And just like that,
the second nesting is underway. I have said it yesterday already but i am over the moon that they are back and building. Here, you can see Dr. Clara bring in pine needles and then spreading her wings and pushing with her chest to form the nest cup.
I watched and waited,
but the BBs would not attempt to get into the new box. time feels of the essence right now, so I caved. I did what I wanted to do for a while now anyways and updated the old box. Made a new roof with a camera housing. It is all mounted now, and I hope it is not too late and the BBs will return and find it again to their liking. And I got such a kick out of the new and improved view into the box. How befitting for today, it is the release anniversay of Binaural too 😊 (one of my favorite albums that has a nebula on the cover).
Dr. Clara and Mandrake
and me have had a rough couple of days. After they sucessfully fledged four babies, the couple disappeared as usual to show the babies the world. They did come back occasionally to feed and check on the box. One day, however, a House Sparrow took a liking to the box. This was a first, it has never happened in five years. I use a Gilbertson box, which they usually do not like, with fishing line around the entrance, and the sparrow spooker also was still up. Shooing and spooking the sparrow did not deter him and his lady. One day, I was not home for one hour, and the sparrows had started a nest in the Bluebird box. House sparrows are invasive to the US and can have negative effects on the breeding success of native species like the Bluebirds. I will not let them nest in my boxes.
Eventually, I took the Gilbertson down. After one day, the sparrows moved on. I was very upset about this whole situation and decided to be proactive. I researched and built another box, a slotted style called Troyer. The slot and its relatively small volume are something that HOSP are usually not fond of. The slot lets in lots of light, and they like it dark and deep. The slot opening also enables the female to escape if a House sparrow should go in there to attack her. I also updated the camera in the same step. Now the BBs have brought their baby (it looks like possibly one one of the four has survived this far) to the backyard yesterday, and they have been checking out the new box already too. I hope this all works out, I did not like changing things like that mid-season but I did not want to keep the old box up that the sparrows ended up liking. This is a weird spring.
For more information on how to help Bluebirds and other native cavity nesting birds, check out sialis.org.
It rained cats and dogs today,
and overall it was a weird day. I saw two Orioles, and heard them singing all day, which was awesome. They have a very distinctive song. You might have heard it on the livestream too. I was also distracted by the Bluebird babies. Two were left in the box this morning, I took time to watch, nothing happened. Then I did some gardening towards the evening, and of course during that, one of them fledged. Now I was in position to watch the other one with my big lens… And nothing. That baby is spending the night in the box. But while I was watching, I saw a Hummingbird :D (Pictured wet mops: Blue Jay, Cardi lady, Oriole, Grackle) With this new set of birds, I am changing up my setups a bit, and things still have to settle in. It always is a bit like a game to capture all the new arrivals, and this is one of the most enjoyable times of the year for me.
BB update!
Two of the Bluebird babies have fledged today! And unfortunately, I was not htere to witness it. It was kind of funny, I knew they were getting antsy from seeing them in the box, so I got my camera ready outside. And then I waited. And watched them. And waited more. They teased a lot, several times a baby was half way out throughout the day, and then just got back into the box and they all napped. It is a big step to leave that nest. I thought things would happen tomorrow. But in between when I took breaks, things happened. Two babies made it out and will spend an exciting night with Dr. Clara and Mandrake out in the big world. The two in the box are cuddling and will fledge first thing in the morning, I reckon. They look adorable, sleeping in the nest, turning like a tiny clock and breathing in unison. Bird babies are the best.
Tales from the Crypt
The Bluebird babies are looking really good. Their eyes are open, they are awake a lot and they all look like tiny grandpas with their fuzzy heads. Often, when the babies get fed, they poop right after in what always looks to me like some sort of a “praise” pose - they spread out their wings and lift the butt so the parent can take the “diaper” right out. Their poop looks white and is encased in a so-called fecal sac which holds it together. It looks like a diaper when the parents take it out. Anyways, I thought it was funny here how the diapered and fed baby is all content afterwards while the rest still go wild. It’s day 12 after hatching, not that much longer to go.
The four
baby Blues have been growing a lot in the last couple of days, and I am glad that they all look strong and healthy. Their eyes have started to open and they are slowly growing feathers. Dr. Clara is still spending the night with them in the nestbox. She will continue doing that until the babies are fully feathered and can regulate their body temperature by themselves. For the time being, they like cuddling up in a big pile to warm each other while Mom and Dad are out hunting insects for them.
And a little update
on Dr. Clara and Mandrake. Sadly I have to report that one of the babies has passed this past weekend. I am not sure exactly why but I think it might have been the runt. Remember how those eggs did not all hatch in the same day? The first clutch is always kind of cursed. I checked all my footage and actually saw Dr. Clara carrying the dead baby out of the box. There was no predator attack. This happens and while it is sad, it is also nature. The other four are doing great and hopefully will all make it. But witnessing things like that is always tough. Be sound ❤️
Video: Snack time!
The Bluebird babies are growing and developing well, mostly because they get constantly fed by their attentive parents. The parents like to come for a snack at the mealworm bar but the babies get the good stuff. Here, Mandrake brings a huge worm. The baby has quite the beak full but eventually managed to get it all down.
Welcome, babies!
Update - it looks now like all five have hatched! Yay!
The poke turned out to be a good signal yesterday, and two babies hatched quickly after it showed. This morning, two more Bluebird babies have hatched. There is one unhatched egg in the nest, and it may or may not hatch. It can happen that eggs are unviable for a number of reasons but it is quite normal and nothing to worry about. Dr. Clara has assisted the babies coming out of the egg and also ate the egg shells for nutrition. Temperatures have fallen quite a bit, and she is warming them with her brood patch, a naked patch on her belly, and only rarely leaves the nest. Mandrake is bringing her and the babies food. They currently look like fuzzy shrimp but will change in appearance almost by the hour now.
I think we have a poker!
Dr. Clara is usually turning the eggs to incubate them evenly but in the last two days she has been checking a bit more thoroughly, and I think I now know why. It looks like one of the babies might be ready to hatch. At least that is what it looks like. I am monitoring this nest 24/7, and the nest was not disturbed by anyone. And the schedule works too 😁 So tomorrow will probably be hatch day!
Dr. Clara and Mandrake nesting 2021
I will collect the photos and info I gather for this first nesting here.
April 1, 2021: Little did I know… Dr. Clara spent the night in the box but not for the reasons I thought. She is clearly a weather expert and knew that it was going to be frosty. So in order to protect her eggs, she kept them warm during the night. And added one more this morning. That should be it now. Six would be crazy!
March 31, 2021: Dr. Clara laid her fourth egg this morning and seems to be spending a lot of time in the box. So it could be that she is done and starting to incubate. Incubation means that she sits on her eggs, warming them with a bald patch on her belly and moving and turning them regularly so they stay evenly warm. Bluebirds incubate fpr about two weeks. I keep track with the nest via the Nestwatch app and notes in my calendar. This way I can see if everything is happening according to schedule.
March 30th, 2021: As of today, there are three eggs in the nest. Now it is going to be an interesting guessing game to see how many more she will lay. If she lays more, which looks likely because she is not sitting on the eggs permanently yet.
Egg number 2
was laid this chilly morning at around the same time as the first egg, which is normal for all eggs. I have added the Sparrow spooker yesterday when the wind died down for a bit, and Dr. Clara went into the box without hesitation. This was a relief because sometimes the birds can be a bit fussy about it. When you put one up, please watch for a bit to make sure they accept it (more info on Sparrow Spookers here: http://www.sialis.org/sparrowspooker.htm) . If they don’t, you can try to introduce it gradually, using less streamers for example. Dr. Clara will only start incubating once her clutch is complete. this ensures that all babies will hatch at around the same time, giving them all equal chances of survival.
I will continue to give updates on Dr. Clara and Mandrake’s progress. Going from previous years, I would think we might get a maximum of four eggs. It is always a bit less stressful if the first clutch is small because temperatures can still go very low.
And just like that,
nesting season has officially begun. Dr. Clara laid her first egg this morning. She will now lay one egg per day until her clutch is complete. Bluebirds raise several broods in a season, usually three in my yard. The clutch size can vary with fewer for the first and third and up to six in the second clutch. It is rainy and windy today, so the sparrow spooker will go up only tomorrow. Mine is homemade, two dowels on which I attach streamers made from a birthday balloon. They are supposed to keep House Sparrows at bay. HOSP cannot see well and get spooked by the shiny flappy things and stay away from the box. If you are interested in learning more about Bluebirds and other native cavity nesters, I highly recommend the page sialis.org.
Dr. Clara and Mandrake
are in the yard every day. He is sitting on the nestbox, defending it against anybody who comes near while she still tends to the nest. The nest looks basically done, so I am expecting her to start laying eggs any time now. I am glad she took her time but there can still be frost and snow.
I did maintenance work
on my BB nestbox cam today because it feels like spring is approaching - I heard Cardinals sing and also read that people in Michigan have seen Redwinged Blackbirds! The cam had stopped working for a bit and I replaced it. This cam cannot be livestreamed but I will share videos or photos when things happen. There were pine needles in there, and I saw a female adding more today. Fingers crossed for a good but not too early season. The Cardi watched me while I was doing this.
Video: vocal Starlings in nest box
Some Starlings have been checking out the Flicker box that we built last year. We built a Starling-proof box but I took the shield away last summer to see if maybe a bird checks it on the way. A Flicker did indeed come and check it out a couple of times, so I am hopeful for the summer. I have now put the shield up that is supposed to deny the Starlings an entrance (apparently, they like to fly on head-on) but the Wyze cam got some cool footage before. Listen to these beatboxes!
Video: Flick is back!
After ten days, the Northern Flicker came back tonight and is now sleeping in the nestbox :D The photo I snapped when he first came to check it out.
Video: A Flicker in the Flicker box!
As you know, we built a Flicker nestbox earlier this year, but no Flicker or other bird came to nest in it. A House Wren inspected it a couple of times but that was it. I had taken the Starling shield away and put on a Wren whole restrictor, only to later also remove that to see what would happen since nesting season is basically over. And then this morning, a Northern Flicker actually went in there several times and hung out in it for a while, enjoying the view. These large wodpeckers are one of my absolute favorites, and I would be thrilled have them nest in this box. Hopefully, he remembers next year. I am so excited!
Big day for the BB babies!
Yesterday and today were big days for the Bluebird babies! Two fledged yesterday, and the two remaining ones made the big leap this morning. I saw all of them fledge except for the second one. The video shows the last one leaving from box view. I will clean out the box later today, and then we will see if Lagertha goes for another round. And we can finally have a bonfire tonight :)
