In flight

I am concentrating on capturing the Bluebirds in flight as they return to the nest box to feed the babies.

Click on photos for a larger view.

Baby Bluebirds

I stuck my little camera inside the nest box today to see how much the babies have grown. I can only see 4 babies even though there were 5 eggs. It's possible the fifth baby bird is hidden underneath the four visible ones but chances are the egg did not hatch. The Bluebird babies are about 8 or 9 days old now and will probably fledge from the nest box by the end of next week. I will not try to get any more pictures inside the box because disturbing them at this stage could cause the babies to leave the nest box prematurely.

Click on photo for larger view.

Busy Bluebirds

Both parents are very busy trying to keep the five babies fed. During the nesting season, the Bluebird's main diet consists mostly of insects and other invertebrates such as crickets, spiders, beetles and may also include grasshoppers and katydids. Other food items include earthworms, spiders, millipedes, centipedes, sow bugs, and snails. During fall and winter they switch over to berries and fruit when necessary. These 2 Bluebirds seem to find a lot of spiders and worms as you can see in the pictures below. They have had to be careful about flying down in my yard to get any bugs because the mockingbird that has a nest in my neighbor's yard dives down and attacks them on the ground.

Click on photos for a larger view.

Weekend update

I've been busy this weekend and haven't had much time to post. The Bluebirds have still been very busy feeding the new babies. I got this shot this morning of the male bringing the female breakfast. From the looks of it she is ready for him to drop it in her mouth.

Click on Photos to view larger

A Clematis vine blooming in my yard.