Hiyah all, As I've been doing the day-by-day nest building videos, I've been seeing behaviors that are considered to be 'courting' behaviors such as: - wing waving - male feeding female I can't think of the other ones I wanted to list (it's TOO early!). What else is on the list? I've watched Daddy take out nesting materials that I've read is considered by some to be courting behaviors but as I do the day by day videos, I'm not so sure I see that. What are some others? I've been reading about mating and egg development which somehow I missed in my education. I guess my parents never told me about the birds OR the bees (and certainly not about humans ). So, I gather that it takes the bluebird embryo about 24 hours to develop into an egg in the shell. I just can't seem to find how far ahead of the first egg the actual mating happens. I had to smile when I read something about when the male mounts the female, he nibbles at her neck...I am =very= image oriented and I've been having some hysterically funny images about that!!! This weekend I was telling my husband what I learned and I took two stuff bird toys and showed him which had us both in hysterics. NO, it did NOT give him ideas...'nough said about that :) But y'all know that I'm strange and unusual, traits I highly cherish - LOL! Bluebird blessings, Linda...

Michelle, Yes it was bought at Sam's Club it's Wisecom Mini Color Camera w/Night Vision and Audio. My dh bought it for a bday present last July and since nesting season was over for the bbs here I had to wait until now. But as I stated in my OP they nested somewheres else for their first nest so I still had to wait. I don't like waiting lol. Anyways, The female has continued building this morning so I know she means business. I can't wait to set the cam up.

Blue Jays can be very aggressive, especially around feeders. If they, or mockingbirds, or robins, discover the mealworms, the bluebirds don't have a chance. I do not have seed feeders, so that was not a problem for me. You will have to "train" the bluebirds that there are mealworms, without somehow "training" the other birds. Here is a great web site for hosting cavity nesters, including a page about feeding mealworms. You can also learn there about monitoring nestboxes, so you will know what to expect, including nesting timetables, etc. BlueBars Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.sialis.org

Karen, What a bad boy!!! But if there's food around, the female should be able to raise the babies despite his behavior, right? I think my first nest of babies was raised largely on suet! I keep the suet and worms in the same feeder, so when the worms are gone they go right to suet. Do you have an alternate food source? And of course the bugs should be pretty plentiful by now too... Good luck Karen! Ann