Spring is here is southern Alabama too! Yesterday when I was putting water in the birdbath, the blues started dive bombing me. I looked inside the box and there were 5 beautiful eggs. Boy..was I suprised! I am so excited. The only question I have is...How many days until they hatch? I hope it is not to early for them. I have never had blues in the box this early. Last year the dees had the box first. I am really suprised that they didn't come back this year. I will keep everyone posted on the out come of this nest.

Ok, that is good! I remember now. You can take it off after the blues are 7 days old but you can leave it up a bit longer if you would like. I would have it off by day 10 though. I have a wren guard on my Blues nest this year as they chose a box more in the wren territory (don't have a wren but they can show up at any time) and I wanted to be safe about it. I did it in steps...first just the front, then a short side, then a longer side...she accepted it no problem and laid six beautiful blue eggs... a first for me, never had six before, always 4 or 5. Glad that last egg hatched! Donna

Bluebirds have many vocalizations. They sing, warble, "danger" call, even chirp for various reasons. During courtship they might both sing. I've heard the adults make baby sounds when they come for mealworms. I've heard the male sing very softly and quietly nearby for hours while the female is incubating eggs. I've heard a female call for her mate all day long at the top of the highest tree, after he went missing during a terrible hailstorm. As fledglings grow older, their calls change, and when fledging time is near, the parents call to them to encourage them as they tease them with food, and maybe even tell them where to fly to. It amazes me when I see a fledgling pop out on their very first flight, and make an immediate U-turn in mid-air up to the woods--how did they know to do that? I recently purchased a little recorder, and hope to be able to share some of these sounds someday, maybe to go along with some of the stunning photos many of you post here. If only that UPS truck would quiet its brakes! That screeeeech is piercing my ears! BlueBars

Kat, Hubby got to go to that game...and a few guys from his work came too...(since they live or work in Bothell).. One or both of the younger two had a LL game..hence why I didn't get to go.. I'll remember to come "tell you" if he gets that rotation again. For the few days before that game that he knew he was starting...he kept muttering "I'm gonna pitch on the same mound Felix has pitched on"...LOL He ended up going about 6 innings...but threw ALOT of pitches...over 80..I was a little peeved about that! He ended up pitching over 80 again only a few days later...and then couldn't barely throw a ball for 3 weeks! I was really peeved after the second game!!! oh and then about a week later the catcher got cleated across the hand..and had to come out..Kian went in and was told not to make the throw to second...Yeah like that's gonna happen...He ended up having to "make the throw" twice...and he was dead on..but it was VERY painful! I'm going to have a "little" talk with the new coach.. Those pitching situations are NOT to happen again! They had their preseason meeting for Baseball..one of the "slots" was what position do you play..Kian wrote "all"..the new coach pulled him aside at a work out and said..what do you mean all...Kian said I can play all the spots (doesn't happen to much that kids can do that) He's not that great at 2nd because he's got a hell of an arm..and easily over throws..and he doesn't like to "chase" stuff down in outfield...so the Coach says..okay if I was going to pay you to play what position would it be..Pitcher was Kees reply...Okay good...that's what I wanted to hear...But likely he'll play 1st when not pitching, because our 1st baseman is out this year, he dislocated his shoulder AGAIN. But he's a great catcher too.