiment! I can't wait until my housewrens come back and I can entice them into photo range!!

Thanks Mrs Ed. I think its time to start a new thread since this one is getting long and for other reasons you probably can guess. But here is one last shot from an hour or so ago. You can see, they've gotten used to the spooker.

This message was edited Mar 28, 2008 9:55 AM

Ah, abandon #4? Does that mean that we are on to #5: The Hatchlings!!! How long until they hatch, do you think?

Well, bluebirds are very predictable. 13 days from when she began incubation, they should hatch. In this case that would be next Thursday, April 3. Then 17 days later they will most likely fledge. On that day I set all the cameras and spend the entire day watching the nestbox trying to get a picture of each one as it makes that first "leap of faith." I usually get several of them.

Here's one from 2 years ago that I happen to have handy.

Actually, the next shot shows him in flight.

Good catch!

Wonderful pics Dave!!

You know, I wonder if that is a scary moment for them. Other birds who nest in trees at least get to see the world a bit before first flight. But the BBs are tucked away in that house!

I suppose you're right. The first time they are bold enough to peek out is the day they go. Some hop up there and are gone before I can get my camera ready, and some require a lot of urging. The adults normally take a worm to them, then pull it back just as the baby reaches for it. I have seen Mama peck at one that was reluctant and I even saw one climb out of the nestbox, then, at the last minute, change its mind, hold on, turn around and climb back in. I was fortunate enough to photograph the whole thing.

Here is another, at the precise moment he pushed off.

…another priceless (and precise) moment!

OMG! That last shot is to die for...only in my dreams ...wow!!

Thanks. Let me complete this subject with the shot taken just a split-second after the one above.

Those little ones are so adorabel! Thats a wonderful shot!

It must give you alot of satisfaction to see the little ones grow up and go on their way.

I guess its sort of sad too.