Monday, April 16, 2007

Bluebirds Hatching


I checked my bluebird housing this weekend and found that two of the eggs had hatched. Well actually when I first checked it the adult female was sitting on the nest to keep them warm. We had a cool front come through which dropped the temps down into the forties. During days like these- breezy and cool- the female will spend her day warming the chicks while the dutiful male will hunt and feed her and what she doesn't eat she feeds to the nestlings.
I watched him land atop a 10 foot pine snag out front and from there he would inspect the ground below for insects.
Their eyesight is amazing....he would leave his perch and drop into the hay 50 yards away and then return with his catch where he would then pummel it against the top of the snag, killing the insect.
From there he would deliver it to the house. Later in the day the female decided to stretch her wings which allowed me to have a look at the nest. Inserting the mirror I see two nestlings and three unhatched eggs. I hope to return in a few days to find the entire clutch hatched. I also checked my neighbor's box and found he had 5 eggs.

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2 Comments:

Blogger The Naturalist said...

How do you get that close? I have a robin nest near the house, in fact, just a couple yards away. I can't see much, though, because of the way it's situated. I know now, that the mom will not abandon her babies, but flies away every time I try to get close, even if I AM moving slowly, and being quiet. Is it just a matter of them getting accustomed to me?

8:58 AM  
Blogger Jace Stansbury said...

The bluebird box is only about five foot off of the ground. There is a side panel that allows access. Not sure how robins will eventually react if you keep visiting their nest. I guess there is a chance that they could abandon it.

10:16 PM  

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