Not much news from our bluebirds today. Mrs. continues to sit on her eggs, popping out occasionally to find some food. 

We’re looking inside a nesting box with the bluebirds in West Newbury, Vermont. The camera is permanently mounted in the box and we can watch without disturbing the birds. 

We had a little extra excitement from our feathered friends this morning. My wife, Lee, found a robin that couldn’t fly. The robin is now under VINS’ care.

Mrs. Bluebird spent most of her day in her box tending her eggs. Here’s a short clip, where she deals with a shed feather. The eggs should hatch between May 2 and May 10. 

We’re looking inside a nesting box with the bluebirds in West Newbury, Vermont. The camera is permanently mounted in the box and we can watch without disturbing the birds. 

Mrs. Bluebird has definitely started incubating her four eggs. Thursday, she sat on them most of the morning before spending most of the afternoon out of the box. She stayed in the box Thursday night, sat on the eggs Friday and again spent the night. The book says it takes 11 to 19 days for the eggs to hatch. Let’s say she started Thursday, that means they should hatch sometime between May 2 and May 10. Here’s a good look at her sitting on her  eggs.  About 11:00, you can see her turn the eggs. All birds turn their eggs while incubating them. Theories as to why include, rotating the egg helps deliver albumen – the ‘white’ of the egg that is protein – to the chick – the ‘yolk’ and that turning the egg helps warm the egg evenly and and prevents the egg’s membrane from sticking to the shell. 

We’re looking inside a nesting box with the bluebirds in West Newbury, Vermont. The camera is permanently mounted in the box and we can watch without disturbing the birds. 

Mrs. Bluebird spent much of her morning sitting on the eggs, before heading out on her errands by about 11:00. No more eggs today. 

We’re looking inside a nesting box with the bluebirds in West Newbury, Vermont. The camera is permanently mounted in the box and we can watch without disturbing the birds. 

It has been a chilly rainy day today. We haven’t seen much action in any of the bird boxes yet today. 

Mrs. Bluebird stopped in for a few minutes early this afternoon. 

We’re looking inside a nesting box with the bluebirds in West Newbury, Vermont. The camera is permanently mounted in the box and we can watch without disturbing the birds. 

Sorry for missing posting yesterday. Mrs. Bluebird got back on schedule and laid her third egg yesterday morning. Followed by a fourth egg today. Here’s the view this morning:

We’re looking inside a nesting box with the bluebirds in West Newbury, Vermont. The camera is permanently mounted in the box and we can watch without disturbing the birds. 

Mrs. Bluebird spent much of the morning sitting on her two eggs. She went about her errands starting late morning, leaving the eggs unattended. She did not lay a third egg. I’m not sure if she’s started the clock on incubating the two she has or if there are more eggs coming.

Our video is in black & white this morning. It was early enough, and gloomy enough, that there wasn’t enough light for the camera to work without turning on the infrared LEDs on the camera. When the IR is in use, the camera can only record in B&W.

We’re looking inside a nesting box with the bluebirds in West Newbury, Vermont. The camera is permanently mounted in the box and we can watch without disturbing the birds. 

Our bluebirds have their first egg! 

Mrs. Bluebird should lay an egg a day for the next three or four days, for a total of four or five eggs. She won’t start sitting on them until they’re all laid. Both bluebirds will be close by the box keeping watch. 

Our chickadees haven’t checked into either of the boxes at the Piermont Library today. It is snowing here in the Upper Valley today. Let’s hope they’re waiting for the weather to improve before deciding on a box. 

We’re looking inside a nesting box with the bluebirds in West Newbury, Vermont. The camera is permanently mounted in the box and we can watch without disturbing the birds. 

Mrs. Bluebird made just a couple trips into her box this morning. We’re still waiting for her to start laying eggs. 

We’re looking inside a nesting box with the bluebirds in West Newbury, Vermont. The camera is permanently mounted in the box and we can watch without disturbing the birds.