Feathers and Fuzz

one woman's cure for the empty-nester blues

Feathers

Eastern Bluebird in Labor – First Egg

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I don't know what it is about watching videos about labor that gives me pause, but it does.  I suppose that explains why, in all my years of capturing bird videos and photos, I never previously saved an image of labor.  Okay, so I did it -- and survived to write about it.

Truthfully, bird-labor isn't very graphic.  In less than a minute, from the onset of labor to delivery of the egg, it's over.  I marvel at how these tiny little creatures can hold and produce a marble-sized object.  I marvel even more at the fact that, within a 24-hour period, another fully-formed egg develops and is delivered.

The female Bluebird in the video produced 5 beautiful, blue eggs -- one a day -- for five days.  Not to worry -- I just recorded one labor event.  I'll leave the other four to your imagination!

Bluebird - 5 Eggs

Weaving of a Bluebird Nest – Eastern Bluebird

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Before we get to the Weaving of a Bluebird Nest -- a quick update on nesting activity at The Retreat.

There are five nests on camera -- 4 complete and 1 under construction.

Momma Bluebird N on Nest

Bluebird N

Momma Chickadee on Nest

Chickadee

Momma Phoebe on Nest

Phoebe

Momma Wren Leaving Nest AM

Wren

Momma BB S Testing Nest

Bluebird S

Bluebird S (south) just began her nest on the 26th.  Between the other 4 pairs, there are an estimated 18 eggs.  The number is estimated because the Chickadees cover their eggs -- not to be seen until shortly before hatching.

In prior posts I've shown you videos of a Phoebe Nest and Wren Nest being constructed.  In this post's feature video, the weaving skills of a female Bluebird are on display.  From the ground up -- as grass is brought into the nest -- it is woven into a cup.  The process is so successful that when the nest is removed (human intervention) after the last nestling fledges, the entire nest holds together as a unit.  I call the weaving process:  Tuck - Kick - Spin - Repeat.  I think you'll see why.

 

FIRST HATCH ESTIMATED:  APRIL 9