Bluebird thread #10

And now, some multiple bird in-flight shots

And finally, here's one of the female wondering what the four boys are talking about.

Dave, you take such awesome photos. Are you willing to divulge your settings for those in flight shots? I realize it will change, depending on light, but a ballpark figure is better than none!

Collective noun - a bevy of Bluebirds

Wonderful photos Dave. I'm so glad to see they are still around. Glad you got a kiddo shot of them all too. The in flight shots are incredible. So crystal clear. Any one of them would make an awesome painting.

Tomorrow morning, tell the kids that Aunt Janet sends her love!

CJ: These were shot with a 300mm lens. The ISO was set at 640. I shoot in aperture priority and in today's bight sunshine, the f/stop was f/7 and the shutter speed was 1/1500.

Outstanding pics Dave! I'm so glad the kids were still there when you returned.

Thanks, Dave!! Off to try that out! If you lived here, I would be begging you for lessons!!

Exceptional photos, Dave.

Thanks Linth. Your opinion means a lot.

Here are a few from this afternoon, showing that the fledges still have things to learn about flight.

Watch the bird on the right, just entering the frame. His approach is too low and he has yet to learn when to pull up.

He gets one foot on the side of the feeder

But falls downward

He tried it from the other side a few minutes later, with more success

Is the new mama sitting on eggs while this is going on - or are these a previous fledging? Sorry if I missed that fact. I continue to love your pictures no matter what!

These are fledges from a previous female. The one this one chased off, or worse. They fledged on June 3rd and returned to the feeder 8 days later. The new female has completed her nest but no eggs yet.

This morning I looked out on another panic situation. A male HOSP was harrassing them by flying into the birdhouse and daring them to come in after him. They know better than that but they were perched on the roof and basically having a fit. I went down and he flew out. I put the VanErt trap in. I had to remove the nest to do that. It was all torn up anyway. I didn't catch him but I did catch the BB's. First Papa, and then the new female. Of course, I released them right away. After a while I removed the trap and replaced the nesting material. The new female finally went back in and made a new cup in the top of the nest. Looks like she's ready. I am going down to put the sparrow spooker on tonight, even tho I doubt it will be effective, since this male HOSP has already been inside the box. But just in case, I will do it. It's all I can do.

Here is the HOSP with the new female looking down. When he flew out she chased him. The BB's are willing and able to handle the HOSP in the open but not when trapped in the box, or even inside the cage-type mealworm feeder.

Oh wow, now that's a situation worth helping out, for sure. Good luck to your Mr. and Mrs. and you!

Maybe the folks reading can be reminded that these birds are crowding out (worse words for it) our wonderful natives like chickadees, titmice and bluebirds?

Well, we're still surviving, and this morning I found the first egg from the new female. Obviously the sparrow spooker didn't bother her. And I haven't seen the bully HOSP at all today. I think something may have happened to him.
Here is a picture I meant to include with the others I posted on Saturday. It has all five fledglings in it. Too bad the one in the middle just ducked down to get a worm.

What a cacophany of bluebirds! Awesome shot, Dave! Great to hear the new family is getting started. I'm rooting for more babies, no matter what. Hoping for a positive end to the season for you!

I love that photo!!! And it is great against that white background! Hmmm....How do you get that white background?

The wonderful bluebirds who live in our backyard have completed their third nest. Watching for that first egg to mount the sparrow spooker. On the one hand I'm excited, and on the other - those parents have worked so hard, I think they need a vacation!!

CJ The white background is easy. I have a neighbor about 300 feet away whose house has white siding. With the 300mm lens, you have a very shallow depth of field, so anything more than 20 feet beyond your focus point is blurred beyond recognition. If I want the light background, I set up to where his house is in the background. If I want green, I move to where the trees or the grass is in the background.

Makes sense. No white houses around here, so all of my backgrounds are green... Those bluebirds just pop out with that white background. Durn. I can't say it enough - I love your photos. They are just plain awesome!!!

they are so angelic!

Well, here is another taken against the white background. The fledges were feeding themselves and everything was fine until this male HOSP decided to join the fledges at the feeder. Papa comes out of nowhere, and bumps one of the fledges on his way to hit the HOSP.

Here is the next shot. It looks from this angle like he is going after the fledgling rather than the HOSP.

This one has had enough to eat. I cropped it so you that would have a point of reference as to where he was.

Change of pace. This was taken out the kitchen window this morning.

One more, before I show you the male.

Here he comes...

Such a beautiful bird.

I must have shot near 100 images of the two of them but will show you just one more. After all, it is a bluebird thread.

Love the little guy! And posing so nicely on the lily so his colors would show well for you! We have a house north of Houston, in Montgomery County, and I finally saw my first goldfinches this year when I decided I'd put out a thistle sock and was thrilled.

I don't mind you adding other birds. Anyone else mind? I didn't think so. HAHAHA They are gorgeous! Maybe they need their own thread too???

As always Dave, you've spoiled us with your photos. Glad Papa was diligent in getting the HOSP away from the feeder. he's da man.. er... bird!!!!

Yes - he's such a DAD! Forgot to mention that. We don't mind the other birds, do we!

Beautiful pics Dave! Love the Goldfinch.

Papa has about had it with the fledglings I watched him fly at them several times today when they were following him around. One by one they fly away from him but there always seems to be one that hangs back and doesn't seem to understand why he's doing this.

Here's one that made the mistake of begging for a worm. Papa has already pecked him in the face once, and is about to do it again.

And the fledge escapes

is this about the right time for him to be doing that, or is it earlier because of new mom?

Yes, it's about time for that. They are about 44 days old and can feed themselves nicely. He does take worms to her and today she has laid her second egg. It seems the thing that worries Papa most is the fledges hanging around the nestbox. In a strange way the BBs try to hide the fact that there are eggs or hatchlings there. I guess its their instinctive fear of preditors, and the fledges hang out on the box and on the sundial or the fence behind the box. They even try to get involved in chasing HOSP when they come near the nestbox. And they really do get in the way. I hope they stay around a few days more. They need more time.

Here is a shot on the sundial. Originally there were four fledglings there and Papa chased them away, one by one. This is the one that can't understand.

So he knocks him on his back. Incidentally, I filled the sundial right after this shot.

The poor little thing. What a confusing time for them. Tough love. Dave, I'm with the others. You put whatever you like on the thread. All your photographs are stunning, no matter what the subject. The Goldfinch shots are beautiful.