Bluebirds II

 

The bluebirds are growing fuzzier and stronger and they can now hold their heads up alongside of the nest in between parental treats. That is why I suspect we lost one of the bluebirds. Either the egg didn't hatch or one didn't survive the initial couple days. I have never been able to see all five bodies at once and was always assuming the other one was underneath the scrum but now that they are older, I suspect it was just an egg that didn't hatch. 

I asked my neighbor who the bird house belongs too what happens if the egg doesn't hatch or if the young chick dies? Does the adult birds carry out the remains of the egg or the chick? He didn't know. But again, it makes me wish I had a video camera instead of just sticking my phone in there once a day.

This picture was taken seven days after they hatched, or at least I think they hatched. As I open up the box front, there is maybe a one inch slot between the top of the nest and the roof of the box. This is where I stick the camera end of my phone and with the proper angle, I am able to focus somewhat and take a picture of the nest contents. On this particular time though, as I looked at that slot, I distinctly saw a baby bird giving me the evil eye and when I stuck my phone in, they all had their heads looking anyway but up. They are starting to get feathers already and it still looks like only four chicks.  As full as the nest is looking, they still have another 10 days to go before fledging. 

Finally, yesterday in real time and nine days after hatching, the feathers are distinctly longer and I and definitely getting the evil eye either because I don't look like a bird or I don't have a worm in my mouth. I'm not inclined to figure out which.