The Bluebird Diaries - Chapter 6

Look how much my babies change in just two days!

The first picture was taken when they were four days old; the second picture was made when they were six days old. They are getting so fuzzy!

Of course, their eyes aren't open yet, and they still sleep a lot, but they sure know it when Mister Blue or I come to the nest with a bug! Such a racket as you've never heard!

The temperatures here dropped twenty degrees one day this week. Imagine, going from 87 one day to 67 the next. Well, you can be sure I stayed on the nest that entire day. My babies' body temperatures aren't regulated yet, and they needed to be kept warm.

Of course, the next day was back up in the 90's, so they were fine by themselves. The landlord even turned on the hose mister again for us.

This morning our landlord moved the mealworm deli closer to our bungalow. All our kids were with us. They wanted some of those readily-available worms, but we insisted they find their own bugs. These were for the babies! You just can't always make it too easy for kids lest they learn to be lazy.

In this picture, my mouth is full of mealworms! Please pardon my manners, but it's easier to take a mouthful to the nest than one at the time!

BlueBerry likes to go with her dad to feed the babies. She will make a good little mama one day.

Nestlings stay put for about 16 to 22 days before leaving the nest. After that, they'll stay with us for food and protection for three to four more weeks.

Mister teases me about being an empty-nester.

"Bonnie Blue, you won't know what to do with yourself when all these kids fly the coop."

Oh, he just doesn't know!

Next: The wet tee-shirt contest

The Bluebird Diaries - Chapter 5

Last week, I spent nearly all my time on the nest. Mister Blue brought the older kids to the roof across the street, so I could see them.

Of course, they just couldn't stay away from me.

"Mama?" one called, "are you in there?"

"I'm here, BlueBerry."

"Are the eggs hatching yet?"

As a matter of fact, they were!

On Friday, we had two hatchlings! Blue Velvet and Elijah Blue! Aren't they precious?

Mister Blue was beside himself. He passed out mealworms to all the other birds, whether they liked them or not!

He is really good about helping to feed the hatchlings. We both take turns digging up grubs or bugs to bring to them. Mister Blue likes to feed them. He is forever poking his head in the bungalow, just to make sure everything is all right.

The weather didn't get scorching hot again until a couple of days ago, so our babies stayed at a good temperature. Most of the time they sleep.

We keep a close watch now. This is when those poor chickadee hatchlings met their demise. I just don't think I could stand it if something happened to my angels.

Our landlord feels like they're her babies, too! She checks on them nearly everyday. She makes sure they don't get too hot by turning on the hose. It really helps.

Two days later, we had a third hatchling - Jackie Blue! We'll be happy with three babies even if the fourth egg doesn't hatch. No doubt we will stay busy collecting bugs for their hungry bellies as they grow bigger.

There are a lot of finch fledglings twittering around the bird feeder now. They're doing pretty well at landing and cracking their own seeds. Sometimes Mister Blue and I sit on the hook and watch them all. It won't be too long before our own brood will be flitting around, only they won't be eating seeds.

Here are the three hatchlings so far. We are so proud!

Next: Mealworms!

The Bluebird Diaries - Chapter 4

I'm still here.

Like I told you before, the waiting is the hardest part. At least the air is cooler. I can handle temps in the 80's, but any hotter, and I'm dying in here.

Sometimes I get bored.

Other times I daydream.

Quite often, I watch the activity that goes on in our yard and the yard next door.

I watch the landlord refilling the bird feeders and bird baths. Most times her 4-legged barking machines accompany her and pee in the bushes next to our condo. What is it with that? One pees and the other comes along right behind it, and pees in the same place!

Most afternoons, there are lots of boys throwing a ball into a basket in the driveway next door. Sometimes they stop doing that and start chasing each other through their yard, our yard, the yard on the other side, or even the yards across the street. Looks like they're having such fun!

And here are my babies. Bluer than ever and so, so cute! On the left there is Elijah Blue, at the top is Blue Jean, to the right is Jackie Blue, and at the bottom is Blue Velvet.

Aren't they precious?

I figure I have about a week more to go before one of them starts to peck out of its shell.

Stay tuned!

Next: Hatchlings!

The Bluebird Diaries - Chapter 3

They're all here! The clutch is complete! Four beautiful sky blue eggs! Mister Blue and I are so excited!

We knew we might have anywhere from 3 to possibly 7 eggs. We also knew that our second brood of the breeding season would likely number fewer than the first. Four eggs are just right!

And now, we wait. 12 to 14 long days and nights. Once incubation begins, it must be continuous. This is going to be the hard part.

Mister Blue comes to check on me regularly.

"Bonnie Blue?" he calls, "is there anything I can get you?"

He is just the sweetest bird. I hope these babies have his thoughtful genes.

All he needs to do for me, though, is mind those older fledglings. That and make sure I'm not disturbed.

Wouldn't you know that I would pick the hottest days of the year so far to begin sitting on these eggs? Some folks might think it's hot enough for them to incubate themselves, but I'm not taking any chances. I stay on them as long as I can stand it, and then I take a short break to cool off and have a snack.

Our landlord is concerned about me. She knows how hot it must get inside this little bungalow, especially in the afternoon sun. On days that the temperatures go into the 90's, she sets up a garden hose to spray mist around the condo.

She remembered a visit to Las Vegas one summer when it was too hot to breathe. Many of the resorts had cool mists blowing out at the entryways. It made it much more comfortable to wait outside for a taxi. I guess she figures misting my house will lower the temperature a few degrees.

I must say, it has been more tolerable. I can stick my head outside the door, open my beak, and feel the spray on my face.

Our landlord is so good to us. First the veranda, now the cool mist. Maybe she'll add some additional condos for next season. If she does, we'll sure have to tell our friends about this place.

I wish you could see Mister Blue dive-bombing that chipmunk over there. He's very selective about who gets to hang around the neighborhood.

I figure I have about 10 or 11 more days to go. Stay tuned!

Next: Bonnie Blue names the babies.

The Bluebird Diaries - Chapter 2

The neighborhood is quickly becoming a din of cheeps and twitters. Fledglings are in the trees and on the feeders, noisily calling for their parents to "feed me first!"

The Titmouse family seems to have produced the most babies. My goodness, they are everywhere! There are also many Finch fledglings - both purple finches and gold finches. Mister Blue and I are happy to note some Chickadee fledglings after the unfortunate demise of our bungalow's previous residents.

Now that our nest is decorated just the way I like it, it's time for me to get busy.

While Mister Blue tends to the fledglings from our last brood, I spend the morning in the bungalow. Those little guys do miss their mama, though.

One morning I had a visit from Blue Chip. He couldn't figure out how to navigate our veranda, since his nest was without one. It was just as well. I didn't really care to address his issues at the same time I was concentrating on egg-laying!

I shooed him on back to his dad.

Mister Blue checks on me throughout the morning. He is very attentive like that.

Sometimes we talk about names for the babies. I'm thinking maybe Jackie Blue or Blue Jean or maybe Blue Belle.

"How about Blue Lagoon?" Mister suggested.

You know, I didn't even dignify that one with a response.

No baby of mine will be called Blue Lagoon.

Finally, our first egg arrived! Isn't it just the cutest thing you've ever seen?

I will lay an egg every morning until the entire clutch is laid - usually 3 to 5 eggs. Since this one is blue, they will all be blue. The presence of an odd-colored egg might indicate that some other bird has dumped her egg in my nest! We won't be having any of that.

Next: The days get long and hot.