Friday, July 17, 2015

Bluebirds! Season 5. Episode 9. Finale.

Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA
And so the season ends. Actually, there are two boxes with birds still in them but they'll be fledged and empty by next week. So my job is done. Until later in the summer when I go out with a scrubber and disinfectant to prepare the boxes for next year. But unless I find a mouse (or a very late wren's nest) that will go unreported.
Dive-bombing Tree Swallow, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA
There weren't a lot of swallows out on the meadow but the ones that were there quickly found me as I approached one of tree swallow boxes. The season's last dive-bombs.
Dive-bombing Tree Swallow, Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA
One would think they might be a little more appreciative. As for the bluebirds, they successfully left the box but I've not seen them since. The father bluebird spends the day singing and fly-catching. I'm assuming he's got them hidden somewhere.

I'm going to pretend he's singing in appreciation of the sparrow banishment that made his family possible.

Friday, July 3, 2015

Bluebirds! Season 5. Episode 8. Life (and death) continues.

Charles River Peninsula, Needham, MA
The tree swallow second brood attempts have been a mixed bag. Box 1 is moving right along.
Tree Swallow nestlings, Box 1
But box 7 never got going and the one chick in box 14 was dead.
Cracked eggs in shallow nest, Box 7
So it was with some trepidation that I opened the bluebird box.
Eastern Bluebird nestlings, Box 16
Hooray! Ready to fledge within the week. I hope.