My Friends are Blue

Lately I’ve been paying more attention to the couple of Eastern Bluebirds that are nesting in one of the bird houses I have in my backyard. They are taking turns in order to gather food to what I suspect are for their new hatchlings. I, as a rule, never like to open birdhouses or pry into nests when they are occupied. I keep myself neutral and do not interfere with their lives. That’s one thing that all birds seem to appreciate, no interference in their daily routines and they feel comfortable.

We have had many rainy days and the ground is soft and I imagine that worms are closer to the surface, that makes them vulnerable to be pecked off the muddy ground. (See photos, birds are wet)

The female Eastern Bluebird is an ace for getting worms, at a rate of one every tree minutes. She’s amazing. The male bluebird was there to protect the nest and to gather seeds from the feeders. They’ve been very visible and busy going back and forth bringing food to the nest.

The competition out there is fierce, I’ve seen E. Starlings, C. Grackles and B. Thrashers going around pecking the ground for worms, grubs, etc.

My hope is that I get to photograph the bluebird when they fledge. I wish that they stay for a little while.

Photo Gallery

E. Bluebird (M)

E. Bluebird (F)

E. Bluebird (M)

E. Bluebird (F)

E. Bluebird (M)

E. Bluebird (F)

E. Bluebird (M)

Tags: birds, Eastern Bluebird, nature, photography, photos of birds

31 thoughts on “My Friends are Blue”

Christine Ledford on May 1, 2015 at 8:22 am said:

Pretty birds, HJ. 🙂

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- avian101 on May 1, 2015 at 10:42 am said:
  
  Thanks Christine! 🙂
  
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susanpoozan on May 1, 2015 at 8:26 am said:

What a wonderful blue they are. This email finished up in my Spam folder, I hope it doesn’t happen again!

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- avian101 on May 1, 2015 at 10:43 am said:
  
  Thank you Susan! 🙂
  
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Jane on May 1, 2015 at 9:17 am said:

So much beautiful blue! How could I not enjoy this gallery. 🙂 I hope you get to photograph the fledglings.

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- avian101 on May 1, 2015 at 10:44 am said:
  
  I’m hoping for that myself! Thank you Jane! 🙂
  
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Aunt Beulah on May 1, 2015 at 9:49 am said:

I spent several minutes catching up on your blog this morning and what a pleasure it was. Your photographs are splendid: varied and real, showing birds at different stages of their lives. Your information and reflections are interesting: teaching me new things about birds I know and introducing me to those I’m not as familiar with. I was glad to see close attention given to pine siskin. My husband and I enjoy them because of their sleek smallness and calmness. Joel approaches them slowly when they’re on our needed and has petted more than one.

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- avian101 on May 1, 2015 at 10:49 am said:
  
  Thank you very much for your kind words and for sharing! I appreciate it! 🙂
  
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SkyLark on May 1, 2015 at 12:59 pm said:

I have the mountain bluebird here in Central Oregon. No eggs yet…

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- avian101 on May 1, 2015 at 1:32 pm said:
  
  Just be patient! 🙂 Thank you Carolyn!
  
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Lisa Rest on May 1, 2015 at 1:20 pm said:

Great pictures – so lucky to have nesting Bluebirds! I hope the kids stick around for a while too, you can document their growing up. 🙂

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- avian101 on May 1, 2015 at 1:41 pm said:
  
  Last year they fledged and all left, I didn’t get any pictures! Thanks Lisa! 🙂
  
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  - Lisa Rest on May 1, 2015 at 1:48 pm said:
    
    I sincerely hope you get to see more of them this year.
Poetsmith on May 1, 2015 at 3:19 pm said:

Lovely coloured birds! The blue colour is so pleasant and attractive. 🙂 Thanks for interesting text too… 🙂

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- avian101 on May 1, 2015 at 4:29 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much Iris! 🙂
  
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  - Poetsmith on May 1, 2015 at 4:54 pm said:
    
    Have a lovely weekend and a pleasure to read your interesting write up! 🙂
tootlepedal on May 1, 2015 at 5:21 pm said:

What pretty birds. You have taken good pictures of them.

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- avian101 on May 1, 2015 at 6:03 pm said:
  
  Thanks Tom! 🙂
  
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Jet Eliot on May 1, 2015 at 5:32 pm said:

Wow, catching a worm every three minutes is really fast and great. Sounds like a successful pair about to expand into a family, how very fun. Beautiful photos, HJ. 🙂

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- avian101 on May 1, 2015 at 6:05 pm said:
  
  Thanks Jet! Birds can be very entertaining! 🙂
  
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forgottenmeadows on May 1, 2015 at 6:02 pm said:

lovely!

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- avian101 on May 1, 2015 at 6:05 pm said:
  
  Thank you Neha! 🙂
  
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  - forgottenmeadows on May 1, 2015 at 6:44 pm said:
    
    You’re welcome 🙂 Happy Friday!
Tiny on May 1, 2015 at 9:48 pm said:

Beautiful gallery of these diligently working parents! I hope you’ll get to see the fledgling…so we too can see them 🙂

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- avian101 on May 1, 2015 at 11:08 pm said:
  
  That would be great! I really hope so! Thanks Tiny! 🙂
  
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Cynthia Traun (Mackowick) on May 3, 2015 at 8:54 am said:

Awe- I love these little guys! So colorful and full of personality!

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- avian101 on May 3, 2015 at 10:09 am said:
  
  You’re right Cynthia! Thanks! 🙂
  
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45DegreesNorth on May 3, 2015 at 9:29 pm said:

What a blessing to have them nest in your backyard! We have 2 boxes and have never gotten them to nest, mostly because the boxes get taken over by the sparrows. This year I invested in live meal worms (expensive!) and a special feeder, so I hope to get them to stick around!! 🙂

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- avian101 on May 3, 2015 at 10:36 pm said:
  
  Never lose hope, maybe this year you might get them to stay. Thanks Amy! 🙂
  
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christybharath on May 6, 2015 at 1:54 pm said:

Your friends are gorgeous, I spy eternal bonds!

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- avian101 on May 9, 2015 at 9:53 am said:
  
  Thanks Christy! 🙂
  
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