The babies have flown!
Friday morning I watched as the single bluebird mother's brood
successfully fledged. All four of them! Within minutes of each other,
they took the leap from their nest box and flew amazingly well to the
nearest leafy tree. My photos of the novice flyers are blurry
because they were so fast. Of course I cheered from my kitchen
window as each youngster graduated into the big wide world. Full credit to that hard-working and capable little mother. She cleverly found plenty of food to raise four healthy youngsters. Oh, and for bonus points, she kept that nest scrupulously clean!
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The devoted mom makes a final food deliver to the box.
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"Come on kids! It's now time to leave home!"
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A youngster works up courage for it's first flight.
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Then drops down and is airborne.
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Seconds later, a nestling decides to follow it's sibling.
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And flies capably into a nearby tree.
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And then another and another! All four babies have safely fledged!
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As it turns out, it's been a very good year for bluebirds on my patch. I have more than a dozen nesting boxes strewn along a monitored trail. Most years these boxes are used exclusively by Tree Swallows. But this year, I've got two boxes that were successfully used by Eastern Bluebirds. The other box is located a couple of fields away and has the benefit of both parents. Most afternoons I see the male using one of my bird baths. His colouring is amazing!
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Another female Eastern Bluebird attends a box further afield.
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This handsome male drops in for a bath most afternoons.
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Peaches are in season. Yum! Mine are socially distancing.
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