I have something in common with this hard working bluebird and his mate – home improvements.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
This is the male Mountain Bluebird I photographed in the mountains (appropriately) a couple of weeks ago as he perched on an old snaggy branch almost directly in front of the cavity he and his mate were attempting to build a nest.in. A second pair of bluebirds and a persistent House Wren kept trying to take over their nest cavity so the rightful owners were forced to spend much of their time perched here and on other nearby branches guarding the cavity rather than building their nest.
When this photo was taken he may have been looking directly at the cavity, as he so often was.
When I first looked at this image last night I thought the dark round spot at upper right on the out of focus aspen tree was their nest cavity but I now believe I was wrong. The cavity is actually about the same distance away from the bluebird but it’s in another aspen just out of frame to the right.
Readers will likely remember this photo I posted recently that includes the nest cavity and the shadow of one of the bluebirds guarding it. It was taken on the same morning as the previous photo. I’m including it here because it’s the only relatively good photo I took that morning and saved that clearly shows the cavity entrance.
Notice that at this point no evidence of the actual nest inside the cavity can be seen. Either the bluebirds had just begun to build their nest or their competitors were preventing them from working on it much. Likely both.
But six days later (May 5) when I visited the bluebirds once again the cavity appeared to be nearly stuffed full of nesting material so in the interim they’d been a couple of extremely busy homeowners. At least one of the bluebirds was still in the area and I suspect its mate may have been inside the cavity incubating eggs. While I was there I saw neither hide nor feather of the competing bluebird pair or the pesky wren.
This morning the thought that I have exhausting home improvements in common with these bluebirds keeps going through my mind. The difference is the fact that compared to this aging homeowner the bluebirds are relative spring chickens.
I spent almost the entirety of the last two days trying to resuscitate part of an antiquated and poorly designed lawn sprinkler system that had a burst PVC pipe in the middle of a line and sprinkler heads and lines that had been destroyed by sidewalk replacement and tree removal. Adding two new sprinkler heads only complicated the process and made it more exhausting.
Last night and even this morning my 73 year old body feels like its been repeatedly run over by a Mack truck. If I never see a shovel or PVC pipe again it will be far too soon.
I presume the bluebirds are in better shape.
Ron
Personal notes:
- I hope none of my readers have to work on sprinkler systems (PVC or drip irrigation systems) anytime soon. During the recent shutdown caused by the pandemic home improvement centers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot largely remained open but their plumbing suppliers did not. As a result I found many of the parts I desperately needed to be unavailable because suppliers are still trying to catch up. That unfortunate situation complicated matters immensely.
- Another accomplishment yesterday. Thanks to Mia and to Eric (son of good friend and blog reader April Olson) my new internal hard drive on my primary desktop computer has finally been successfully installed. Due to unexpected complications it wasn’t easy and I certainly couldn’t have done it myself so much gratitude to both.
Ohhh, love the first shot!
Thank you, Jean.
Love that term nestoratations. I wish I loved doing it, and was (even nearly) as skilled and successful as birds.
Hooray for having your ‘puter issues sorted. Mine continues with its intermittent faults which are driving me crazy/ier.
Garden supplies got hoarded here. Like flour, yeast and toilet paper. Golden beets? YUM.
Sounds like too many humans are unthinking and selfish no matter what continent they live on, EC.
“Intermittent” is one of my least favorite words!
yup.
Yikes! I’ve heard of several “nightmares” regarding such things in our area. Fortunately, out’s is above ground in the pump house half way between the well and the house (need less pump that way). That being said PVC water lines have had to be replaced at both ends at least once – at least it’s a straight shot!
Beautiful bird, great shot!!
Your current experience is very close to the reason we moved from an absolutely beautiful piece of property to a retirement community. Of course two new knees, a pacemaker and defribulator (sp) also had something to do with the move. I miss that place terribly, but also glad I moved! The move has taken a ton of stress off my back!
I can imagine the pressure it took off of you, Dick. I’m glad you’re happy with your newer arrangement.
Glad the Bluebirds are succeeding and no longer being harassed! 🙂 I was thinking maybe Mia needed to get involved on the hard drive – glad you had her and other resources available! 🙂 My morning was spent down in the pump house (and I do me DOWN – dirt slope to about 10′ below ground) adjusting the pressure switch on our shallow well pump. Pump had to be replaced several weeks ago while trying to beat the weather and new pump came with a 20/40 rather than 30/50 switch. “lived with it” for awhile until it got too low and was “bucking” when kicking in. Fortunately, it wasn’t the pressure tank other than it was set for the 30/50 which didn’t help…. 🙁 Yea Youtube! ) Yes, this 73 year old body was complaining…… 😉
Judy, when I was a young kid on the farm our well pump had to be replaced..
When they had the old one about half way out they dropped it inside the well casing. You can imagine what a nightmare that was. Sometimes when that happens you have to have a new well dug because it damages the casing. Thankfully we didn’t have to do that but it seems like they spent forever trying to fish it out.
I hope you will see baby blue birds in the nest cavity soon.
I have not tried golden beets, I will next time I see them. I like red.
I am happy Eric was able to help with the hard drive install.
Sorry about the sprinkler. Ours is even older and I would not replace it for the world. It is all steel and has never leaked and sprinkler head replacement is easier. When our sidewalk curb and gutter was replaced they tore out our old system on the parking strip and put in pvc, seems we are working on that section once or twice a summer.
April, Please let Eric know how grateful I am.
Galvanized pipe is great in many ways while it lasts. When my galvanized system eventually corroded through when I lived in Sugarhouse I just had to rip out the entire thing.
I know you’re big into gardening. If you’d like to try raising golden beets this year let me know. I strongly doubt you’ll be able to find any seeds around here this year but when my shipment arrives soon I should have enough to share. Just make sure my new friend Eric gets to try some! 🙂
It’s good to have friends. Yay for Mia and Eric.
Absolutely. They saved my bacon.
Over-the-moon excited about little bluebird chicks! 😍 Hope you’re able to get some shots later on (from your ethical distance, of course — your ethics are a huge draw for me).
Please be careful with your own “nestorations,” Ron. This “Yiddisha Mama” worries. And major YUM for golden beets! I like them roasted with a little olive oil and sea salt.
“Nestorations”. I like that, Marty although it sounds much more benign than what I went through for the last two days with my sprinkler system.
Thanks for the recipe tip. It sounds good so I’ll definitely try it.
I can’t take credit for nestorations — that came from AEF and the National Arboretum (nee DC) eaglecam. 🙂
That looks like shredded bark in the nest cavity. I can only imagine how they obtained it.
I don’t have lawn in my front/back yard: shrubs, trees and plants. Almost all native. I only had to replace one sprinkler head this spring. Couldn’t get it locally so had to go online. Ridiculous for one head. If I ever get a pipe leak I’m screwed.
Same with seeds. Couldn’t find any carrot or cantaloupe seeds. Online again. Shipping cost almost as much as the seeds. I’ll be sowing those seed very carefully.
I believe it is shredded bark, Lyle. Here’s what Cornell’s Birds of the World has to say about what Mountain Bluebirds use for nesting material:
“The nest that is built within the cavity is typically a tightly packed mass of primarily coarse, dry grass stems with a distinct built-in cup. On occasion, a female will construct the entire cup from narrow strips of the soft, inner bark found on some trees. The nest cup may be lined with finer dead, dried plant material, including fine grass stems, plant rootlets, inner bark, or animal hair “
I’m still battling a Scrub jay and my hanging moss basket❗️ All of my deterrents are not working 😢❗️Maybe if I squint I can pretend he’s this cute little blue bird 😁
My husband takes a deep breath when a client asks to fix sprinklers or drip systems. He’s seen such a mess of patch working that it’s easier to start over. It’s definitely back breaking work.
Golden beets, where have I been❗️How do you cook them ❓
I’d take your Scrub Jay in my yard in a heartbeat, Diana!
You cook them the same way as red beets Diana but they have several advantages over the red. They don’t ‘bleed’ during prep, they have a milder taste that I like much better than red beets and best of all they come out of the digestive system in the ‘normal’ way rather than the same color they went in. In many people those post-red-beet visits to the bathroom are…. eye opening to say the least.
Golden beets are on the grocery list ❗️ Yes… recently I’d forgotten that I ate them the day before 😳❗️
It gets your attention doesn’t it, Diana! 🙂 🙂
I love both of these images, but especially the nest cavity and shadow. Not too many photographers would have thought to capture that image! YAY for YOU! But then again, your artistry is always outstanding. (Your appropriate response is ‘thank you!’ I have this feeling your natural response would be in the negative.)
I’m trying to do homeowner tasks today. I’ve already wrastled a huge cardboard box into the garbage can. Normally, I’d recycle, but our recycling is closed down until further notice. To be fair, I started the process last night, but gave up the last bit until this morning. Anyway, I’ve started the process of taking the bedroom apart to clean it, whisking away all the dirt I COULD have used for an indoor garden along with the dog hair I COULD have repurposed to knit another dozen dogs. I haven’t vacuumed in a while because of the affects of chemo, so I’ll need to empty the dirt bin about halfway through the process. LOL!! The bigger issue is that while I’ll get it all done today, I’ll pay for it for at least the next two days. I’m an old hag now, which has its advantages, but among its disadvantages is the recovery time after doing anything that used to be a small task. I used to be able to thoroughly clean my whole house in a day. Yeah, that ain’t happening anymore!
Rest up and be well dear friend! When the seeds arrive, I’m sure there will be more back-breaking work in your future to get the darn things in the ground 😉 But take heart! The harvest will all be worth it!
I was watching a show the other day and a question was asked if lint from the dryer is safe for birds to use for a nest….No… but pet and human hair is ❗️ Recycling pet hair who would have thought 😁
I make sure to cut my hair into short pieces when I put it out to prevent entanglements for the chicks later on. The birds still take it. They liked my foster cat’s fur this spring too — that went first! 😹
Yes, Marty I left out that part ❗️ Thanks 😁
So, Laura – here’s my ‘appropriate’ and sincere Thank You!
I’m sorry to hear you’re undergoing chemo. Just a few minutes ago I ran into my old next door neighbor at the grocery store. He said he recently finished chemo and it’s looking like it was completely effective for him. I hope you have the same results.
He said it’s been 30 years since he moved from the house next door to me and my sprinkler system had been installed some years before that so it’s OLD.
Interesting story Ron, and those Mountain Bluebirds sure are beautiful. Right now I have been photographing our Western Bluebirds who nest in cavities just like their cousins. Really fun watching the chick sticking its head out waiting for one of the adults to arrive with insects. I have noticed that both parents work at the feeding.
Good point about your reworking the sprinkler system – the stores might be open, but that does not mean that their suppliers were still working at full capacity. I would guess that there are lots of shortages at our hardware stores right now.
Thanks, Everett. I hope to spend time with these bluebirds while they’re feeding chicks.
Yes, there’s a variety of shortages at stores like Lowe’s, including gardening supplies – especially seeds. It seems like everyone wants to grow some of their own food this year (hmmm, I wonder why…) I had to order some seeds online because I couldn’t find what I wanted anywhere in town.
Golden beets are worth the extra effort and expense! I’ll never grow or eat red beets again and haven’t for years.