Eastern Bluebird (TX)
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Species: Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
Location: Italy, TX
Status: This nest had a clutch of five eggs, but we believe a predator killed the incubating female so the nest attempt was unsuccessful.
Location: Italy, TX
Status: This nest had a clutch of five eggs, but we believe a predator killed the incubating female so the nest attempt was unsuccessful.
Cam Highlights:
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July 13 - Not quite what we had hoped to be watching in this nest box! We'll hope they don't stay long. |
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June 20 - The nest box was by visited today by this individual. |
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June 14 - This is the first activity we've seen at this nest box in weeks! Let's hope for another nest attempt! |
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May 15 - The male Eastern bluebird has been returning more frequently to the nest box with nest material, but until a female shows up, we cannot be sure if another nest attempt will occur. |
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May 10 - We aren't quite sure who is going to take residence in the box. A male bluebird reappeared after a week with no sightings, but a few hours later so did this large tarantula! |
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May 2 - After the nest was abandoned and cleaned out, another male bluebird has appeared in the box. We will see if he has a mate! |
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April 19 - After several days of not seeing the female incubating eggs, blue feathers were discovered below the nest box, suggesting that a predator took the female. Since male bluebirds lack the brood patch necessary for incubation, these eggs will be abandoned. |
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April 13 - Vocalizations from the incubating female are rare, but frequently the male has been observed giving a low warble outside the nest, especially during egg laying, to reassure her of his presence. |
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April 11 - Bluebirds tend to prefer nest sites that are in open areas with short surrounding vegetation. This avoids the danger of predators hiding in tall grass or nearby trees. |
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April 9 - Depending on the season, Bluebirds range from Ontario all the way to Arizona and down into Mexico and Central America. |
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April 8 - Each one of these eggs weighs about 10% of the adult female, (roughly 3.6 grams per egg). That is a lot of egg for one small bird to produce in five days. |
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April 7 - During the day, the female typically will spend an average of 10-15 minutes sitting on the eggs at one time, but her time spent off of the eggs is usually only a few minutes. |
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April 6 - The two week incubation process will be done by the female alone, the male will provide her with food. |
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April 5 - After some technical difficulties, the camera is finally back online, allowing us to see the clutch of five eggs. |
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March 25 - Females are the only ones who take part in building the nest. Although the male may be seen holding nest material, this is only part of a "nest demonstration display." |
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March 24 - Bluebirds' biggest competitors for nest sites are European Starlings and House Sparrows, but man-made nest boxes like this one have limited this competition. |
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March 23 - Bluebirds are usually monogamous, but typically 20% of a population is raised in a nest by a non-paternal male. |
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March 22 - Although bluebirds have the reputation of being sweet and docile, they actually will fight very intensely for a nest site or mate. |
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March 21 - In just a day, the female has brought in enough nest material to cover the floor of the nest and begin forming the nest cup. |
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March 20 - The female has begun building her nest, a good sign that she has accepted this box! |
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March 19 - Seeing the male and female in the box together illustrates how much brighter the male is compared to the female. |
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March 18 - The male shows off the nest site to his mate in hopes she will want to stay. |
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March 16 - A shot of a brilliant male Eastern Bluebird inside a new nest box in Texas. |