Eastern Bluebirds

[Maestro]

I am fortunate to have a pair of eastern bluebirds nesting in my yard this spring in one of my boxes. Here are just a few images of the proud parents-to-be.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Winter%2008_09/EasternBluebird11forFlickr.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Winter%2008_09/EasternBluebird6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Winter%2008_09/Easternbluebird8-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Winter%2008_09/Easternbluebird9forFlickr.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Spring%2009/Easternbluebird13.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Spring%2009/EasternBluebird12resized.jpg

Here are the soon-to-be bluebirds.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Spring%2009/EasternBluebirdeggs.jpg

[dlplumer]

Beautiful series Stephen of a a good looking couple. Hope to see more of them and their babies. :lust :clap

[Bud1880]

Yes you are lucky. What a beautiful bird to have hanging around. I hope they stay healthy though with their obvious penchant for 'prickly perches'.:D

Good work Stephen.

[redleash]

Very nice series, Stephen. I like #1 and #3 best, esp #3--it's a really good-looking shot of the female. Nice capture of the eggs too--how'd you do that w/o making them really mad?

Lauren

[windoze]

very sweet! Lucky you to have the bluebirds so close. Makes me wanna get back into birding.

troy

[Ric Grupe]

Delightful...but hard to capture.:thumb

[jeffmeyers]

Lovely series. Fun to look at! :thumb:thumb

[Maestro]

Beautiful series Stephen of a a good looking couple. Hope to see more of them and their babies. :lust :clap

Thanks Dan. I hope to see plenty of the babies too.

[Maestro]

Yes you are lucky. What a beautiful bird to have hanging around. I hope they stay healthy though with their obvious penchant for 'prickly perches'.:D

Good work Stephen.

Thanks Bud. With all the juicy mealworms they are eating (and I am buying) they should stay plenty healthy even with the prickly perches. :rofl

[coscorrosa]

Gorgeous! I expect to see a report after the chicks have hatched :D

[Maestro]

Very nice series, Stephen. I like #1 and #3 best, esp #3--it's a really good-looking shot of the female. Nice capture of the eggs too--how'd you do that w/o making them really mad?

Lauren

Thanks Lauren. They do not get too upset. Usually mom will just fly out of the nest and perch nearby. I have only peeked in on the eggs twice so far. I really do not plan to check anymore. The boxes have slit openings which are too small for the cowbirds which like to switch one of the bluebird eggs for their own. Dern parasitic brooders! They do the same with wrens and sparrows too.

[redleash]

I remember learning about the cowbirds switching eggs like that. It seems so rude!

I'll be anxious to see your pics of the baby blues as they hatch out. We had a cardinal nest in our nandina last year, right off the patio. But with all the traffic and a trolling neighbor's cat, I don't think anything survived. :cry The nest is still there but no signs of use.

[raptorcaptor]

Nice set Stephen! :thumb

[Maestro]

Nice set Stephen! :thumb

Thanks Glenn