In my last post, I made reference to a fledgling's food-begging behavior.  As if on cue, two of the Eastern Bluebird fledglings showed up at the worm feeder to put on a food-begging show.  In the feature video, you will clearly see their yellow-lined, gaping beaks and the repeated flutter of their wings as they make their best effort to draw Daddy Blue's attention.  When you are out and about, if you see two birds together -- one with gaping beak and fluttering wings -- you are no doubt seeing a parent and a recently-fledged youngster.

Meanwhile -- The Nests Keep Coming

We are now up to 10 nests in 2018.  The "rural" Bluebird pair are preparing for Brood #2 in the East house.   After the black bear's visit, I took down the South house -- it's getting relocated!  The 10th nest under construction belongs to a pair of House Finches.  This is an on-camera first for The Retreat.  The pair chose the platform used by the Carolina Wrens in 2017.  This platform sits almost-directly over my outdoor grill.  Last night, when  I headed out to preheat the grill, I received quite a scolding from momma Finch.  Apparently I was impeding her construction schedule.  She was perched in a nearby tree - beak full of grasses.

In the photo of the Finch nest, you will see the female Finch in the nest.  The male is perched on the side of the platform with his red head barely discernible in the available light.  I found it interesting to observed yet another variation in how a nest is properly constructed -- noting the greenery used by the Finch in the nest's foundation.  This is in contrast to the Wren's woven castle of grass and leaves -- the Bluebird's exclusive use of grass/pine straw -- and the Chickadee's complex layers of moss, grass, and "down".