New Eastern Bluebird Chicks Arrive
The Eastern Bluebird chicks from this spring's first brood left the nest about 4 weeks ago. As the parents will not reuse a nest, I cleaned out the nest from the nesting box. The parents quickly built a new nest, then laid and incubated the second brood. And, here they are.
These bluebird chicks are no less than 12 and no more than 36 hours old. The two photos show four hatched chicks; all are alive as each has moved position from one photo to the next. There is one remaining and apparently unhatched egg. These new bluebirds will leave the nest in about 2 1/2 weeks.
These photos and the ones of the first brood this year were taken with the nest removed from the nesting box. I check the box, but do not remove the nest, about every two days. Any parent in the box will fly out when I am about 5 feet from the box. The male will incubate the eggs during the day. When I remove the nest, I use a large spatula to support the bottom of the nest. Camera at the ready, it is a two person exercise. I return the nest within 30 seconds. The nest of grass returns easily to the box. I remove the nest for photos no more that twice per brood. The parents quickly return to feed and care for the chicks.
Many thanks to Maegan and Ashley from the Walden Glen Road Habitat (home of Sneaky the Raccoon) in Madison County, Alabama, for their help in the photographing of these new born chicks.
Madison, AL
