With a mild winter and an early spring, it’s no surprise that the local birds have responded with nest building activity. Last week I noticed the bluebirds had finished a nest in one of the PVC nest boxes. This was the same box they used to successfully raise two broods of young last year.
bluebird nest in PVC nest box (click on any image to enlarge)
About a week after I found the nest, I saw the first egg. Today, five days later, there are five eggs in the nest. I suspect the female is done laying eggs for this clutch, but a sixth egg would not be that unusual. I will check the nest tomorrow for a final count.
bluebird nest with 5 eggs
The bluebirds are protective of the nest box. One or both of the pair will usually show up within a few seconds of anyone approaching the box. Today the male was on guard duty, and was using the nearby black cherry tree for lookout duties. He is all decked out in his bright blue spring plumage.
male bluebird in cherry tree
I’ve been putting up bird nesting boxes for almost 30 years now, but I still get pretty excited when I see birds using the boxes. I have a special affinity for bluebirds. They were there waiting for me when I moved to a small farm in Kentucky back in the mid-80s. And they were all over the rural property at the plant where I worked, so I put up a trail of nest boxes there. I knew when we moved here to Happy Acres that it was also prime bluebird habitat, so I can’t say I was surprised when they showed up here.
Puddin and Dusty watching from porch
Watching over the operation this morning were our two cats, safely inside on the screened porch. Dusty and Puddin are slowly but surely becoming buddies. And that is a good thing. I hope you are having a joyous Friday!