A day ahead of (my) schedule, the Bluebird eggs began hatching on April 8. The first hatch was about 10:30 a.m. The last of the five eggs hatched early on the morning of April 9.

Even after years of watching God's creation at the tiniest detail, I am still in awe. An itty, bitty embryo matures within a tiny egg in just 14 days. It saws a crack in that egg. The shell cracks. Almost immediately, the hatchling unfurls and has both the instinct and strength to raise its head and open its beak wide to beg for food. Amazing!!

Not to be out-done, the Eastern Phoebe's 5 eggs hatch on April 9 -- also one day ahead of my schedule.