Eastern Bluebird family

Lovely shots Duane, you got a full range of poses there.

butterfly2937 wrote in post #16919443
Thanks for the info. Do they always change to a new box for their next brood? I would think this nest will keep the couple busy until July sometime. Is this likely the final nest? I read you are suppose to clean out the box once the babies fledge because they do not return to the nest box.

They won't re-use a nest from my understanding. I read you are supposed to clean out the nextbox the day or the day after they fledge and the adults might use it again or select another nest site close by their original one. My Bluebirds started building (female does the nest building and the male selects the nest site) a few weeks before her first brood fledged. I have two nestbox's up in my yard about 50' apart so mine moved next door...thankfully the Chickadees that used it already fledged and I had it cleaned and ready. I also read they may nest up to 4 times in a year but in my area 2 times is normal. Of course....both of the adults are checking out the original nestbox now so I think they may nest one more time this year. The male hasn't placed his one piece of Pine straw in it yet to claim it but I'm checking it daily just in case.

Wow, very nice! If you can believe I have actually never seen a bluebird.

Nice series Duane.

These are just too cool, Duane. Fabulous series.

Duane, you have taken many remarkable photos of the Bluebirds this spring, well done. I have a nesting pair in my yard but have failed miserably to capture them on camera.
I have had them nest 3 times here where I live, by summers end there can be a very large number of them in the yard at any given time. My boxes are located at the edge of my yard next to hay and grain crop fields. They love the short grass in the yard to catch insects as spring turns to summer and the hay gets tall, sure enjoy having them around.

The pair at my house had picked their nest box and had 4 or 5 eggs in it, I looked a few days later and the nest had been busted up. I noticed them using the birdhouse in the front yard so I checked it out the other day and there are 4 or 5 babies in it.

Yesterday as I was going to feed my hounds I noticed something in the first house so I opened the door to see what was inside... There was a black snake curled up inside. Now I know why the first nest was busted up I guess.

That's a shame about your Bluebirds. Consider putting some stove pipe around the pole (if the house is mounted like that) and seal off the top opening of the stove pipe so no fledglings fall inside the stove pipe and that should keep the snakes out of the houses.

Duane N wrote in post #16918251
Thank you everyone for the replies.


I've been patient and it only took 6 years to get a pair of Bluebirds to move into my yard. Although my yard can support them with natural food and plenty of shelter it took a lot of mealworms to get them to stay and nest. I can finally document the nesting process of Bluebirds and I hope to continue to do so in the years to come. I've learned a lot and why I enjoy this hobby.

Very sweet photos of your Bluebird Family Duane...

And big congrats on getting them to nest with you. I know you tried for years to get a pair established... (as many of us also had to do). I'll reply to your post about the behavioral and family dynamics stuff in the other thread shortly.

We wish you and your Bluebirds continued success.

Best regards,

Kenn