Feathers and Fuzz

one woman's cure for the empty-nester blues

Eastern Bluebird

There’s Good News – There’s Bad News

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I have always been one to want to hear the bad news first.  I like the good news last -- ending on a high note.  So, you'll have to follow my lead.  The BIG BAD news is this ...

He's Back!!

Bear is Back - July 2018
Bear on his back July 2018

AND ... He appears to be QUITE comfy here

I will share some video in the coming weeks, but I have to say ... so far he has been quite the gentleman.  Except for the mangling of the trash can, he has carefully pulled the lid off the plastic food containers inside the trash can (no chomping) ... and ... he has even nicely carried them into the woods by their handle.

Even so ... in spite of (Garden) Daddy Bluebird's STRONG objection ... tonight I took his babies (house and all) into the safety of my basement. They are sleeping nicely and safely.  I seriously PRAY my basement is safe!!!  I would tell you I am selling this house if this isn't the case ... but you already know my promises are worthless.

So, for now, that's the bad news.

The Good News Is ...

It has been so fun to watch the juvenile birds appearing at the birdbath and feeders.  I love to watch them explore the world on their own ... boldly behaving as their elders would.

In the feature video, a juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker and a juvenile Northern Mockingbird co-exist.  The Red-bellied is a bit more prepared to do battle than the Mockingbird ... until the juvenile Bluebird shows up.  Then ... for whatever Hatfield-and-McCoy history exists between the Mockingbird Clan and the Bluebird Clan ... the Mockingbird is NOT going to allow the Bluebird into his territory.  It's such a fun contrast to the re-appearance of the black bear.

Egg Rotation During Incubation

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I don't think we've ever talked about egg rotation during incubation.  Female bird parents, at least the songbirds nesting in my bird houses, rotate their eggs frequently during the incubation period.

So why do birds rotate their eggs?  The obvious answer would be to evenly heat the egg while the female parent is sitting on the nest.  However, doing some research, I learned it is much more complex than just heat distribution.  Developing chicks need to "float" in the middle of the egg shell.  Keeping the embryo afloat ensures it gets enough albumen to fuel its growth, and prevents the embryo from sticking to the shell.  I will never cease being amazed at the details of our Creator's design!!

Meanwhile, we wouldn't be human if we didn't study this design at its smallest detail.  Here's a link to a short Audubon article about a study conducted on egg rotation -- artificial eggs inserted in a nest and outfitted with sensors.  Incubating Bird Eggs is More Complex than you Think

In the photos, you will see a nest of Eastern Bluebird eggs in different positions over a 30 minute period.

 

BB Eggs Position 1

9:27

BB Eggs Position 2

9:35

BB Eggs Position 3

10:00