Today was the first day we could have expected them to fledge. All four are still with us after dinner this evening. But, it won’t be long now. Our yard has several bobolinks fluttering and calling.

We’re watching eastern bluebirds in a nesting box with a camera installed inside to let us watch without disturbing them. The camera switches to black & white in low light. And, the exposure control stinks, that’s why it washes out or goes black as a bird comes or goes. We occasionally get some pixelated frames in the video, I think that is a WiFi issue. A new WiFi repeated is on the way.

We’re coming to the first day when the chicks may fledge. They’re big, their feathers are growing in. They’re testing their wings. Previous clutches have shown more interest in looking out the box opening a couple days before they fledged, so I bet we’ll have these guys a few more days.

It was very windy here on the hill this afternoon, that’s the roaring background sound.

We’re watching eastern bluebirds in a nesting box with a camera installed inside to let us watch without disturbing them. The camera switches to black & white in low light. And, the exposure control stinks, that’s why it washes out or goes black as a bird comes or goes. We occasionally get some pixelated frames in the video, I think that is a WiFi issue. A new WiFi repeated is on the way.

We’re enjoying a beautiful spring afternoon here on the hill. Mom and dad bluebird are off on errands, they’re returning to the nest with food now and then. They’re much less active in the afternoon than the evening. Are the parents off foraging for themselves? Are the insects that much less active during the day? Our chicks are glad to be fed whenever the meal arrives.

We’re watching eastern bluebirds in a nesting box with a camera installed inside to let us watch without disturbing them. The camera switches to black & white in low light. And, the exposure control stinks, that’s why it washes out or goes black as a bird comes or goes. We occasionally get some pixelated frames in the video, I think that is a WiFi issue. A new WiFi repeated is on the way.

Not only are the chicks getting big, they’re getting loud. They’re on the front of the house, my office is in the back. I can hear them calling when they think there’s a chance for snacks.

We’re watching eastern bluebirds in a nesting box with a camera installed inside to let us watch without disturbing them. The camera switches to black & white in low light. And, the exposure control stinks, that’s why it washes out or goes black as a bird comes or goes. We occasionally get some pixelated frames in the video, I think that is a WiFi issue. A new WiFi repeated is on the way.

They’re still growing fast! And, their feathers are coming in. They’re moving towards the box entrance now when a parent is bringing food. And, it looks like one is getting curious about what is going on outside. They’ll be with us at least a few more days. The earliest we can expect them to fledge is Friday, but it is likely they’ll be with us until Sunday or Monday.

We’re watching eastern bluebirds in a nesting box with a camera installed inside to let us watch without disturbing them. The camera switches to black & white in low light. And, the exposure control stinks, that’s why it washes out or goes black as a bird comes or goes. We occasionally get some pixelated frames in the video, I think that is a WiFi issue. A new WiFi repeated is on the way.

They’re ever bigger. And, today they’re testing their wings.

The chick’s feathers are growing in quickly. There was a spell of a couple hours this afternoon when mom and dad were slow on food deliveries. They picked up again in the evening.

Yesterday, I was reading on the deck with the parents coming and going from the box. Mom was on the perch I planted for them in the yard, dad watching from the neighboring box on the deck. Mom made a call I’d never heard and took off, climbing nearly straight up. Dad disappeared, under the deck I think. A couple seconds later, a peregrine falcon cruised through the yard. It was relatively low, I think momma’s reaction was to climb to prevent the falcon from being able to dive at her. The falcon continued along and wasn’t seen again. The bluebirds returned to tend their chicks after a few minutes.

We’re watching eastern bluebirds in a nesting box with a camera installed inside to let us watch without disturbing them. The camera switches to black & white in low light. And, the exposure control stinks, that’s why it washes out or goes black as a bird comes or goes. We occasionally get some pixelated frames in the video, I think that is a WiFi issue. A new WiFi repeated is on the way.