Look how big our chicks are getting! They’ve probably tripled in size since Friday. 

Another day with the parents delivering food to the box for the chicks. We’ve got a warm (for Vermont in the spring) afternoon. Mom has been spending more time out hunting. 

Both parents were busy hunting for the chicks today. Mrs. Bluebird alternates between hunting and sitting in the box. We got some live mealworms today, hopefully that will help them out. 

Here’s several minutes of the bluebird chicks in the nest. Towards the end, Mrs. B returns to feed one of the chicks and settle back in the box. 

Saturday morning finds two eggs that still haven’t hatched. Mom is sitting on them and the two chicks, venturing out occasionally to get food for them. Dad has made a couple trips in with food for the chicks. 

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. 

A couple good looks at chicks one and two.

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’ve got a chick! The first chick hatched shortly before dawn this morning. As of 1030, it looks like a second chick has broken its shell, hard to tell, I haven’t had a clear view yet, mom is still sitting on the nest. 

Here’s mom bluebird bringing in the first meal. Sorry about the video glitch as mom leaves, the camera has trouble adjusting to the rapidly changing levels of light. 

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. 

Mr. Bluebird seems to be getting impatient. He usually shows up around the yard a few times a day. He’ll call to Mrs., she sometimes answers. Today, he stuck around the yard, often perching on the box or the roof just above the box. I saw him go to the door several times to see what was up. And, every time I was around to see Mrs. leave the box, Mr. would perch by the door. All this, and still no chicks. We’re about midway through the period we can expect them to hatch. They should hatch before Monday. 

Here’s Mrs. Bluebird tending her eggs 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. 

Mrs. Bluebird has been sitting most of the day again. I’ve been watching closely this afternoon after spotting what sure looks like a pip in one of the eggs. There may be pips in two, but she turned them, and I’m not sure if she moved them around. Take a look at the egg at the 2 O’clock position when she leaves. 

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. 

I’ve been busy checking in on Mrs. Bluebird every few minutes all day. By midafternoon, I convinced myself we had a crack in one of the eggs. No such luck, we’re still waiting. Sunday was the first day the chicks could have hatched, they should hatch by May 10. Stay tuned. 

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.