Having gone out of town a couple of weeks ago, I haven't gotten back into my posting routine yet. I do want to report that there are 5 Tree Swallow nestlings and 5 Eastern Bluebird nestlings in the boxes. It appears that the bluebirds are about 3-4 days from leaving the box. I am tacking on another 4-5 days to the swallows first flight date.
I've seen begging behavior rewarded by a Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Northern Cardinal (the fledge was a Brown-headed Cowbird), Common Grackle, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, and Song Sparrow. It seems that the world has erupted with new birds here! Not a day goes by that I don't see a little one.
I've only seen 2 fledges of the first clutch of the bluebirds. I think that 3 didn't make it, so I'm hoping that all 5 of this one are able to successfully make it through their first tough week outside the box. I have plenty of mealworms to help out.
We have had four new species in the yard lately, there was a Blue Grosbeak at the sunflower feeder and a Yellow-throated Warbler has been dining on banquet in the early evening this week. It is a beautifully colored bird and a joy to see on a now fairly regular basis. A pair of Grey Catbirds were sitting on the barbed-wire fence last week. And finally, I spied an Eastern Kingbird sitting on the garden fence last week.
Posted by Elizabeth at June 10, 2005 12:42 PM