Panting Bluebird

Panting Bluebird

This female Eastern bluebird is feeling the effects of the unusually oppressive heat in southern Louisiana during one of the hottest Junes on record. She is industrious and ever vigilant over her nestlings, though, and makes innumerable trips to and from the nest box, hunting for spiders and bugs for her hungry babies and delivering the goods fresh from the fields. She took a little break in the action during the mid morning hours and rested from her labors, looking straight at me to make sure I wouldn’t advance any closer than her normal comfort zone. The Eastern bluebird female has a dusky blue back, a light orangey breast, large expressive eyes, and a long black bill. Not as vibrant as her mate, she amazes me because she seems much bolder than he is. She approaches the nesting box when I’m close by, but he doesn’t dare. These birds have been nesting in my yard for many years now, and it’s a joy to watch their activity especially during the mating season when they are more visible. They are very fond of water and love a good splash in the bird bath. They do not eat from my birdseed feeders, preferring live insects and berries as their main fare. Their scientific name is Sialia Sialis.

The bluebirds usually have three clutches per mating season. The pair inhabiting my boxes this year successfully fledged five babies; the second nesting met with disaster when a house sparrow raided the box and killed all the babies; this is their third nesting. Only two of the eggs were productive. With just a pair of nestlings in the box, it’s a bit easier for mom and dad to care for them. The poor little parents are beginning to look ragged, though. The incessant demands are taking a toll on them, especially in this horrible heat. I keep the birdbaths filled with fresh water and they frequent the little pools daily.

Panting Bluebird belongs to the following groups:

!$ I LOVE BIRDS !, Birds and Creatures of Flight, Songbirds of North America 2 a Day and The Birds Available for sale as

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