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Post by Cher on Aug 3, 2007 19:50:35 GMT -5
We've finally got Eastern Bluebirds nesting in our backyard and busy feeding babies. I bought some mealworms at the Animal House and man do they love them. Never thought I'd see the day that I had worms in my fridge! I spend hours each day outside watching them, they are so beautiful. Here's dad dipping into the little dish I have the mealworms in.  And on top of the house getting ready to feed the crowd.  8-5-07 = Babies are a week old. Hard to believe they'll be almost ready to fledge in another week. They still haven't got much but down but you can see the feathers starting to come in.  8-7-07 Look at the difference in their feathers ...  8-10-07 This will probably be the last picture I'll be taking of them in the nest but hopefully will get one when they fledge. As you can see, the nest has been pulled out of the nestbox. Yesterday we found the nest was infested with blow-fly larvae. We scraped out as many as we could last night (20-30) then today I made them a new nest and we switched it getting rid of all the nasty parasites that feed on the babies. It was so gross, there were well over 50 all together .... ewwwwww!!! Anyway, I took the chance to get a pic while we had them out, look at those blue feathers. They are so cute and hung on to my finger as I picked each one up to put them back into the box with their new clean nest.  Here's our first pic of one of the kids peeking out. Looks kind of crabby, guess Mom and Dad aren't feeding it fast enough. ;D  First pic I've gotten of the proud parents together. I am so going to miss them when they are gone, it's been an awesome experience.  Here he is, (or she) the first baby bluebird out of the box. Two came out tonight, I'm sure the others will fly tomorrow.  |
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Post by Lady B on Aug 3, 2007 20:24:46 GMT -5
There is always something almost sacred when wild animals accept our invitation to be a special part of our world and our lives.
Enjoy your Bluebirds. And thanks for sharing.
Lady B
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Post by joe on Aug 3, 2007 23:05:10 GMT -5
Awww, your own personal bluebirds of happiness!
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Aug 3, 2007 23:46:41 GMT -5
It was worth the wait! Great pics of the bluebirds too. You can often find mealworms in bait shops, don't know if they would be cheaper there than at a pet store though.
-Don
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joanna
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2004
Posts: 385
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Post by joanna on Aug 4, 2007 4:39:40 GMT -5
awesome pictures! We've been enjoying a the come back of Bluebirds for about the last 5 years. It all started with one coming down the chimney and into our wood stove. I opened the door when I hear the noise and I couldn't believe I had a Bluebird in my yard, let alone one flying around the house. Since then this has happened 3 times (yuck and we had 1 Starling do this).
I cranked out a load of bluebird houses since then and it seems the youngsters have come back to raise their young too. Are the little ones out of the nest yet? (I bet this is it's second batch) It's so cool to see the whole family lined up on a roof or where ever. Wish I was a little more on the ball with the camera.
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Post by Cher on Aug 4, 2007 10:23:20 GMT -5
Joanna ... the babies are just 6 or 7 days old now and still just little balls of fuzz, I'm sure this is their second hatching. Have you ever noticed an entourage of sparrows following the bluebirds at your place? There's always four or five little swallows sparrows that follow the bluebirds all the time ... tree to tree to the ground to the nest box. They never try to fight or anything, they just follow them around like bluebird groupies.
Don, I've checked bait shops, they looked at me like I was nuts when I asked for mealworms. ;D
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Post by krazydiamond on Aug 4, 2007 13:38:40 GMT -5
that is SO cool, Cher and GREAT photos! this year was the first time i'd ever seen a real live Eastern Bluebird, i was hopping up and down waving frantically for hubby to come take a look...unfortunately, i never saw it again, but perhaps there is hope in the coming years.
we typically have a pair of cardinals that claim the yard and winter over, along with several woodpeckers, blue jays, nuthatches, tufted titmice and a whole bevy of chickadees.
i wish i could capture them with our camera like you seem to do!
KD
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joanna
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2004
Posts: 385
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Post by joanna on Aug 4, 2007 15:41:27 GMT -5
Wow, you have a lot of time watching them take care of their young yet. Seems like they rush the first batch out of the nest and they hang out with the second batch in the yard until they leave in the fall. You might need some more nesting boxes next year, when some of their young come back. (I think I read somewhere at least 100 ft. apart)
Funny you should mention that with the swallows (Tree Swallows right?) It was around the same time I got Bluebirds the Tree Swallows moved in too. I notice they nest in similar boxes as the Bluebirds too. I love watching them dive for bugs in the yard. Never really made the connection until now, just figured I was finally doing something right with attracting birds. I like the "groupie" description.
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luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
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Post by luv2hound on Aug 4, 2007 19:44:20 GMT -5
How wonderful for you. We like to look at birds too. I'm sure you'll get many hours of enjoyment looking at them and watching the little family grow up. thanks for the wonderful pics.
~~Mitzi~~
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Post by Cher on Aug 4, 2007 21:24:43 GMT -5
Joanna, I made a booboo but fixed it, it's the sparrows following the bluebirds like groupies. But speaking of tree swallows, they are the only birds that bluebirds will allow to nest near them. You can put two houses up, 20 to 30 feet apart and if they are around, bluebirds will nest in one and swallows in the other. The only birds you don't want around are the English house sparrows and wrens.
Thanks for the compliments on the pics, the bluebirds are very tolerant of us and we can sit within 20 feet of the house to watch them feed. It's so cool!! I'm going to try and get a pic of the babies tomorrow.
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Aug 5, 2007 14:11:36 GMT -5
Great pictures Cher
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Post by krazydiamond on Aug 5, 2007 17:47:00 GMT -5
love the baby pics, Cher! can you try and sneak up on them for another progress shot in a few days? just keep buying those mealworms!
KD
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Post by Lady B on Aug 5, 2007 22:46:05 GMT -5
Cher,
I love this thread and the pics but I have to tell you that the title, especially now that you have added the part about the pix being added, keeps making me chuckle. Before I opened it the first time I thought it was going to be about announcing a pregnancy or a human birth! Now at a quick glance, it definitely makes me thing a human baby has just joined the circle.
This is truly a neat post in so many ways.
Lady B
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Post by Cher on Aug 5, 2007 23:50:15 GMT -5
LOL Lady B .... I wondered if that would get any attention. *smile*
KD ... absolutely, I will take another pic Tuesday and Thursday, after that, we have to stay out of the box as they will be getting close to fledging and we don't want to cause them to fledge early. Although I have read that some can take up to 20 days before they leave the box, 14-16 is most common.
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Aug 6, 2007 8:09:44 GMT -5
Very cool Cher!! Bluebirds are so cool!
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 6, 2007 12:02:05 GMT -5
i bet y'all have really enjoyed those cher. will they stay or are they migratory?
kim
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Post by Cher on Aug 6, 2007 14:02:35 GMT -5
They migrate south Kim but hopefully the young will come back to this area next year. Something I read on the net recently, Eastern Bluebirds only have a lifespan of about 1 year ... how sad is that.
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Debs
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2005
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Post by Debs on Aug 6, 2007 18:04:10 GMT -5
Those are so pretty Cher. I don't think I've ever seen them around here. Are they native to the midwest? Did you have to put up a certain kind of bluebird house? I would love to try to attract them to my yard. How did you do it?
Debs
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Debs
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by Debs on Aug 6, 2007 18:05:21 GMT -5
How could they only have a life span of 1 year Cher? That seems so short for birdies?
Debs
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Post by Cher on Aug 6, 2007 21:38:33 GMT -5
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