A few pictures of my bluebirds.

Quite a few of us now have bluebirds nesting. I take pictures of mine every day but haven't posted any for a while. Here are a few from this morning. If you have been following Rose's thread you know I have been having problems. Yesterday Mama laid her first egg in her second nest. (I had previously removed her first nest (which was in a Gilbertson PVC box) and five eggs after they failed to hatch--probably the cold weather). Her current nest box is the standard shape but had a slotted opening at the top.

Less than 2 hours after she laid the egg yesterday, I found it broken on the ground under the nestbox. I suspect it was the work of a cowbird. I went ahead and attached the sparrow spooker and last night I went out and removed the slotted panel I love so much and replaced it with the more typical kind, with a 1 1/2 inch round hole opening.

I was curious as to how the birds would react when they arrived at the nest box this morning. They were surprised, obviously. Here is Mama trying to squeeze in through the tiny slot I left at the top of the panel.

And here she is tugging on one of the strips of the sparrow spooker.

Here she finally summons the courage to go inside. And, incidentally, she did lay an egg.

Here are some more shots from this morning.

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together

And finally, here are some shots of Papa from early this morning. The sun was still low so there is a bit of backlighting but he was so close I was still able to capture detail.

What is it about this server that it will not let you upload more than a few pictures? Most annoying.

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Dave, I don't see you getting annoyed at anything. The patience you have with watching these beautiful birds is quite obvious. Your photos are just a joy to see every time. I can't even pick a favorite in these, they're all beautiful.

Thanks duc, I only have a few more for now. I am glad you enjoy them.

Thanks for sharing Great Pictures!

You're very welcome. Thanks for the comment.

Last for now

I love the ones where he is feeding her. So sweet!

Temperature already close to 90 degrees. She needs to find some shade.

Definitely too warm for this kind of stuff.

LOL Great pics Dave!

Great shots Dave...it looks like all is going well again and I hope for a very uneventful nesting this time around! They are such a beautiful couple and the ones of Papa feeding Mama are very sweet and heartwarming. Hope it cools down for all of you in that area.

Great to see your BB family again, I really enjoy your pictures.

Fantastic photos, Dave, as always. I really can understand how these beautiful birds can steal your heart.

Its that hot here already can't belive you already have the heat too. I born and raised in Ct. so it brings back memories of the blue birds. Barn swallows and the bats at night.

Thank goodness it's supposed to drop back into the 60's later this week.

She laid her third egg in the new nest today (Monday), and things seem to have settled down. This is our third straight day with temps above 95 degrees, so for most of the day the birds are off somewhere in the shade. Here are a few more shots from early this morning and late this afternoon.

more feeding

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They surely like this shepherd's hook

I guess they know I put it there for them

Please excuse the spider webs. I can only see them when I look at the picture on the monitor and by tomorrow when it is daylight, I will forget they are there.

Last shot of Papa as the sun was going down

And a pine siskin. Most of them have left but a few have stayed and hang around the niger with the goldfinch.

And here's his buddy

One last shot of the two together.

And good night!

Beautiful pics Dave! Glad all is going well now. Love the feeding shots!

After a week's lull, here are a few more. As you can see, Papa is a bit wet.

Here is one of Mama in flight. from yesterday

And another

Here she is sitting for me

Stretching while taking a break outside the box.

Papa in a nice pose.

Great pics Dave!! What's new in the nestbox?