More Bluebird photos

ha. too cute. Do they wing wave this time of year?

Oh, sure they do. Especially when they are defending their nest box.

But I'm sure you realize she wasn't wing waving in these shots. She was twisting and turning, even rubbing herself on the warm railing, trying to dry off as quickly as she could. In some shots you could barely tell she was a bluebird. Like so.

And Marna, here are a couple of one of your favorites.

A second later

One more...

Back to the bluebirds

Next move

One more..

More from this afternoon.

Most of my shots are of the males. Here is a female

Love all the shots and the Titmouse is adorable!

Awww, thanks Dave. They are just too darn cute with those dark little eyes.

I agree. I have four of them that come for meal worms several times each day since it has been so cold.

I have several new bluebirds too, which brings my total up to nine. They must be hungry. Papa chases the males if he sees them, but doesn't seem to bother the new females.

I've had some bluebirds checking out my nesting boxes and the other day I saw these two males displaying for each other, or so it seemed. One was perched in a sycamore tree and the other was on a utilility line just a few feet away. They did not look happy! I apologize in advance for the lack of quality in these pictures.

Sorry, I thought I had a pic of the bluebird on the utility wire but I guess I deleted it. :( But you get the idea. :))

Fighting over ownership of your yard?! Glad to see this sign of spring!

I guess house hunting is happening almost everywhere these days. I hear reports the BBs are already nest building as far north as Georgia. Not quite here as yet, since winter is not over and I would hate to see the blues start too soon, only to lose a clutch in the cold. I expect it will be another month before mine really get serious.

But Papa has chased away the youngsters that stayed around over the winter. However, they keep coming back. And he keeps chasing them when he is not chasing house sparrows that are very interested in "his" house. Not surprising they would keep hanging around since food is still scarce and will be for a month or so when insects start moving around. This is the time the blues should be subsisting on berries but the mockers and the starlings have cleaned all the fruits and berries off the trees and shrubs.

I have been wanting to get some better pictures of the blues in the snow but we have had very little of it this year. Here are a few shots from back on Jan 27.



This message was edited Feb 21, 2009 9:04 AM

Another. And none too happy it seems.

Here's one in fight

Well, I have more and I want to update you on my nestboxes too, but for some reason this DG server will only accept 3 or 4 images, then it simply refuses. Most frustrating.

I'll try again later.

Dave

Beautiful shots as always Dave! Glad the Bluebirds are doing well!

Great pictures, I can't wait to see more!

OK JB let's try it again.. A couple more snow shots.

This message was edited Feb 21, 2009 1:22 PM

next shot...

The male on the left was waiting for a chance for some meal worms. Papa decides he wants to perch there...

Final snow shot... at least for now.

So beautiful Dave!

I have been thinking for a time that I would like to try one of the Kentucky style nestboxes that feature an opening that is slotted rather than round. Some say they are less attractive to house sparrows. I also wanted to get a nestbox camera so I could monitor without going out to the box everytime. I ordered the slotted box but when I tried to install the nest cam I found the pitch of the roof was not steep enough to allow the camera to be tucked up out of the way and the bird would likely bang into the camera each time it flew into the box.

My old traditional style box with the 1 1/2 inch round opening was beginning to fall apart. The back board was split top to bottom and the front part was badly warped . But the roof pitch was sufficient to allow clearance for the little camera. So I went to Lowe's and got a one inch white cedar board, took the old nest box apart, copied each piece and cut it with my table saw. I took down the slotted box, put up the box I made and the blues didn't seem to know- or care about the difference.

But still I was not satisfied. I really wanted to try that slotted style opening. So I removed the door, cut a new board of the same width and installed it on the box, dropping it down far enough to leave a slot across the top.

And still, the birds don't seem to mind.

I still have the door with the round opening and can change back in a few minutes if I run into a problem.

This message was edited Feb 21, 2009 8:44 PM

Well, let me fast forward to today and show you a few from this morning.

One more.

Dave, The House Sparrows didn't bother with my slot style house last year except to look

it over but the

House Wrens loved it and raised a brood last summer. Do you have House Wrens around your place? If not I don't think it will be a problem. Glad they didn't mind it.

Love the first pic! Both are great.

Dave, what about that Gilbertson birch/pvc house you have? Will you put that up?

No, Pelle, I am not bothered by house wrens, thankfully. Lots of Carolina wrens, but they are no problem for the blues.

And no Marna, I probably won't put the Gilbertson up. I only have room for one box and I don't know if I could mount the bird cam in the Gilbertson. To be honest, I think it would be so cute to have a picture of two or more of the nestlings, side by side, peeking out of the slotted box on fledge day.

Beautiful shot!

Ah, I don't blame you for wanting a nest cam.

Dave, any 'Mad Bluebird' photos yesterday ?

I tried, Charlie but with little luck. The seemed more confused than anything.

Another try

last one

OK , a few regular shots