Nest Construction

Yesterday, the construction phase began in earnest.  The female gathered sticks for the nest all day.

Initially, she was not comfortable with the dogs in the backyard while she was trying to build, and she fluttered to the rooftop to guage how much of a threat they were. 

A female sparrow was hanging around as well. 

Sadie was very curious about the fluttering and chirping around the nestbox.



Eventually, the female went ahead with her business despite Sadie's presence. 

The male watched over her.  At one point, when he felt the sparrow was getting too close, he chased it out of the backyard. 

Mom is taking a breather here.  I'm sure construction is exhausting!

Later in the afternoon, the pair surprised me by looking inside my back door.  The female landed on an edge of the backdoor, and the male landed on a patio chair just outside.  By the time it registered with me that they were there, it also registered with the dogs, and they went bananas and scared them away.  I guess they were tired of me watching them all of the time and decided to see how I liked it!

This is the current status of the nest:

It looks almost complete!

Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding!

We have a winner!  The bluebird pair finally made a decision.

May 16:  a few more sticks.

May 18:  nest almost done.

Hopefully, I will get a few nest building pictures today.  I'm so excited that we may have baby bluebirds again!

In the meantime, a few random photographs:

This pair of Robins was on a wire at work.  I think the first picture is a male since the head is darker (he looks like he's wearing a toupee).

Male hummingbird in the rain.

Male Goldfinch.





Mothers

In honor of Mother's Day, and what has to be the hardest job in the world...

Canadian geese and babies...

A pair of barn swallows waiting for me to leave so they can feed their babies...

and finally, a few sticks in the bluebird box!  I'm hoping this is a good sign.

Lady in the Rain

A female hummingbird showed up today in the rain.  Doesn't it seem like a big raindrop would knock her out?

Even though the bluebirds haven't built a nest in the box, the male is still territorial.  Right after this picture was taken, he chased away the sparrow that was a little too close to the box for his liking.

A pretty male Goldfinch also shared his right profile...

and then his left!

Free Rent, Non-furnished

After days of this...

How is it possible that I still have this??

I even checked the nestbox on the grill...nothing!

Do these birds know they have to build the nest themselves?  Nestboxes don't come fully furnished! 

Geez...kids these days expect everything to be given to them, don't they?

Scouting Day #3

The Bluebird pair were back again this morning, but not building a nest yet.  What an indecisive duo!

They spent ALL DAY yesterday checking out the nestbox.  First, he would peek inside.



Then, it was her turn.

Then, they would fly away.  Not long after, they would be back again. Over and over and over.

Even this Finch was like "Are you guys ever going to make a decision?"

They even seemed to contemplate the nest box on my grill!  I don't think these crazy kids know what they are doing.  Not a good choice, but I was able to get some super-close pictures as they considered it. 

 

Do you think there will be a nest in the box when I get home from work?

In other bird news, while I was outside snapping pics of the Bluebirds, this Hummingbird stopped for a drink.  He must be getting lonely.  Not many friends are visiting yet.

Scouting Day #2

Bluebirds are still contemplating the nest box.  The male flapped his wing in the classic mating ritual.

Anyone in there??  The male Bluebird was inside.

I don't believe this is the usual Bluebird pair I see.  This female looks smaller and has a dark mark on her lower right breast (an injury perhaps?).

A pretty Goldfinch accompanied them and stopped in the pear tree.