A Busy Spring

Spring is going by so fast this year. Maybe it is the lack of sleep due to having a 2 month old that makes time fly by or maybe things are just moving fast because of the extended winter that we had to endure. The bluebirds have already laid 5 eggs, 3 hatched and all 3 fledged but we missed it due to a quick trip to visit family.

This year we decided to try our hand at becoming a purple martin landlord and I know that I have absolutely driven my wife crazy with how I act about them. They are an amazing bird that I can spend hours watching, listening to and fretting over. We were given a house by my martin mentor, which I modified according to the PMCA, enlarging rooms, changing entrances to keep starling out and then we began the waiting game. Waiting is the hardest part.

I know nothing about their behavior so I have scoured the PMCA (purple martin conservation association) forum, reading everything I could find. I doubted my location due to trees and then one day a beautiful male ASY (after second year) bird showed up and took interest in several of the holes but he never stayed the night and after a few days I didn't see him again. The thing about martins is that one day your house is covered up with them and then they vanish and continue their migration. A little over a week ago several SY (second year) birds showed up and began staying the night. They quickly attracted females that shacked up with them and began nest building. Today I checked the box. One compartment had a nice nest built. 2 other compartments had the beginnings of nests. I sat on the back porch and watched as 2 pairs of martins returned to roost in compartments 4 and 6, surprised that no bird entered the almost complete nest. They are a mystery to me and hopefully by the end of this season I will understand them better and be able to provide them with a safe place to raise more martins. I am looking forward to the better weather tomorrow to see what it brings.

3rd Clutch In Texas Heat Was A Success

Only one hatched out of 4. The mother bluebird vanished and dad bluebird took over raising the lone baby. He did a great job. The baby survived several days of 100+ degree days with the heat shields and the mister set up on it. This year we had 7 of 14 hatch and all 7 fledged. Not a bad year. Good work bluebirds. 

Toes out and ready to go. 

Dad Blue in the background watching over his baby. 

Success! First successful bluebird fledging.

Four out of Five eggs hatch.

Day 2 after hatching. One baby was removed. After some research the most likely conclusion was that the baby had died and mother blue removed it. 

Day 18 - Looking both ways before heading out

This little one was in the top of the tree in the front yard before dad blue went and coaxed the baby to fly over the house and into the tree line (green belt)  behind the house. It was very windy and these blues were doing great and clinging on tight. What a treat to be able to witness this.

A final nest check. No sign of the unhatched egg. Mom Blue was a very good housekeeper. Time to clean out the nest box again and see if we can do it all again. 

A Good Morning Visit

This morning there was a backyard birders paradise. 5 bluebirds were flitting about (unfortunately they were on the neighbors birdhouse which is slated for demolition), a golden finch stopped by with a parakeet (didn't get a picture), the hummingbirds were at it and the chickadees and cardinals were going nuts for sunflowers. Also downed a male HOSP without disturbing any of them. Great morning!

Bluebird Disaster

Today I stuck the GoPro in and all I could see was a Leg sticking straight up. My stomach dropped. 2 of the babies were dead in the nest and only one baby was left. It looked healthy but ants had eaten some of his brothers and sisters. Here's to you last little bluebird. 

I put ant killer around the base and did not dare pull the nest with the baby in it. I will do some research and see if I need to pull the nest to clean out under it.

Bluebird Baby Feeding Time

Feeding time. You can hear the babies going nuts for food when the parents enter the nest box.