Eastern Bluebirds have kept me busy this spring with activity at both of my yard birdhouses. I have two birdhouses on my property, and both are now part of the season’s story.
One birdhouse is on the far side of my property. That one was used first, and the Eastern Bluebirds are now feeding their young. The second birdhouse is closer to my deck, and the bluebirds have started building a nest in that one.
Bluebirds Nesting in Yard With Two Birdhouses Active
I have had Eastern Bluebirds nesting in my yard for years. It has been great watching the whole process, from the first nesting material to adults bringing food to the young.
It has not always been smooth. Nature can be harsh, and not every nesting attempt works out. A large percentage have been successful, but I have also seen nest loss and fresh starts.
Last year was one of those examples. I wrote about it in this post: Eastern Bluebirds Begin Again After Nest Loss.
This year, I am hoping both birdhouses are successful. Having one pair feeding young while another nest is being built gives me a good chance to document more of the process.
Feeding Young at the Far Birdhouse
The far birdhouse is the one being used first this season. The adults are already bringing food to the nestlings.
In the first photo, the adult Eastern Bluebird is perched on the birdhouse with food in its bill. You can also see a young bird inside the entrance hole. That small detail makes the photo stand out to me.
The second photo gives a closer look at the adult Eastern Bluebird with a caterpillar in its bill. This was part of the steady back-and-forth feeding I watched at the birdhouse. The young were hidden most of the time, but the adults made it clear they had hungry mouths inside.
These are the kinds of moments I enjoy most in my yard. They are common enough to watch, but still special when everything comes together for a photo.
Photographing Bluebirds From a Ground Blind
For the first photo, I photographed from inside a ground blind with the camera on a tripod. That setup helped me stay still while the bluebirds continued their normal routine.
The birdhouse on the far side of the property gives me room to work without crowding the birds. I want the photos, but I do not want to disrupt the nesting process.
Camera settings for Photo 1:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark II
- Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
- Focal length: 800 mm
- Aperture: f/10
- Shutter speed: 1/640 second
- ISO: 5000
- Exposure compensation: 0
- Support: Tripod inside ground blind
- Date and time: April 26, 2026, at 07:10 A.M.
The other birdhouse, closer to my deck, is at a different stage. The bluebirds are still bringing in nesting material. That gives me another part of the story to watch.
I am hoping both birdhouses produce young this season. I have watched Eastern Bluebirds in my yard for years, but each nesting season is different.
Some years bring setbacks. Some bring success. Either way, I am glad to be able to watch and photograph a small part of it.