Bluebird Nest 2011

Yesterday, 5/5, before I left for work, I checked on the Bluebird nest. Of 5 eggs, three were hatched, one was half hatched and one egg still unhatched. Of course I didn't have the camera, and by the time I got back with it, Mom was in the box. She let me take her picture!

Mama Bluebird

 And here are the babies! There are four that you can see, possibly five. But only 4 opened wide! Not sure if the 5th egg is under the pile o' babies still unhatched. Or if the baby is under the pile! Kind of hard to tell just yet....

Five days post hatch, you can see the babies have really gotten much bigger! (5/10) Their previously naked wings are now getting some color and the first hint of developing feathers, and their heads are now growing into their eyes and they don't have that bulging eye look so much any more.

 

 Here are the babies today, 5/14, 9 days old! All five are there, and look to be doing well. However, even though I whistled at them, they didn't even look up. They were evidently having a nice nap! You can really see how the feathers have been developing, especially on their wings, and how much bigger they are now!

The babies are 13 days old today, 5/18. You can see the bright blue on the one in the far rear corner. That is a male! The male babies have unmistakable blue color on the wings at 13 days. I think the one in the very front is a female...the others, can't see the wings to know for sure.