Sharing FIVE Bluebird Eggs

@CarolDM (203422)
Nashville, Tennessee
May 20, 2023 1:02pm CST
Update on my backyard bluebird eggs. Today there are FIVE eggs in the house. I am still so very excited. The female bluebird lays one egg per day. I go out each morning and check the nest, snapping photos, then quickly close the door. I think she is probably done. Five is usually the max number of eggs. However, there have been a few times I have seen six eggs. I will update you if another one appears tomorrow. Snapped this photo in the rain this morning. Thought I would show you more of the bluebird house in Dustin's garden and how the eggs are pretty much protected. Predators can still get inside. No nest is ever 100% safe. But I will hope for a successful nest and babies. Enjoying my Bluebirds of Happiness.
38 people like this
39 responses
DE
@DaddyEvil (137602)
• United States
20 May 23
I always wondered if the mama and papa birds enjoy raising their babies?
5 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (137602)
• United States
20 May 23
@CarolDM I understand but that's "duty", not happiness like we feel it. Maybe they can't feel "happy". I don't know.
4 people like this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
20 May 23
@DaddyEvil I would like to believe they are happy. I can tell a difference in how fast they fly around when eggs and babies are laid.
4 people like this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
20 May 23
The male will stand guard for hours at a time, even now with the eggs. Same when the babies hatch. I have several perches for him. They seem very proud.
4 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19565)
• London, England
20 May 23
Hope they all make it. One of those little video cameras would be very handy for keeping an eye on things
3 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19565)
• London, England
20 May 23
@CarolDM No me neither. I do have a motion camera I sometimes use in the garden
2 people like this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
20 May 23
@Ronrybs Same here. I am in the screen room every day anyway.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
20 May 23
Thanks. I had a camera inside once and could see it on the tv screen, but it is a lot of trouble unless you have the wireless one. Haven't invested in that one yet.
3 people like this
Amber
@AmbiePam (93934)
• United States
20 May 23
I'm so glad nothing can get inside. That's reassuring. And I love the photo.
2 people like this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
20 May 23
There are predators that can get inside but I will hope for the best. I watch out for snakes. That happened once and we got him before he got to the babies. Thanks, I thought this view was a little different than just seeing the eggs.
2 people like this
snowy
@snowy22315 (182191)
• United States
20 May 23
That is very pretty.
2 people like this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
20 May 23
Thank you.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (108182)
• Marion, Ohio
20 May 23
Hope she can hatch and raise them all
2 people like this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
20 May 23
Thanks, I do as well.
2 people like this
NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (120136)
• United States
20 May 23
That's a large clutch for such a tiny bird
2 people like this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
20 May 23
About average They lay 3-5 usually.
2 people like this
NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (120136)
• United States
20 May 23
@CarolDM My Scarlett would lay 2 per clutch like every 6 months. I was always afraid that she would become eggbound.
2 people like this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
20 May 23
@NJChicaa That seems to happen more often in pet birds.
2 people like this
Jenaisle
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
21 May 23
Awesome, They look unreal. Such beautiful eggs. Is it closed? If it is closed, how does the mother go in? I know I'm being dumb but I am just wondering. I'm glad they're protected safely. I hope they all grow into mature ones.
1 person likes this
Jenaisle
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
21 May 23
@CarolDM Of course, it's open, but then you close it afterward, What happens when the mother comes back?
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
@Jenaisle She flies inside to check on the eggs. Then she sits on top of the house. I will share a photo soon of the door closed so you can see how she flies inside.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
Thanks. No the door is open when taking the photo then I closed it.
1 person likes this
Kayla Tsukino
@kaylachan (71779)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 May 23
Something is bettertjam nothing. And, hopefully you'll see baby birds.
1 person likes this
Kayla Tsukino
@kaylachan (71779)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 May 23
@CarolDM Then that's a good thing I would hope.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
22 May 23
@kaylachan A very good thing to witness a miracle.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
I usually see them hatch each year.
1 person likes this
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (51389)
• Canada
21 May 23
What a beautiful sight, all of those pretty bluebird eggs. You have a really good birdhouse, we had a similar one at our place in the country village and were so happy to see the birds come, start life, and go only to return again another year.
1 person likes this
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (51389)
• Canada
21 May 23
@CarolDM That is the number, how long for incubation? I imagine that Dustin is the bird whisperer advising the birds where to go to lay their eggs in a safe surrounding.
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
Thanks very much. I am totally excited and over the moon right now. Looks like five is the number. The incubation starts now. This house was specially made for bluebirds. Amazing how many bluebird families I have witnessed here in Dustin's garden. Magical.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
@Juliaacv Yes, she lays one egg each morning. Today there are still five. The typical incubation period is 12–14 days. Eastern Bluebird eggs will hatch 17 days after the first egg is laid. Babies will stay in the nest 17–21 days before they fledge. I have this all on my calendar already.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
21 May 23
The nest seems safe enough and I hope no predators will get inside to disturb those six beautiful eggs. I cannot wait to see the babies.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
22 May 23
@CarolDM - I am so glad that all the 5 eggs are still there. In a couple of weeks the baby birds should be there.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
22 May 23
@LadyDuck I checked the again today and all is safe. I filled up the bird bath and they both took a swim. So cool. The babies should arrive in about 14 days.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
They are as safe as they can be. And in Dustin's garden behind the roses. I go out every day to check on them. Five eggs are the total. Today I checked and the five remain. So now the incubation starts.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (317238)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
24 May 23
That's wonderful! I hope for the best for your bluebirds of happiness.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (317238)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
24 May 23
@CarolDM That's exciting.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 May 23
@just4him Many have suggested I write a book. Maybe one day.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 May 23
Thank you, they are incubating now. Should hatch in about 10-12 days.
1 person likes this
Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
21 May 23
Bird nests are so neat. The eggs are such a pretty blue. I hope they all hatch.
1 person likes this
Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99405)
• Atlanta, Georgia
22 May 23
@CarolDM I like birds but they don’t come here as they used to.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
22 May 23
@RubyHawk It gets busier here each year as the trees mature.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
I enjoy all of the birds in the yard. These bluebirds are my favorite of all.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (181717)
• United States
21 May 23
That is such a perfect looking little nest and eggs. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (181717)
• United States
22 May 23
@CarolDM Not really better. I left a message at the doctor's office. They are really bad about returning calls.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
22 May 23
@LindaOHio So sorry. I hope they can call him in something soon. I would keep calling.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
They always build a perfect pine straw nest. Thank you. I hope your husband is some better today.
1 person likes this
jaishankar
@Shivram59 (36463)
• India
21 May 23
@CarolDM How beautiful!! Awesome !! You have a great photographer in you.Are bluebirds completely blue in colour?? I have never seen one.Robins are found here in plenty.I have never read about them either.Can't the nests be made safe from predators??
1 person likes this
jaishankar
@Shivram59 (36463)
• India
21 May 23
@CarolDM I highly appreciate you for what you are doing to save the bluebirds.I understand why you can't stop snakes and other predators from attacking their nests.It's impossible.Snakes;;owls and cats can attack their nests. any time.There is a old bangan tree behind my house.Its branches are home to hundreds of sparrows;some parrots and ckckoos.Owls;cats and snakes often attack them.Sometimes the birds retaliate and injure them with their beaks.Sometimes they successfully scare away the predators and sometimes the predators eat their eggs.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
@Shivram59 Well thank you so much. I have many other birds in the yard that have nested and the babies have flown away too. Robins, mockingbirds, doves, cardinals, thrashers, and many more I have not seen. Birds are on the decline, so it makes be very happy to see them visit the yard and trees. Predators are always out there. I have seen my share of not so good things this year. But it is part of nature.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
Thank you so much. Now you see why I get so excited about these bluebirds. There is not much I can do except monitor it, which I do daily. Snakes and others birds have gotten inside the house before. I was able to stop the snake but the birds killed the bluebird babies, a few years ago. It is nature and I have to realize things can go wrong but I monitor daily. Bluebirds are blue except for an orange tummy. I posted their photo on the other post. And I will share more soon.
1 person likes this
ShannyBananny
@shaggin (72251)
• United States
22 May 23
Wow I didn’t know they lay so many eggs how neat! So pretty the color of them isn’t it!
1 person likes this
ShannyBananny
@shaggin (72251)
• United States
23 May 23
@CarolDM I never thought about what they make their nests with. Neat that you pointed that out.
1 person likes this
ShannyBananny
@shaggin (72251)
• United States
24 May 23
@CarolDM that would be amazing to watch and so neat to see how different the breeds are
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
23 May 23
They can lay up to 6, but stopped at 5. The nest is always, always made entirely of pine straw and very neat. Love the color, that is a bonus.
1 person likes this
much2say
@much2say (56053)
• Los Angeles, California
21 May 23
Oh wow, look at that! Now they really look like a nest of blue M&Ms . Truly exciting. I hope Mother Nature will do its best to protect this family . . . is it like a couple weeks or so wait now ?
1 person likes this
much2say
@much2say (56053)
• Los Angeles, California
23 May 23
@CarolDM Oh yes - this real life stuff is better than anything you could ever watch on tv . I would want to get all the glimpses I could get too . You know them like clockwork . . . I should mark all this on my calendar too so I make sure to get to your posts then . Enjoy!!
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
I know, right! Now you see why I get so giddy and excited. It was raining and I didn't care. I had to see the eggs. I too hope they are safe. The typical incubation period is 12–14 days. Eastern Bluebird eggs will hatch 17 days after the first egg is laid. Babies remain in the nest 17–21 days before they fledge. I have this all on my calendar already.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 May 23
@much2say The bluebirds are very tolerant and don't mind when I peek inside the house. I keep it to just once a day. And then watch from the window and screen room. Thanks!
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (137788)
• India
21 May 23
Good they are visible to you We have so many trees and we see so many birds in our bird bath but I have yet to see a nest.
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (137788)
• India
21 May 23
@CarolDM We suddenly see young birds and surely they must have been created in our garden (lol)
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
Yes they are, I just open the door and there they are. I still believe your yard is probably covered in nests, all hidden from you. At least they are safe.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
@allknowing That is a great sign. They stayed safe until it was time to fledge.
1 person likes this
Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 May 23
That's really cool! I hope all five of those eggs yield successful results. You are definitely helping give them a leg up in the world, as that nest is probably much safer than one they would have built in the wild. I think about you just about every morning when I go to work. High up in the oak tree in my front yard is a bird's nest, and the babies have hatched (I don't know what kind of birds because the nest is so high up I can't even see the momma/daddy birds). Anyway, I know the babies have hatched because they are all "crying" out for momma to feed them. It is so loud every morning when I go out to my truck. I'm like, "Momma, please feed your babies before they wake the entire neighborhood!"
1 person likes this
Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121729)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 May 23
@CarolDM I wonder if the nest in the tree high above me is a blackbird nest. There are lots of those around the neighborhood it seems. I usually have cardinals nesting somewhere in the yard, but I don’t think I’ve seen any this year.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
It is totally cool Jeff. I had practically given up on them making a nest. They are safer here in the yard. And I monitor it every single day. Even in the rain I go out and take a peek. The bluebirds are very tolerable and fly to the nearby trees for me to do this. I take my time of course. How nice of you to think about me. I have seen two nests this year and had no idea they were cardinals until they fledged. Mockingbirds and blackbirds are the loudest birds here. They have a piercing high pitched sound. I see them following Momma around the yard. The bluebirds not so much. Just call me the crazy bird lady.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
22 May 23
@moffittjc It could very well be blackbirds. I saw them from a bedroom window this year raise two sets of babies in the same nest. Many birds do not re-use nests, but blackbirds do. I never see cardinals but I hear them, they are well hidden.
1 person likes this
Prema Shalini
@manikarnika (3236)
• India
27 May 23
Wow...It's really pretty...I wish to see how the bird's will be
1 person likes this
Prema Shalini
@manikarnika (3236)
• India
28 May 23
@CarolDM wow...don't forget to post their wonderful pictures
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
28 May 23
They will be born soon, in about a week.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
29 May 23
@manikarnika I share all season long.
1 person likes this
DB
@dgobucks226 (35742)
•
27 May 23
Wow, what an impressive sight. Better coloring than an Easter egg!
1 person likes this
DB
@dgobucks226 (35742)
•
27 May 23
@CarolDM "Anticipation..." Ha, ha...
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1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
27 May 23
@dgobucks226 Oh this is great, thank you for the link. Much needed! And love it.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
27 May 23
Thanks, I have to agree. And they are incubating them now. One more week before hatching.
1 person likes this