This time of year, every Friday afternoon we take a trip around to check on our bluebird houses to photograph and document what’s happening in them. We have 16 houses and the ones that don’t get any activity for a year or so, we move to a new location.
The birds will sometimes come back and build new nests if we remove the old nests but they’ll also re-use the nests if we leave them. Our preference is to remove the old nests to encourage the birds to build new ones but sometimes, as soon as the babies fly away, there are new eggs in the old nest.
Once they get started, we end up with nests just getting built, to nests that are ready for eggs:
Bluebird Nest
There are several nests with eggs.
Bluebird Eggs
I couldn’t see for sure but I think there are five eggs in this nest. The nests are above my head so I hold the camera up and hope for a decent shot.
Then . . there’s this nest. Vince thought it had babies but I think that’s just feathers. I don’t think those are babies but from this picture, I can’t tell. Baby bluebirds are pretty ugly when they first hatch and I just don’t think these are babies.
Babies? Feathers?
In a few days I’ll go back and check on that nest. As soon as the babies are a few days old, I’ll begin putting mealworms out for them and I’ll gradually move the mealworm feeders up closer to the house so we can watch them as they grow.
The bluebirds are so pretty and we look forward to having them here every year.
Pat Peele says
Did you build or buy your houses? We used to have many houses and many different colors of blue birds.
Amy says
Congrats on the nestings. We have had many bluebirds at the feeders all winter, but no takers on the house so far this year. Last 2 years Chickadees took it over, but no one this year. On the other hand our Brown Headed Nuthatch house has 5 babies in it… just getting their feathers. And they are rather ugly their first few days too! Thanks for the update.
Toni says
We leave the nesting material in over winter and the bluebirds sleep there at night. It’s amazing how many bluebirds can stuff themselves into one house! Fun to watch them emerge in the morning.
Amy says
Our nuthatches do that. They winter in the box.