I Want to Fly!

The eggs have hatched, a couple of weeks have passed, and now it's time for baby bluebirds to leave the nest. I watched them getting the courage up to fledge. The mama kept them in for one more day. Once they're out of the nest, they don't come back to it. They will still need her to feed them. It will take the babies a while before they figure out how to feed themselves, but they will be up in the trees and flying around like grown up birds.

The day after this video was shot, they left the nest. I didn't get to see it. They must have gone first light, before anyone is awake. I didn't see them for a couple days, but I could hear bluebird sounds out in the back woods. Then today, the mama came looking for worms on the feeding station. It's a lot of work feeding all these babies and I guess she could use some help.

Bluebirds Fly from Jen Hill on Vimeo.

I highly recommend viewing the HD version. If you would like to see it in HD click here.

Say Hello to My Little Blue Friend

I had kind of given up on the bluebirds, since they didn't nest here last summer and I had only seen one or two stop by on a visit this summer. I figured they must not see this as a good place to raise their young. Sure I had a visit on Thanksgiving of all days from a few male bluebirds passing through. They landed on the nesting box for a few minutes and went on their way.

So a few weeks ago, a male and female bluebird with three babies in tow decided to come live in our yard. They showed up one day and we quickly got some meal worms at the local pet shop to feed them. They liked that treatment I guess, and decided to stay. After a few days the female, I call her Mama, started making a nest in the box.

So they've been hanging out here and I got some up close video of Daddy blue. There's a short clip of Daddy and Mama together but she soon busied herself with other things.

I uploaded a new HD video to vimeo today. You can press the play button to watch it from within this window.

Bluebirds Close Up from Jen Hill on Vimeo.

You can also click the enlarge icon on the lower right hand corner to make it full screen.


I highly recommend viewing the HD version. If you would like to see it in HD click here.

A Speckled Spectacle

The evening before last, we had a spectacular visit from the bluebird family. I was able to get photos of all five baby bluebirds. Mr. Blue was not around, which is highly unusual. I've never seen the babies without Mr. Blue close behind. So I hope he is okay. He was my first bluebird and I've grown very fond of him.

The bluebirds are not coming on a daily basis anymore. I think Mrs. Blue is keeping them busy learning the rounds of the neighborhood, teaching them how and where to get food on their own. This would be one of their stops.

The first baby lands on the feeding station and helps himself to a worm. He is joined by Mrs. Blue (left) and another baby. Pretty soon, a third baby joins the fun. (image can be clicked for a larger view)

Three babies on the feeding station now, a fourth joins. The fifth baby was a bit timid and stayed on the ash tree trunk. Mrs. Blue flies over and talks to him a bit, but he never did join the others at the feeding station.
(image can be clicked for a larger view)

Gotcha!

Ha! I finally got some good (if I do say so myself) baby bluebird photos! Came home tonight and Mr. Blue and a baby were sitting on the feeding station. I had to do a double take, because I thought I saw Mr. Blue tapping his foot impatiently waiting, as if to say, "Where have you been? The babies are starving and they're driving me crazy."

Hubby, quick went and got the worms and headed outside, while I got the window open and my camera set. The birds all flew up into the oak tree. The whole family was there, mama, daddy, and the bunch of babies. After the mealworms were deposited in the dish, the parents and one baby flew back down. The funny part is, that every time the mama or daddy scooped up some worms, he would open up his mouth for them. He got the first few servings, but then mama and daddy flew up into the trees to feed the other babies. That didn't stop him from begging for more.

"Feed me mama!" (baby is on left, Mrs. Blue on right) Image can be clicked for a larger view.

"I'm hungry daddy!" (baby is on left, Mr. Blue on right) Image can be clicked for a larger view.

Doesn't every family have an attention hound?

Early Bird Special

A fleeting moment of opportunity. I barely had time to aim, focus and shoot.
A baby bluebird with his daddy, and almost as big.

One shot and they were gone. A blur of blue feathers.

I’ve been really wanting to get a good look at the baby bluebirds and also get a picture. The parents have been secretive as to their whereabouts, keeping them in trees with dense leaves. Last night was cool and not humid, and so we slept with the window open for fresh air. I awoke this morning at 6 a.m. to the sound of baby bluebirds chirping. I quietly crept out of bed so as not to wake up Henry cat at my feet and Hubby at my side. I was rewarded with a view of the bluebirds feeding the babies. Two babies were perched on a bare branch of the mostly dead ash tree in our side yard. With no leaves to cover them, I had a good view at eye level. I was excited to see them, so I woke up Hubby to tell him. He was happy too.

We went downstairs for coffee and I went to my usual morning spot by the dining room window to watch for bluebirds. We didn’t need to feed them today since a good amount of worms accidentally fell on the ground yesterday and were unrecoverable. Although we were unable to get them untangled from the grass, the bluebirds have no problem plucking them out. They discovered the worms this morning, and the babies decided to take this opportunity to start plucking worms themselves.

While Mrs. Blue was fetching a worm from the ground, a baby landed on the rock wall. Mrs. Blue went to him and fed him a worm. Then it was his turn. Mama sat on the rock wall watching, standing guard is more like it, while the baby flew down to the ground to find a worm. A blue jay got nosy and a bit too close. The parents sprung into action and chased it away. Eventually, the baby flew up into the dogwood tree on the corner of the house. I was able to get a good up close look at him from the living room window, so cute, with his speckles.

Next another baby wanted to join the one in the dogwood tree. She flew over, but not an expert flier yet, she had trouble with the landing and grasping a branch at the same time part of it. Her parents flew over, as if to help, maybe just as protection from an attack, maybe for moral support. She flew back to the ash tree trunk for a rest, and then made an attempt to land on the copper pipe that holds the feeding station up. That didn’t work. She landed on the ground. “Hmm, there are worms down here. Think I’ll have some.” All this time on the ground, makes me nervous. I think wistfully back to the days when they were safe in their nest box.

Back up on the second floor a bit later, I looked out the window and heard first, then saw three babies in the dogwood tree. They’re a bit spastic and hopping around, chirping. Daddy brings a worm to them and is practically attacked for the food. They are very eager to have those worms. In the flash of blue feathers, I assume one of them got the worm, and Mr. Blue flies away to the oak tree. The three babies (I think boys) fly after him hot on his tail feathers, asking for food. I think it may be time, soon at least, for them to start getting their own. Mama and Daddy must be exhausted.

While waiting for Bluebirds to come back, I get another photo op. My friend the chipmunk comes by for a visit.
He says hi to me each day and helps himself to Alpine Strawberries in my garden.

Empty Nest

Well, it's finally happened. The nest is empty. I had a suspicion yesterday. Hubby fed the birds before I got up and I missed watching them feed. I've been observing their behavior each day, watching for a change. Haven't looked in the box since the last update. Close to fledgling time, opening the box could cause premature fledging, so we stopped at day 13. Yesterday was day 19 and it appears that they have left the nest. I noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Blue where not around much, even saw Mr. Blue in my vegetable garden, and that is very different behavior. The days leading up to that, they were attacking every stray squirrel that got close to the nest. I went to CVS and bought a dentist mirror on a stick tool. This one was extra nifty since it has a built-in light. I stuck the mirror in the front door hole and looked inside expecting to see a little face looking back, but all I saw was straw. Opened the side of the box, a little nervous, but I had to confirm, and they were gone. I suddenly felt very sad. No more baby birds to marvel at as they grow.

All this time, we were watching the bluebirds choose the nesting box, lay eggs, feed their babies, I knew that some day the babies would grow up and fly away. That was the goal, right? To have healthy, birds grow up and then that means the whole thing was a success. But somehow, I couldn't help but feel sad.

We decided to feed the bluebirds and watch where they take the worms. They loaded up their beaks with the wiggling things and then flew up, up, up into the tall maple tree that the nestbox faces. I went up to the second story of the house and watched from the spare bedroom window. No screen on that one, so I could lean out. Mrs. Blue got some food and then flew up and landed on a branch eye level with the window, just for a quick break. Then she went up to the tip top of the tree, within the dense leaves, and I could no longer see her. Mr. and Mrs. Blue alternated flying up and down from the feeding station to the top of the maple tree. Watching them plunge down from that tall height was unnerving, yet awesome. Like watching riders on a roller coaster as you wait in line. The babies are safe way up in the big tall maple tree, with mama and daddy to feed them. Suddenly, I felt a little less sad. I can't see them, but I know they are there. Some day, perhaps in a few weeks, we'll see them again following their parents around as they learn where to go to get food and learn the ropes. Of course since I'm their sugar mama, or should I say, their wormy godmother, I know they'll be back.

Nest box after being disinfected and cleaned out. Ready for the next brood.
Will Mrs. Blue lay more eggs?

Small But Wise

Somehow, these baby birds have a wise look to them. As if they were born with some knowledge, that we humans do not have. To say they have to grow up fast is an understatement. Can you believe they are only 13 days old? When I open the box, this little girl gives me a look that says, I have my eye on you. I think she is the big sister. The leader of the clutch. I imagine that she was the first to hatch. The hunkered down babies look like a pile of feathers. It's amazing how they've changed just since Friday.


Getting a little higher on my ladder, I can look down on them. The ones that already have bright blue feathers are boys. Hard to say if there's three or four boys, as one of the birds is covered by the others around his/her wings. At this point, I think it's two girls and three boys.


I haven't been shooting any video of the babies since they don't move when I look at them now. Only the occasional flinch when the flash goes off. Maybe this generation of bluebirds will grow up to not be afraid of my flash.

Mr. and Mrs. Blue must be of the new school of bluebirds. They are very brave when it comes to protecting their babies. While outside gardening a couple days ago, I witnessed them attack a bluejay (a very mean bird) by flying at him criss-crossing back and forth. They won't even give him a chance to get close to the nest. Just yesterday, I saw a squirrel who did somehow slip past their security and was dangerously close to the nest box. The squirrel was oblivious to the nest box, as he was foraging on the ground for wild berries that grow nearby. Mr. Blue dive bombed him and actually hit the squirrel repeatedly. The confused squirrel turned this way and that, not knowing which way to go. He finally ran off into the woods and was left alone by Mr. Blue. Without the parent's vigilance, those predators would eat the baby birds. This type of aggressiveness is a good trait to find in a bluebird, as they are known to be the wimps of the bird world. The reason why there aren't as many as there should be. Maybe it's not courage, so much as they too were born wise.

Where Have You Been?

Well, I know where I've been. Gone to Chicago for a few days (more on that later). A few days away, turns into a week or more with preparation before and then, a few days of catching up with things once I'm back. Don't worry, the babies, tomatoes, and kitties were carefully watched after while I was away. The baby birds are starting to get feathers!

This picture was taken on Friday, day 8 for them. The babies don't bother to wake up for me anymore. They now know the difference between the sounds I make and bluebird sounds.

The mama and daddy birds feed the babies quite often. At first, it was only a worm or two for each baby per feeding. Here is Mrs. Blue four days after the babies hatched.

Now they load up as many worms as they can fit into their beaks for each trip to the nest box. Here is Mr. Blue eight days after the babies hatched. He feeds the babies just as often, if not more than the mama. The food we provide is only a supplement to what they catch on their own. The parent birds are constantly feeding the babies throughout the day.

I was worried at first when the babies didn't react to me when I opened the nest box and whistled for them. Then I watched from inside the house as the parents fed them. With the window open, I was able to hear their frantic peeping each time Mama or Daddy entered the box with food. Each baby has to compete for the attention and food from the parent birds. The loudest peep, gets the worm. I think I know some humans like that too.

Five Fuzzy Fresh Friends

Look at my new friends! Aren't they adorable? They have cute little fluffy Afros. I have to restrain myself and limit my visits to once a day. The parents tolerate me, but I don't want to push my luck.

It's sleepy work being a baby.

All that sleeping makes them hungry!

Five beaks now. All the eggs hatched!

Time for another nap.

It is a very happy day here at the Hilladay Inn. All the eggs have hatched. It's the most we could have hoped for. Our Mr. & Mrs. Blue are doing a great job. They fly back and forth feeding the babies. I wonder if they have 2 a.m. feedings like human babies do? I shot another short video. This time, we brought a light out with us for better viewing. Press the play button arrow on the image below to view the video.

Bird Announcement

Hooray! We've got babies! So far only two have hatched. There were a total of five eggs, but it's not unusual for the eggs to not hatch all at the same time. Hopefully, tomorrow we'll have more. They look so fragile at this stage. So tiny you feel sorry for them. Here you can only see one in this picture.


I whistled and they open their mouths for me. This is a good way to get a beak count.

2 beaks = 2 babies.


I shot a few seconds of video. It's kind of hard to see because it's dark in the birdhouse. Towards the end, you get a good view, so watch the entire 30 seconds. Mrs. Blue was nearby in the oak tree off to the side during all of this. She is used to me and doesn't mind if I look at her babies. I was able to guess that there was some hatching going on today because of Mr. and especially Mrs. Blue's behavior. They feed the baby birds twice per hour. So when I saw them flying to and from, in and out of the birdhouse, I knew what they were doing. Today is 14 days since she started incubation. Press the play button arrow on the image below to view the video.