or maybe they are a new nesting pair. doesn't really matter to me, i'm just happy that bluebirds chose our yard again to raise a brood (maybe two, if we are lucky). i was a little worried that we'd be passed up because of the introduction of a predator guard on the opening, along with a baffle, to prevent a repeat of last year's second brood suddenly . . . disappearing. but i caught sight of the female flapping around a number of times and then finally smooshing herself inside, so i anticipated nest building. it was amusing to watch the bird alight upon the top of the house with a beakful of pine needles, try to fit, fail to do so, drop some of the needles, and stuff the rest in by sheer force of will. this went on for days.
the first time i peeked inside, there were already two eggs. since they tend to lay one per day, that puts the first egg laid on april 7th.
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| mama bluebird is none too pleased with being disturbed! i didn't try to peek in again until the next day. |
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| April 11 |
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| April 25th. probably hatched today or yesterday, consistent with 12-14 day incubation period from last egg laid. calling this day 1. |
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| April 29th. day 4 |
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| May 1, day 6 |
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| May 4th, day 9 |
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| May 6th, day 11 |
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| May 7th, day 12 |
i'm not taking any chances to possibly cause premature fledging by opening up the nest box any more. i'm just watching the parents continue to bring food to the babies.
it's difficult to tell for sure, but i think only four of the eggs hatched. i found a bunch of ants swarming in the nest box around day nine, potentially seeking the unhatched egg? i rubbed a generous amount of crisco on the nest box mounting pole and that seemed to deter more from coming in. i think the parent bluebirds ate the rest of the ants that were trying to escape.
