They sure aren’t very pretty at this point but soon, they will be gorgeous little bluebirds.
Bluebirds
There were 6 eggs and it looks like at least one hasn’t hatched yet. From comparing pictures on this site, I would say some of these have just hatched and some are 2 – 4 days old.
There are a couple more nests with eggs but it will be at least another week before they hatch, and on nest is ready but has no eggs as of this morning.
Since we’re getting a wildlife exemption for our bluebird efforts, a report had to be filed with the count, outlining our efforts for the past year.
Bluebird Report
Vince did it and it’s probably 60 pages. The lady at the tax office probably wanted to say “Are you an engineer?”
He had pictures of all the nesting boxes showing a little background. There are 16 boxes and he had 4 per page.
Nesting Boxes
He included a picture of the meal worms arriving.
Mealworms
He had lots of pictures!
He included all the receipts we had spent for the bluebird “stuff”.
Receipts
He documented each time we we went out and checked the boxes and what we found in each box.
Tracking Progress
If you need any kind of document done and done right . . or if you need an unbelievable bargain . . Vince is your man! 🙂
Dottie N. says
WOW – a LOT of documentation there!! I’m sure the tax office has never received so much documentation for the wildlife exemption before, LOL.
The babies are so cute!
Susan says
Holy Cow!!!!! Talk about details! You know that you could start renting Vince out right? He could drive a little truck with a sign that says “Documents Galore” on it!
JudyL says
I manage to keep him pretty busy around here but if he gets bored, I might just do that.
Rebecca Grace says
How fabulous! I did not know there was anything like a wildlife exemption. Is that through your state or Federal? I love blue birds. I see them in North Carolina often but haven’t made an effort to deliberately encourage blue birds versus other birds. We see a lot of different birds coming to the feeder outside the kitchen window. How do you check on the nests and get those photos of the baby birds without spooking the momma birds and scaring them off?
JudyL says
It’s a Texas thing! 🙂 We can get ag or wildlife exemptions .. there are probably more but those are the two I know about. It reduces our property taxes. Since we have no state income tax, we have a bit higher property taxes than some places but they aren’t outrageous and the exemptions help. We can get it for deer, turkey, bluebirds . . no telling what else.
The bluebirds are pretty calm with people around. We talk to them and walk up to the nest from the front so she can see us and we don’t catch her by surprise. Once the fledglings are starting to wander around, we won’t open the side door for fear of them falling out.
Pdudgeon says
bravo to Vince for a job well done!
And thanks for helping the blue birds.
Diana in RR,TX says
Yes, it’s an engineer thing! Having been married to one for close to 45 years, it’s a definite yes! They leave nothing to chance! Little birds aren’t very cute are they?
Sherrill says
Oh my gosh, their heads were probably spinning!!! HAHA So out of 16 boxes, how many wound up occupied? There’s property not far from me that have boxes out and I get so annoyed as they don’t maintain them. One’s flipped around the other direction, one’s door is flopped open and one’s on the ground! ARGH! 3 boxes that could be full of bluebird babies!!! 🙁
JudyL says
I’ll have to ask Vince because he checked them Saturday without me but I think 11 of the 16 have some bluebird activity. The wrens are about to get on my last nerve though. Pests!!
Swooze says
What is non bluebird material?
Megan says
Congratulations Vince on a superb effort. His commitment and application are to be much admired. Very very impressive. Perhaps he’d be interested in taking up patchwork, Judy? He seems to have the right mindset for it – design, attention to detail, commitment to following through. He would be helping you use up your stash. LOL
AmyM says
Great pictures! And that is wonderful. And Vince amazingly patient to do all of that.
We had eggs in the nuthatch house, but apparently a racoon got at them ( according to the man at the wild bird store)… so now we have a baffle under it. They are back there nesting again.
The bluebird house, also has eggs and a nuthatch in it. But the baffle is expensive, so we tried vasoline on the pole, and some hot chili sauce. So far so good.
Perhaps I will get a picture when they hatch too. Thanks for sharing this.
Susan says
That’s wonderful, and what a great opportunity to observe the whole egg-to-adult cycle of bluebirds. Gotta love Texas!
Kristin says
OMG! Bananas!!!
They can’t accuse you of not taking this seriously! 🙂
ps
I made Bluebird houses when I was a little girl!
LaRae Gatz says
judy, please be safe, total recall on all bluebell products ~~
http://www.ky3.com/news/local/blue-bell-recalling-all-of-their-ice-cream-products/21048998_32476796
Lee says
We have Western Bluebirds here, and they are such a lovely bird. To my knowledge they’re nesting here in the ‘burbs naturally but for all I know, someone in the neighborhood could have a box or boxes. I’ve seen the birds for at least a decade now. I’ve never seen their nests or the young so thanks for posting pics of them. At that stage: all eyes, albeit closed, and beaks! Love Vince’s detail!
Nancy says
I am very impressed with his documentation. They will know that you are really making any effort and deserve the wildlife exemption.