Bluebird Updates

The Bluebird pairs that had used House S (East fence line) and House R (Southeast corner) fledged their chicks a couple of weeks ago.

A couple of days ago I confirmed the following:

House S has four LOVELY eggs nestled in perfect, grass nest. It’s not an absolute, but a good guess that this is the same pair that fledged chicks from the same location. I sat for a good long while waiting to see any activity around the house, but didn’t see anything. So, I took a peek. The fact that there are four eggs and that I didn’t see the female setting on the eggs (remaining in the house for long spells) I think she may lay another egg or two before starting to incubate.

House R: A Bluebird female is setting on eggs. I didn’t disturb her to confirm the egg count. But, her behavior suggests that she’s incubating.

House O is located at the back (south side) of the single acre we hold that is set across the street from our old house. I observed a Bluebird Couple there. I didn’t see them taking food into the house. I suspect the female may be setting on eggs. Again, I didn’t disturb them since they were act around the house. I took the first two photos from across the street (at a long distance) but I was still able to capture a “somewhat in focus” image of the female hopping from the roof and making a turn in mid air to grab hold of the ridge of the hole.

Activity in the location between House R and House O was interesting, albeit it quite a distance to shoot.

I would guess that the distance between the two houses is 250 – 350 feet. In a large tree, about 30 feet from House O, I spotted a brief, but distinct flash of blue color. It was about 30 feet up the tree. I aimed and snapped. What it turned out to be was a male Bluebird feeding a recent fledgling. I suspect it was the male from House R – where I the pair raised a first brood this season. But, I suppose it could have been the mate of the female that I filmed in House O. Regardless, they are a couple of sweet photos, even if a bit fuzzy for the distance.

House C is in the southwest section of the property, near the entrance to the pond. Earlier this year, I saw thick sticks protruding out of the hole. That’s evidence of House Wrens. That made sense, since the location is fairly close to the scrubby trees that surround the pond (which is favored habitat for Wrens while Bluebirds like a more open location for their nest.) However, I never looked inside the box nor did I ever see any distinct activity when I visited that area this Spring. I decided to take a look inside, and found these five beauties! Again, since I didn’t see Bluebirds around, I assume the female hasn’t begun to set on the eggs…. or, of course, the chance exists that the pair abandoned the nest due to some external hardship.

My final Bluebird update from June 1 brought an interesting situation to light.

On the west side of the far north end of the pond – between the Ponderosa Pines and the Canopy, sits House E. It’s position is challenging for me to access, especially when we have a very wet Spring, like this year. I worry that I will get my golf cart stuck in the mud. There’s a tight turn-around to line up in a way that makes it easy to film. So, for the most part, I have just watched it from afar, as I drove past on my way to other areas of our property. A couple of weeks ago, I observed a female looking out of the hole, which usually indicates that she was incubating eggs.

The other day, I stopped by that house quite late in the day. I finally felt comfortable approaching it via the lower path that runs along the pond which can be a bit sketchy if the soil is quite wet. As I passed the lowest section, I saw these aquatic lilies in bloom near the edge of the water.

Not far from those lovely blooms, past the old tractor that has been sitting in wait of repair for a few years, I approached House E. It was late and the bugs were coming out for blood for the evening. I wasn’t sure it would be worth the anguish to wait for activity. However, just as I had that thought, I saw a bird land on the house.

It wasn’t a Bluebird. Rather it was a House Wren. My heart sank. A few years ago I watched a wren kill all of the day-old Bluebirds in a house I had been filming for days. The poor Bluebird parents observed from a branch in a nearby tree. The House Wren is a native species, and it is going to do what it needs to survive. There’s no morality in Nature. But, it can still be unnerving to observe such a thing.

The House Wren entered the house and I aimed and filmed.

In the last photo you can see the remnants of a nest that the Wren is tossing out of the house. Seeing that (which I didn’t actually perceive until I was back in my office and reviewed the images) made me feel a bit better. It’s likely that that the Bluebirds had already fledged their chicks and the Wren was taking over an empty house.

Still, didn’t know any of that at the time. What I knew, was that the Wren flitted off when a male Bluebird showed up. He took a position atop the house where he remained until I could no longer be subjected to the mosquitos and headed for home. My best guess is that he was acting like a typical male Bluebird that has claimed a house and is waiting for his mate to decide upon the house as a place to build a nest. Perhaps, the Wren would not take the risk of trying to assume ownership of Box E.

While I suggest in the video that I would have the time to return to the house the following day, I wasn’t able to accomplish that mission and today it’s raining. Hopefully, I can get out there in the next day or so to see what is happening in House E.