4 Chicks Still in the Box

Box #6 is the only active box left in Tarrant Park.

When I opened the box today, the 4 little nestlings were taking a noon siesta.   Once they realized I didn't have food, they put their heads down and closed their eyes.  Hear the zzzz's?

Looks like their feathers are in and they should be taking the big leap any day now.

Abnormal Bluebird Eggs

I checked on the chicks in box #1 today and was surprised.  I 3 newly-hatched chicks and 2 unhatched, abnormal bluebird eggs under them in the nest.

I hadn't noticed the abnormal size and shape of these two eggs when I monitored the box earlier this month.  (A lesson learned about monitoring:  take the eggs out of the nest and put them in your hand to inspect them - even if they look normal in the nestbox).  One egg was round and significantly "dwarfed."  The other was the right shape (oval), but 3mm smaller than a "normal" bluebird egg.

normal egg and the 2 smaller, abnormal eggs

I removed the 2 eggs that hadn't hatched - and compared them with a "normal" infertile egg I'd removed from a box earlier in the summer.  I photographed and measured them.

How to determine if they were fertile?  Easy - I cracked them open.  Both had yellow yolks - no sign of a developing chick.

The three chicks looked fine.

For more information about weird bluebird eggs, check out the North American Bluebird Society website.

Hatch Day in Eau Galle

Box:#1  2 eggs, half a shell and three brand new chicks!

Box #2:  empty

Box #3:  empty.

One Box Left

All but one of the boxes in Tarrant Park are empty

Box #1:  3 chicks fledged.

Box #6:  4 chicks growing feathers.  An attentive female sat on the power line overhead as I checked in on her nestlings.

Chicks in the Park

All but two of the boxes in Tarrant Park have been empty for the 3rd brood.

Box #1:  3 chicks should fledge soon

Box #6:  4 newly hatched chicks

Box #1 has 5 eggs!

I repaired and cleaned all three boxes a couple of weeks ago, and the bluebirds apparently noticed.  We have a full nest in box #1.

Box #1:  5 Bluebird eggs

Box #2:  empty (I put it on a new metal pole in the field about 20 yards from the parking lot)

Box #3:  empty.

Eggs and Chicks

It was almost too steamy to go out to check the bluebird boxes today.  90+ degrees and 70% humidity. 

The insects seemed to be enjoying the heat.  I spotted several butterflies - Red Admirals, sulphurs and Commas, but they were flitting so fast, I couldn't get any photos. 

Box #1 had three chubby chicks.  The hen was sitting on them when I arrived.  She took off when I closed my car door.

Box #6 has 4 bluebird eggs

Boxes 3, 5 and 8 are empty.  I doubt if we'll see a 3rd nest in them this month, but I'll keep checking.