Zippitydoodah - Bluebirds
In the spring of 2021 we have had a relationship with front yard bluebirds that is simply awesome. Three clutches and over a dozen babies to date. In general, a week of nest building, eggs laid and two weeks of incubation and a few weeks of growth before fledging. Then only 4 or 5 days before the next nest begins. I do clean out the old nests once babies fledge and I put out dehydrated mealworms and have two bird baths for fresh water daily, but I also know they hunt for bugs and worms as well. The most remarkable thing has been our relationship with the male we named Mr. Mister (remember that 80’s band?). He watches us in the yard and has spent enormous time at our front window NOT just seeing his reflection, but looking in and tracking us as we move about. I am considering doing a photo book for children about the relationship between these parents and babies as it is a remarkable story to have unfolded in your yard. Put up a box. Enjoy.
Mr. Mister chooses the box and the magic begins.
Mrs. quickly goes to work building the nest.
Such an amazing act of teamwork! We could all learn some lessons.
All the colors of the sky…they carry it on their backs and it shows up in their eggs.
So alien like at the beginning but the magic continues.
I only allow myself to lift the lid on the box twice, and do it VERY CAREFULLY.
Throughout the whole process, Mr. Mister spent LOTS of time looking in our front window. Yes, they are supposed to be checking out any competition via their reflection, but he also tracked our movements.
With parents’ encouragement, once they are nearing the right maturity to fledge, they become more and more curious about the world outside the box.
Such a grumpy little look. And still relying on parents for food and fly around like little cherubs. But they follow Papa to the feeder some and even had them look inside the front window with him.
No small wonder my first tshirt design was in celebration of the joy of having bluebirds in the yard. That is my faithful dog Jersey Belle by my side.
