Not At All What I Was Expecting.....

Well, today's post was supposed to be about the bluebirds in our garden. I went out to the box this morning to take photos of the four babies that hatched this week and this is what I found! I was shocked, surprised and saddened.
Our bluebirds have had the roughest time this year. Between other birds trying to make nests in their box and the mockingbird couple, that also have a nest near the garden, that have been trying to run the bluebirds off. I'm not sure what's up with that. They usually get along.
A month ago, there were 4 eggs in the nest, but they disappeared. I wondered if a snake had gotten in and eaten them. I guess I was right.
I'm not quite sure what kind of snake this is. Chicken snake? Rat snake? I posted a couple of photos on flickr onto a snake ID group. If you know what kind of snake this is, please let me know.
He/she dropped to the ground and took off under a shrub before I could get a hold of it. Now, I do love snakes. I used to have a Boa named Clyde when I was a teenager, and I know that they need to eat too, but it makes me sad that it ate the bluebirds. But that's nature for ya.
Until next time.....
UPDATE:  I heard back from the flickr group. My guess was correct. It's a rat snake. Also known as a chicken snake.

Happy Bird-day

I was outside taking garden photos, so I decided to look inside the bluebird box to see what was happening. Much to my surprise, two of the three eggs hatched. Newly hatched baby birds! I quickly closed the lid, so as not to disturb them. At this point, Mr and Mrs B are used to me poking around. Bluebirds are one of the few nesting birds that don't mind if you take a picture or ten. I'll try to take more photos as the babies grow. This shot was taken on June 20.

Enjoy the weekend.

Until next time.....

Wordless Wednesday

Moving Day

We have a couple of bluebird boxes in the back. We also have a bluebird feeder that I bought several years ago, thinking it would be cool to feed bluebirds since they don't eat at regular bird feeders. That's it, in the foreground. We bought the feed and put it out but the bluebirds never came to eat. But they do seem to like to use it as a house. Why not? Great view with an awesome fixed glass window.
Yesterday, a couple decided to move in. I tried to get a few shots of them without freaking them out too much. I didn't want them to leave.
Today I had to till the round bed and transplant peppers. The nest sits in the middle of the round bed.
Below: Mr B staking his claim.

Above: Mr B checking out the progress from the south door.

Below: Mrs B with a mouthful of pine needles. They both build the nest.

Below: I think that's Mr B inside the box, adding to the nest. They finished the nest. I finished transplanting peppers. I'm heading outdoors to water them in. Bluebirds are not shy birds and tolerate being around humans. Hope they get used to me fast because I'll be knocking on the door when the eggs are laid and again when they hatch.

Until next time.....

Bluebirds

If I could be a bird, I believe that I would choose to be a bluebird. Besides their color, which happens to be one of my favs, they have a very even temperament.

One of our bluebird houses up at Crystal Lake is around 25 feet from our campsite. Our presence doesn't seem to rattle them at all. Nor does the smoke from our campfire.

These birds are in the process of raising family #2 for 2009. The male and female both are very hands on when it comes to building the nest and taking care of the babies. They chatter away as they bring food for the babes. I could sit for hours and watch them come and go from the house.

We better get busy and hang more bluebird houses next to the fields. We're going to need them.

Until next time...

Wordless Wednesday