Finally, the big day arrives! Two of the eggs in the nest hatch. These babies are covered in a downy grey-blue "fuzz" that makes them look like real "punkers". We hope that the rest of the eggs will hatch, too. But after several days, it becomes apparent that only two of the eggs are going to become babies this year. Maybe Padme is a young female. Maybe events earlier in the season have affected the fertility of these eggs. We're not sure why, but only two of the eggs become babies. They are immediately dubbed "Luke and Leia", appropriate to the Skywalker surname. I'm not sure what we would have named the others if they had hatched!

 

 

Luke and Leia are now two days old.

Every day, we check the nestlings to be sure they are not being bothered by any predators. Meanwhile, we begin offering the adult birds some additional nutrition to help them in feeding their young ones. We begin by offering homemade Bluebird "suet", but after some research we decide to start feeding mealworms, since these are higher in protein, and Bluebirds are known to love them.

The mealworms are a hit! I have to start buying them in bulk from a mail order house, since buying them at $1 per hundred at the local bird feed store is getting expensive! Whenever I take an offering outside, I tap on the side of the dish with a spoon and call the birds. The neighbors must think I'm nuts! The tactic pays off, however. Soon whenever I tap on the dish the birds appear, ready to eat. The Bluebirds aren't the only ones who want to get in on the action, however. We soon find grackles and starlings are also fond of mealworms.

And so we invest in a "Bluebird feeder". The plexiglass sides keep other, larger birds from scarfing down the offering, while the Bluebirds are easily able to find their way inside. This does not necessarily mean that they find their way out just as easily. One day I find the female inside the feeder, frantically trying to get out through the plexiglass. I have to go out and stick my finger in the entry hole to show her where it is! I am actually able to touch her incredibly soft feathers! Suddenly, she sees clearly how to get out, and, in a flash, she is gone. Not wanting the blues to think I am trying to trap them, I temporarily remove the plexiglass sides to allow them easy access. The small size of the feeder still discourages other birds, and when the blues become more comfortable, I am able to put the sides back on.  Go on to next photo page