Bluebirds Are Back In 2015

Last summer was the first year without bluebirds nesting in one of our bluebird houses.  We had bluebirds every year since we bought our house in 2002.    http://www.thecabincountess.com/2014/07/the-year-without-bluebirds.html

It was a very disappointing time for me,  but last Saturday, April 11, a pair of bluebirds returned to our yard. I was so excited.  I hope they build a nest soon, but so far they are just hanging out.  This is the third day, and they are still here.  Stay tuned.   The tree swallows have also returned.  They have had some minor squabbles with the bluebirds over who gets which house, but nothing has been determined.  It will be interesting to see what happens because after all the fighting, they always end up in the same houses.  The houses are the same shape but one is gray and one is natural wood.  The tree swallows get the gray and the bluebirds choose the natural wood.  I have no idea why.

I am so fortunate to be able to take photos from my windows.  This bluebird was right outside the kitchen window.  I leave the dried lamb's ear flowers in the garden all winter.  The birds love to sit on them and pose for the pictures.

This is the female bluebird sitting on the same dried lamb's ear flower.