Eastern Bluebirds--A Family of Nine Trying to Stay Cool

I frequently fill the mealworm feeder after returning home from the office in the evenings, especially on these hot and humid summer days.  I suspect that refrigerated mealworms help cool down bluebird parents, as well as, nestlings and their juvenile siblings.  On days when the heat index passes 100, birds are affected and can be seen trying to cool themselves with mouths open.  

The bluebirds are a family of nine now, two parents, three fledged juveniles that are a little over ten weeks old, and four eleven-day-old nestlings.  On July 4th, the family's second brood of nestlings hatched.  Below you see an image I took as I discovered hatching in progress.  Notice the pipping tooth that's visible on the hatchling's beak, the tough, horn-like tooth that helps the nestling break its shell and just as efficiently dissolves after hatching.

And below you see an image taken on July 11th, at one week of age.  Eyes are open, skin is now covered with down, feather sheaths and emerging feathers, and the wary youngsters recognize the sounds of mom and dad coming to feed and no longer gape when the nestbox is opened.  In just another five to ten days, they will be ready to fledge, a marvel just as amazing as that tiny little head resting on the egg above.

It has been a joy to watch this family and see so many intimate details of their lives and behavior.  I was surprised by this opportunity, thinking initially that bluebirds would not select a nestbox so close to the house and the nestbox would remain the domain of chickadees.  But that hasn't been the case this year.  In the image below, you can see how closely the mealworm feeder, nestbox, house and patio are positioned.  You can also see the gazebo roof line where the phoebes hatched and fledged two broods on the supporting shelf underneath.  The second phoebe brood fledged just prior to the second bluebird hatch.  The limb you see on the ground is actually a tree that came down during one of our storms.  It has made a great eye-level perch for the bluebirds.  Also, between the patio (which begins at the post to the right) and the mealworm feeder you see the shepherd's hook that is frequently used by the bluebirds.

To the right and west of what you see in the image, lies the birdbath, shaded from the afternoon sun by surrounding trees and enjoyed by all, including me.

This is, of course, the other way birds stay cool.  Birds may visit the birdbath anytime for a drink, but bathing occurs especially during mid-day to late afternoon.  Here you see the male bluebird visiting the smaller birdbath I previously had.  These are some of my favorite images of the male bluebird, comical and endearing.  He visited the water several times in a brief period to bathe vigorously and granted some fun pics.  

Links and Resources:

This is the fourteenth post in my series on this bluebird family.  To see all of the posts visit the link, bluebird family.   The most recent post will be first.  Click "older posts" at the bottom of the page to see earlier posts.
You may also enjoy Wishing Upon a Bluebird at Vickie's Sketchbook and my articles for Wild Birds Unlimited, Having Fun with Bluebirds and We Have Bluebird Hatchlings.

For articles leading up to the bluebird family posts, visit my Wild Birds Unlimited articles:

Smitten with Bluebirds and April Celebrations.  

The birdbath seen in the previous post is available at Wild Birds Unlimited.  The "meal worm feeder" you see in my bluebird family blog posts is also available through Wild Birds Unlimited.

Find instructions for making nest box predator guards by clicking the link.  These guards have worked to keep the 9" arm of a raccoon out and have prevented prowling cat predation, as well as snakes.  A 7-inch depth is recommended.  You may also find a version of these guards at the Wild Birds Unlimited store nearest you.

Coming up:  Fun visits with purple martins!