Battle for the Boxes

It's been a busy time in our backyard!  With the return of the tree swallows, there has been some competition for nest boxes going on between them and our bluebirds.  I'm hoping everything has settled down now and they are all happy with their boxes... but it was tough going there for awhile.

I think our bluebirds may have 'won' the box closest to our window, which they have been hanging out at the most.  You can see Papa on the top and Mama inside (at least you can see part of her tail).

The tree swallows seem to be using the upper box.

Which is also good!  There was some handy nesting material on the ground nearby.

But, first, there were some issues that had to be resolved.

The bluebird pair also liked the back box... and the tree swallows were checking out the front box.  
Things were bound to get complicated.

I thought Papa Bluebird would be the one to settle things.

I mean, he was the one sitting on the upper box right under the tree swallow.

And he was the one who seemed to zoom into action.
But a second later, when there was a fight between the tree swallow and a bluebird, it turned out to be Mama Bluebird who defended her territory (or at least set things straight!).

Both birds few away from this fight (which actually lasted several seconds)!

Peace seems to be back, for now at least.

In this photo, Mama Bluebird is sitting on top of the front box, Papa Bluebird is on the rear left fencepost, and a tree swallow is on the front of the back box.

The bluebirds and the tree swallows have, I think, worked things out!  There are several other boxes nearby, which hopefully will be used if house wrens want one! (Or chickadees... my husband saw a chickadee coming out of the front box one day).

This dark-eyed junco was no threat (they usually nest on the ground) but stopped by for a visit.  Mama didn't even seem to notice.

One day, a yellow-shafted flicker flew by just as I was taking Mama's picture.

 Mama and Papa Bluebird both have been catching lots of bugs in our yard.  They often fly up on top of their box to smash and then eat them.

Which may be why this American robin checked out the top of the box.  Smelled good, I wonder?

We never use pesticides or any other chemicals on our lawn.  I think it's beautiful just the way it is, with dandelions and violets blooming in it right now. 

 The birds certainly seem to like it, and that's good enough for me!

Update: Mama Bluebird is sitting on 4 eggs in the front box! 

A Few Moments with Mama and Papa Bluebird

Yesterday morning our bluebirds had a little kerfuffle*.  Mama and Papa Bluebird have been hanging around our yard every morning for awhile now-- keeping an eye on our nesting boxes.  They've had a relatively easy time of guarding one so far, since their main housing competitors (here at least) -- tree swallows and house wrens; aren't back yet.  But then yesterday morning I glanced out the window to see both of them chasing another bird.  It happened so quickly, I didn't even see what kind of bird it was; but whatever it was... it got too close to their box.  The bluebirds fiercely chased it away and then came back to guard the box.

Immediately after the altercation, they both sat on top of the box for awhile,  looking this way and that.

Mama must have gotten some feathers slightly out of whack, because next she took a minute to preen.

Then Papa went to sit nearby on the fence.  The coast was clear, it seemed.

Although he still looks ready to take on any trouble makers.

Meanwhile, Mama sent him a message that she needed to make sure things were alright inside the house.

So he stood watch while she checked.

She hopped right on inside for a moment, while he anxiously waited.

Then she came out and flew to the fence post...

and then he also took a peek inside.  Phew, that was a close call.

All was right again in their world.  (By the way, they haven't started taking nesting material into the box yet).

Then, Papa felt comfortable enough that he could even sing.  He's singing in the next photo... see how his throat is puffed out?  Did you know that birds can sing with their bills closed?  Click here to read an article about how birds can do that.

 In the next photo, you can see the difference in his throat when he's not singing.

Mama bluebird was not long distracted by the incident either.  She flew up to a higher vantage point to watch for something to eat.  She didn't even seem to mind the strange thing up there.

Looks like it could be a bluebird spaceship, doesn't it?  (It's a weather station my husband got for Christmas).

* kerfuffle - "a commotion or fuss" -  I have a friend who uses this word fairly often, and it seemed fitting for this story.  I was so surprised that spell checker knew it!

Bluebirds of Happiness

Does the weather affect your moods? I know it can mine!  Lately we've been having dark, foggy, and rainy days... and I'm thankful for the rain because it was getting quite dry.  But this time of year-- after most of the pretty leaves are gone and a lot of the birds have flown south, well, it can be a little depressing.  So it really gave my heart a lift to have a flock of bluebirds in our yard yesterday morning.  They aren't called 'Bluebirds of Happiness' for nothing.  (There is even a wikipedia page on that subject, here's a link!)

In the early morning fog, I went out on our deck to fill the birdfeeders and I heard the soft, sweet sound of a bluebird.  Then I heard a few bluebirds talking to each other.  (Listen here)  As I looked around, I saw a flock of them flitting around our garden!

After nesting season is over, it's typical to see bluebirds in flocks.  I've read they can gather in flocks of up to 100.  Wouldn't that be something to see!  I estimated this flock at 12 to 14 birds.  I could only estimate, because none of them were still for long.  They were busily checking out all three nearby nesting boxes.

I wonder if the next box looked familiar?  It is the house that 3 babies fledged from this summer.

I also wondered if the male in the following photos is the same bird who was not so graceful at sitting on the garden fence when he was a youngster?  (There's a video of that in this post.)

Oh well, it was wet and probably slippery!  He looks more elegant in the next two photos.

My field guide range maps for eastern bluebirds show our area as on the northern edge of where they typically spend the winter.  Our property list of birds (first sightings for the year)  that we've kept since 2008 records eastern bluebirds on January 14, 15, March 14, 15th, and one year as late as April 8th.  Of course the years when we saw them later they could have been around somewhere. 

We do have a number of nesting boxes for them to use, but I've never feed them meal worms.  (Being insect and berry eaters, they aren't interested in bird seed).  However, there is a collection of online data called Project Feeder Watch that does list eastern bluebirds.  It's very interesting to see the increase in numbers of bluebirds over the years since 1989.  Here's a link to Project Feeder Watch.  You'll have to enter the species name 'Eastern Bluebird' in the box to see that particular data.  It's well worth a look!

And keep looking for bluebirds... there is one in this picture:

He's really in there, here's a close-up to help you find him:

 I hope you have a happy day!

Nesting News

It's been awhile since I've given you an update on the nesting situation here.  If you've been reading along, you may remember the bluebirds' dilemma over which box to choose.  They have several choices close by our house.  Three in the backyard, and others nearby, too.  Even though we give the birds numerous choices, they still compete for housing.

Box # 1 has been taken by the House Sparrows (also called English Sparrows).

That's the female on top of the box, and the male clinging onto the hole on the front.
They've already built a nest inside.  Here the female has something nice and soft to add:

The male looks rather noble in the next photo-- standing guard, but they are not known for their patrician disposition. They are more thought of as nasty aliens (which they are, since they were introduced to America from Europe in 1851) who take over nesting spots from our native bluebirds. 

They have already built their nest.

Nest box # 2 seemed to be the bluebirds favorite, until the tree swallows showed up.

But even which tree swallows will succeed in using it might be in question!

"Mine!"              "No, Mine!"

One pair decided briefly to investigate house # 3:

But I'm still hoping the bluebirds will use that one, and they seem to be keeping an eye on it.

even while the tree swallows are nearby.

In other locations, I have not seen the chickadees at the box they were looking over recently.  But I do know where there is a nest of another sort....

It took a trip by kayak to take a look.  Can you see where it is?

How about now?

I waited til the goose decided I was too close for comfort and swam off before scooting in quickly to get these shots:

In other nesting news, so far this year the great-blue herons have not been using the old heron nest.  But an osprey stopped by on April 19th and sat there eating a fish.

I crept up as close as I could (on land) and he didn't seem to mind.  There was still a lot of water between him and me that day.

It's fun to see the heron nest from the kayak, too... gives it a different perspective.

Too bad the heron nest isn't going to have babies in it this year, but the old tree is still good for lots of birds to perch on. I guess getting old isn't all bad!

This old tree gets to have herons, red-winged blackbirds, tree swallows, kingfishers, an occasional osprey and bald eagle for company.  Sometimes even a strange lady in a blue kayak!