I'm happy to report that we have had two clutches of bluebirds this year. Last year we didn't have any. The house wrens took over.
The whole process is wonderful to watch. Believe it or not you start to see bluebirds hovering around the nest in February. When my daughter-in-law, Ellen lived here one winter, she said she saw them all winter long. Then in early spring the bluebirds try to take possession of their quarters. Sometimes there is squabbling. Last year it was with the house wrens. This year it was with some swallows. At first there is nest building activity. Then there is a period of time when it's very quiet there as the eggs are laid and incubated by mom. An increase in activity means that the brood has hatched, and needs food. This providing and feeding activity increases as the young birds get bigger and more ravenous. After a couple of weeks of this frantic activity, the young birds are ready leave the nest. If you're lucky, you can see them teetering at the entrance of the birdhouse. The parents at this point try to provide encouragement. They fly from the top of the birdhouse to bushes and fences not far away; to guide their young to the proper destination.
It was a couple of days ago that we saw one of the young birds getting ready to fly away. I've never been lucky enough to see one actually leave the nest, but it was clear that the birds wouldn't be there much longer. Sure enough, we haven't seen any bluebirds around the nest since then. They are gone. We will see them around the yard, on the fence line in the back as they learn how to catch insects and fend for themselves. It's satisfying to think that one has played a very small part in introducing such beautiful creatures into our world. There's also a tinge of sadness to realize that this occasion is a sign that the summer season is starting to wind down.
The whole process is wonderful to watch. Believe it or not you start to see bluebirds hovering around the nest in February. When my daughter-in-law, Ellen lived here one winter, she said she saw them all winter long. Then in early spring the bluebirds try to take possession of their quarters. Sometimes there is squabbling. Last year it was with the house wrens. This year it was with some swallows. At first there is nest building activity. Then there is a period of time when it's very quiet there as the eggs are laid and incubated by mom. An increase in activity means that the brood has hatched, and needs food. This providing and feeding activity increases as the young birds get bigger and more ravenous. After a couple of weeks of this frantic activity, the young birds are ready leave the nest. If you're lucky, you can see them teetering at the entrance of the birdhouse. The parents at this point try to provide encouragement. They fly from the top of the birdhouse to bushes and fences not far away; to guide their young to the proper destination.
It was a couple of days ago that we saw one of the young birds getting ready to fly away. I've never been lucky enough to see one actually leave the nest, but it was clear that the birds wouldn't be there much longer. Sure enough, we haven't seen any bluebirds around the nest since then. They are gone. We will see them around the yard, on the fence line in the back as they learn how to catch insects and fend for themselves. It's satisfying to think that one has played a very small part in introducing such beautiful creatures into our world. There's also a tinge of sadness to realize that this occasion is a sign that the summer season is starting to wind down.
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