Eastern Bluebird (Heath1, KY)
This is an archived account of the first nesting attempt from Heath Elementary School.
Species: Eastern Bluebird
(Sialia sialis)Location: Paducah, KY
Outcome: Our cameras went down just prior to fledging, but we believe all five young fledged successfully.
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April 18 - By day 12 the chicks should be almost completely
feathered, except for their backs, which will be covered by the end of
day 13. |
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April 16 - The female displays a behavior called Tremble-Thrusting
in which she grabs the very bottom of the nest and shakes it
vigorously. This unique behavior to females is thought to be used to
shake parasite larvae out of the nest, away from the chicks. |
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April 15 - Bluebirds are known for their meticulous nest-keeping
skills, evident here as the female leaves the nest with a recently
deposited fecal sac. |
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April 14 - The young birds are starting to stretch out and move much more, especially during feeding time. |
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April 13 - By now the chicks should all have their eyes open, and a distinctive amount of feathering should be evident. |
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April 12 - We finally have our first shot that indicates all 5 eggs gave rise to 5 healthy chicks. |
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April 11 - The bluebird chicks are now alone in the box throughout
the day and both the male and female are continually hunting for food
for them. |
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April 8 - By the time they are only a day old bluebird chicks are
able to display the stereotypic Begging Posture, (open beaks, calls,
and up-stretched necks). |
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April 7 - The female will continue to brood the naked chicks for
5-7 days after hatching until the chicks are able to maintain their own
body heat. |
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April 6 - Within about a two hour time period this morning the
first four eggs hatched and finally by about noon the fifth one did as
well. |
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April 5 - With the advent of metal fence posts and increased land
management strategies that eliminate snags in forests, it has become
increasingly important to provide nest boxes for bluebirds. |
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April 4 - Most bluebird eggs hatch within the first few hours after dawn, and seem to be highly synchronous in their timing. |
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April 3 - The male checks in on the eggs. He shouldn't have to wait
much longer as we are expecting the eggs to hatch within the next few
days. |
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April 2 - The female may be calling to the male for a meal, as it is his responsibility to feed her. |
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March 31 - A single bluebird egg is usually ~10% of the females
total body mass. So if she lays a five egg clutch in five days, she has
to produce 50% of her own body mass in less than a week! |
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March 30 - The brilliantly colored male makes a brief and rare stop by the nest,
perhaps just to guard it while the female takes a break from incubation. |
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March 29 - The colorful plumage of the bluebird and their willingness to nest in
nest boxes makes them among the most watched, and most beloved birds in North
America. |
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March 28 - Most Eastern Bluebird eggs are pale blue, with white eggs being the
exception. This appears to be a genetic trait, and clutches are either all blue
or all white. |
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March 27 - Incubation lasts anywhere from 11 to 19 days in length, with an
average of 14, seemingly regardless of latitude or altitude. |
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March 26 - The female is the only one who incubates the eggs, and she typically
will sit for 10-15 minutes at a time during the day and all throughout the
night. |
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| March 25 - The female typically will lay one egg per day, but she
normally will not begin incubation until the last egg or second to last
egg (penultimate) has been laid. |
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| March 24 - Bluebird clutches range from 3-7 eggs and average 5 in the spring
season and 4 in the summer. |
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March 23 - Our very first image from the Heath Elementary cam in Kentucky
reveals that the female has already laid five eggs! |
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