drama

We have been fortunate to have a pair of bluebirds nesting in the back yard, not only this year, but last year as well.  House sparrows are the sworn enemies of bluebirds. The sparrows will take over the bluebird nests, even killing the babies along with the parents trying to defend them. I got some smaller bird houses this year which are supposed to still be usable by the bluebirds, but too small for the sparrows. So far it's worked like a charm.
I was very happy to see swallows arrive in the back yard a couple of weeks ago. They are incredibly graceful in their own right, but they are reputed to be the bluebirds best ally. They will drive away the sparrows, but are said to coexist with the bluebirds. I felt doubly reassured about the bluebird's chances after this turn of events.
But the male bluebird has thrown a monkey wrench into my expectations. The bluebird nest is on the extreme left of the three houses in the back. The bird house most to the right is at least 30 yards away from their nest, and that is the one the swallows have been interested in. But the male bluebird will have none of it. There can be up to a half dozen swallows gliding around the birdhouse in question, but every time they try to get established, the bluebird will drive them away. He even actually fights with them. After he drives them off, he sits atop the empty birdhouse, puffing out his auburn chest.
The other day I saw the male bluebird sitting atop another fence post. He had caught an insect, and was pounding it into the post, mushing it up so to speak. After a minute, he brought it into the nest, disappeared for a minute, and then flew off. I know what that means. The baby bluebirds have hatched. Now I will be watching the drama in the back yard even more closely. I'm hoping the bluebird will be so busy feeding his youngsters that he'll forget about the swallows. I would like to see them get a foothold in the back yard. Their aerial activities can take your breath away