More Bluebirds!!!!

Another set of bluebirds has moved in! I did not clean out the bluebird house and have not seen these new birds clean it out, but they are definitely bringing in new straw for their nest. They are just so cute to watch! Both the mama and papa have been busy. They begin at daybreak and work all day. I was sitting on the porch yesterday watching them for quite a while. One time the papa and mama flew in together to the house, chattering noisily to each other. Mama went into the house and stayed a few minutes while papa sat in a  nearby pine tree and watched. Then after she left, he flew down, poked his head in and then flew off. Maybe he was checking out the nest to see if she did it correctly. :) He did that twice. I need to find the time to read up on bluebirds. They are just the cutest birds to watch! Maybe this time I'll get to see the babies fly. I wonder how long it takes them to get the nest ready? Does anyone know?

Bluebirds

I've had such fun watching the bluebirds this year. I belong to Texas Master Naturalists and one of our members made bluebird houses for all of us in his chapter. Well, as soon as mine was ready, the bluebirds appeared. Here is a photograph of mama and papa bluebirds scoping out the house.

They soon built their nest.

 

Things really picked up then. It seems that both mama and papa sit on the eggs. Other birds visited and I guess took their turn. Some days it looked as if they were having a party. Lots of activity. The only wrinkle in this was my cat Lucky. He seemed to think it was his duty to sit under the house and watch in case one fell out. :)

Before long the eggs had hatched and the work really began for the proud parents (and their friends). There was contstant activity at the house. Both mama and papa and friends were kept busy feeding those babies.
I was able to get a photograph  of papa feeding and mama waiting (or maybe supervising).

It was so much fun watching these busy little birds. I ran Lucky off many times, and before long, the bluebirds tolerated my presence very near the house. They seemed to know that I was helping them. A few days ago, they began dive bombing poor Lucky. He didn't know what to do! The babies were peeping out. I didn't know why all of a sudden they had gotten so aggressive, but later realized that they were getting ready to have the fledglings fly. Unfortunately, I missed the big event! I look forward to having a new family next year! In fact, I believe I'll put up more houses and make a bluebird trail on my property. I'll be sure to place the house high enough and with a large enough baffle that Lucky can't get to them. He thinks he's doing his job-life in the country is tough, but he can't have my bluebirds!