Eastern Bluebird (CCES1, KY)
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Species: Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
Location: Caldwell County Elementary School, Princeton, KY
Status: A nest attempt was not initiated in this box.
Location: Caldwell County Elementary School, Princeton, KY
Status: A nest attempt was not initiated in this box.
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Apr 17 - Through audio and visual
displays, the male Eastern Bluebird is trying to attract a female. If a
female accompanies the male into the nest box, she is signalling
to him that she wishes to be his mate. |
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Apr 14 - Finally, after a week, a male has been diligently attending to the nest box. |
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Apr 7 - A brief appearance by a male.
Since the bluebirds aren't banded, we can't be sure that they're the
same pair as before the storms. |
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Apr 6 - A lucky shot just as a
female (the same one?) leaves the nest box. This is some reassurance that a pair
might resume nesting here, although activity has been very sparse. |
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Apr 3 - On the night of Apr 2, massive
storms, some spawning tornadoes, swept through the midwestern states,
including Kentucky. As of Apr 4, this is the last sign of life we've
seen in the nest boxes. |
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Apr 2 - The male visits the nest. If
you look very closely, you might be able to see the nest's "finishing
touch," a fine layer of downy feathers. |
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Apr 1 - After several days of diligent building, the nest is already complete. |
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Mar 27 - The male continues to bring
twigs into the nest. It's starting to seem that despite what's in the
books, this male is actually aiding the female in nest construction! |
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Mar 26 - The much duller female enters
the cavity. E. Bluebirds exhibit partial sexual dimophism, meaning that
male and female share the same basic plumage pattern, though that of
the female is more subdued. |
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Mar 25 - The male brings a twig into
the cavity. Oddly, this twig is not for nest building; the female alone
builds the entire nest. Instead, the male is probably performing the
complex Nest Demonstration Display. |
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Mar 19 - Here's the male again. This photo really shows off his bright blue plumage. |
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Mar 19 - Could this be the female? The dull coloration may be because of the light, but it's possible. |
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Mar 18 - A sign of life! This male E. Bluebird has visited the nest box several times today. |