Love is in the air!

Those who know me well, know that one of my greatest joys is my Bluebird Family. We've only lived in this house for a year, but somehow my bond with this particular family has been different from any other family I've "worked" with in the past. Daddy B. is extremely friendly and interested in me. Mama is a little more aloof, and let's Daddy do all the human socializing.


Daddy B. has been singing his sweet song for a few weeks now. This song signals the beginning of the long, arduous task of bringing new Bluebirds into this world. This singing is his way of marking boundary lines of claimed territory and telling other males to move on and find another yard!


Yesterday afternoon I was in the bedroom folding laundry and could hear him singing. He's been teasing me for weeks singing somewhere I can't SEE him. The moment I hear him I start looking out and up to see where he is. Yesterday was a treat! He was sitting in the backyard on my platform feeder, normally reserved for my "other" birds ("other" being those that eat SEED). I had placed several chunks of my homemade suet in the platform for the birds and he was helping himself to some morsels...even though he has his OWN bowl in the front yard!


The sun was shining and he was brilliantly blue. The blue of a Bluebird is breathtaking, especially in the sun. I RAN to get my camera to get some shots of him. Like I said, he's very friendly towards me and I know he sees me in the window. He came closer to the edge of the platform (closer to me) and looked as if he was posing. "Is this better?" as he would turn to the side. I even got some shots while he was singing (more puffed out in the chest). It was amazing.


At one point, I saw another male swooping in to land on the platform. In one swift motion, the other male landed and Daddy moved over to one of the crooks nearby. Seconds later, Mama B. landed beside him. I could tell by the behavior (of the new male and of Daddy) that this was one of the babies from the clutch born last summer. I can't wait to see the "kids" help Mom and Dad in this nesting process soon to start in the next couple weeks.


Take a look at some of these shots of my beautiful Bluebird Family!

Daddy B. checking out the food choices.



Daddy B. singing (note the puffed out chest)

Daddy B. coming closer and giving me his best side.

Baby B., actually I guess he's just Young Boy B. these days!

Mama B. and her son enjoying a suet snack. That's a big chunk Mama's got!

Those of you that have followed my Bluebird Obsession will remember Daddy B. scaring and delighting me by landing on the french doors that are inside my screened porch. Well, HE'S BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK... This morning I saw something out of the corner of my eye and looked more closely to find Daddy B. fluttering around on the porch. He landed on the door handle and was peeking in. I walked right up to the door and said, "Good Morning Daddy B.! Is there something I can help you with?" I got the camera and snapped some pictures and then got a bowl of some suet cake to take out front to his bowl.

Daddy B. is training me early this year. "Ahem. Miss? Our bowl needs refilling."

The second he heard the front door open, I saw his shadow fluttering on the corner of the house. I looked up and saw him sitting on the gutter. He flew right up to me as I was putting the food in the bowl and I thought he was going to land on the crook right there with me!! He made a last minute change and flew up to the branch directly over my head. He's getting brave this year! As I walked back in the house, I caught his reflection in the storm door...he'd already landed on the bowl and was grabbing a bite. I looked out the window after I got back inside and he had flown up into the tree with a morsel for his sweet wife, Mama B. He's wooing her. Love is definitely in the air!