Family of Bluebirds

Ever since bluebird nest boxes were installed earlier this year in Catch the Wind, I’ve seen Carolina Chickadees, House Wrens, Brown-headed Nuthatches, and yes, the intended species, bluebirds, using the boxes. All of those species were observed building nests in the boxes, most laid eggs, and some were seen carrying food into the boxes and/or carrying out fecal sacs, a sure sign that there is young within.

I may have missed some nest box activity. Birds don’t wait for me to arrive at the Museum each day before they start their daily routines, and they continue their chores long after I leave, so I’m sure there’s quite a bit of these bird’s lives that I’ve not witnessed. With that said, I find it strange that I’ve not seen any young actually fledge from those boxes, or parent birds feeding young in the vicinity of those boxes, until now!

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The mother bluebird tries to entice the two fledglings to come down to the suet feeder. The two youngsters apparently would prefer the suet brought to them. (8/19/10)
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This young bluebird begs, no insists, that it be fed.

I don’t believe that all of the birds that used the boxes were successful in fledging young. I would’ve expected to see family groups of the birds in question, which I did not. Some of the attempted nests were abandoned for reasons that I can only guess at. I’ve not witnessed predation on the nest boxes, but as I’ve said, I’m not on-site all day, every day.

I’m glad, though, that I finally was able to see a bluebird family at the Bird Feeders in Catch the Wind, the same bluebird family that had been using the nest box just behind the feeders. At least we can be sure that this bluebird family made it through the egg to fledgling process in good order.

Good for them!

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