Nestbox Project
This evening I talked Grace in joining me as I visited all of the Bluebird Nest Boxes here in Allegany State Park. I am proud to announce that we located two Eastern Bluebird with 5 eggs in their box. The first nest had the female incubating her eggs . . . . .
. . . . and of course I forgot to turn my macro feature on as I stuck the camera in the box. This second-year (born last summer) female was banded and then placed back in her nest box (after a few photos). We located other Bluebirds with their nest build but have not laid their eggs yet! It appears this “might” be my best Bluebird year that I have had in a very long time (lets hope all the birds follow through without any problems). Tree Swallows have also just started building their nest and was fun seeing a few feathers in their boxes (the feathers are what Tree Swallows cherish most)!
EABL Nest 1 and EABL Nest 2
I probably should remind everyone that I monitor around 50 nest boxes (80% are bluebird boxes) here in the Allegany State Park area. Aside from this project that I have two additional boxes back behind my house that I watch. The bluebirds their have not laid any eggs yet and I think this should happen any day now (this is the pair in my bluebird soaps). I was much happier with these results than what I had a few weeks ago with all the dead Tree Swallows that I was finding.
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Oh, the lovely blue of those tail feathers, and the pale blue eggs. Bluebirds are such a treat for people like me (amateur where birds are concerned). And here you have a whole host of bluebirds to observe.
3 May 2007 at 10:51 pm
Even without the macro feature that’s a heart-warming picture. I guess there’s nothing sweeter than the thought of Bluebirds and eggs and the nice people watching over them :0)
3 May 2007 at 10:56 pm
Time for my semi-monthly “when is Tom going to do that photo essay for National Geo” comment.
T- dude. You are SO good. They vibe with you, ya know? (insert Tom’s self-deprecation here. Folks, I am sure he wants to kill me when I post these comments, but bear with a nature starved librarian who wants to see her friend in those coveted glossy pages!!!!!! )
[smile]
3 May 2007 at 11:43 pm
Great pictures, Tom! Wow! I haven’t put up any nest boxes (yet!) but I will someday. I know it’s a ton of work but I think you are very lucky to get to be so close to bluebirds. Keep the pictures coming!!
4 May 2007 at 12:02 am
-That’s good news after reading about some Bluebird nestbox disasters.-nice photos -thanks
4 May 2007 at 5:53 am
You certainly sound invigorated, Mon@rch! Good reasons, too! Enjoy those bluebirds. One day I hope to have some nest boxes…
4 May 2007 at 8:17 am
@ KGMom – they are a treat to many of us that deal with birds on a regular basis! Thanks
@ Cathy – That’s part why I uploaded the picture! It shows the hard work the mother bluebird has to go through!
@ Jen – you are continuing to give me a bigger head than what I have already! Thanks but still not at the Nat Geo level!
@ Liz – you should put up some boxes but they do take a great deal of work!
@ Larry – Thanks and was very happy with the results!
@ Mary – I always have so many projects that I am involved in, I still don’t know how I have time for the blog! Do get some, they are very rewarding!
4 May 2007 at 12:32 pm
Had a great time checking the boxes with you. Thanks for the invitation. Was busy today with the school program,and still haven’t looked at the video clips I took.
The macro (oops) picture might not be Nat Geographic material, but those cute pictures of the tree swallows surely would.
5 May 2007 at 1:42 am
They’re wonderful (the birds and the pictures)!
5 May 2007 at 11:49 am
I’m so happy that bluebirds are nesting. Thanks for sharing these pictures with us.
5 May 2007 at 1:46 pm
@ Grace – So glad you came! Was fun and can’t wait to see how they turned out!
@ MLight – thanks!
@ Barb – Me too! Thanks for visiting, thats what motivates me in posting more!
6 May 2007 at 12:20 am