Mountain Bluebirds At A Natural Nest Cavity

Ownership of the cavity was yet to be decided.

 

1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

These are older photos of a pair of Mountain Bluebirds who were competing with a male Northern Flicker for a nest cavity in an aspen in Clark County, Idaho. It was early in the breeding season and “ownership” was still up in the air.

Both bluebirds repeatedly landed at the cavity to check it out (this is the female) and twice I saw her bring nesting material to the cavity but at least one of those times she left with the nesting material without entering the cavity.

 

 

1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

The male performed his own inspections. Here he’s leaning out of the way to allow her access as she approaches. Sometimes she’d enter the cavity with him still clinging to the outside, but other times…

 

 

1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

he vamoosed just before she got there.

These photos are over seven years old and when I stumbled across them last night and realized I’d never posted them before I decided they were interesting enough to rate a post of their own. I hope my readers agree.

Ron

 

26 Comments

  1. Gorgeous birds. And I’m a sucker for the dramatic tales and action shots. Glad you found them.

  2. All too reminiscent (and better behaved) than real estate inspections here. I am very glad that you a) found these shots and b) posted them.

  3. Well, thank goodness you hadn’t culled them right out of your cache of tens of thousands of images—and how fortunate for all of us you should run across them again! The birds and the narrative to go with them are definitely worth sharing. As are the comments already posted here. Why I come back, day after day, so much to learn and clever observations to enjoy! 😎

  4. Everett F Sanborn

    Nice photos Ron. Very pretty birds that we don’t get to see here in Prescott very often. I have no photos of one here.
    I’m thinking they would have a very difficult task fighting a Northern Flicker for possession of the cavity.

    • I think so too, Everett – even though bluebirds are known for their feistiness. And even though it was still two against one because there was no female flicker there yet.

  5. “These photos are over seven years old …”

    Beauty and superb photographs never age.

  6. Arwen Lynch-Poe, Professional Joy Seeker

    Nicely told. 😀 I like to think that the Flickers were there as the builders. “It’s a great neighborhood. Perfect for raising the kids.” “And the price can be right. Let’s talk.”

  7. Nice series. I’m glad you posted it. I’m assuming the bluebirds ultimately won. They can get very aggressive. We had a pair of Western Bluebirds (the first time they have ever been seen in a non-rural neighborhood around here) that successfully nested in a box we put up. They showed up and first tried to drive out a pair of Black-capped Chickadees from their box even though the hole is too small for bluebirds. (The chickadees persisted and raised a brood). We quickly put up a box that they immediately went to. By the next day, starlings and a flicker were also checking out the box. The bluebirds drove them away and eventually raised 3 young successfully. I didn’t realize just how aggressive bluebirds really were until watching this pair. A first for us in town.

    • Interesting story, Dan.

      This time I believe it was the flicker that won. I base that on what I said about them in an older post about these birds, although seven years later I don’t remember what evidence I had to make me think that.

  8. One wonders who excavated the nicely formed cavity. I can see why it’s highly sought after real estate.
    BotW says “Males… sometimes engage in symbolic nest-building, in which they go through the motor patterns of bringing material to the cavity, but either carry no material or drop material on the ground en route or at the cavity entrance.” You won’t hear any bird/human comparisons from me.

  9. Michael McNamara

    Beautiful birds. Interesting shots.

    Though it be a “butt” shot, I really like that last one. A lot going on there.

  10. Definitely worth posting! Perhaps their persistence won the home.

  11. Mary Walton Mayshark-Stavely

    Wonderful morning blues. Your photos reminded me why blue is my favorite color! Thank you for helping me appreciate birds and for sharing your fine art!

  12. Did the Flicker ever show up while you were there ? I’m wondering how the “ownership” is decided in such circumstances ?

  13. Prime realestate it seems! 😉 #3 is beautiful IMO. 🙂 Captures the action well..

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