As I stepped out onto my deck, I was delighted to see a female Eastern Bluebird perched on a nearby tree with a mouthful of dried grass. I immediately recognized this as a sign that she was building a nest. Without delay, I went back into my house to retrieve my camera, hoping to capture the event.
When I returned, I was pleased to find that the female Bluebird had arrived at the birdhouse, ready to deposit the nesting material inside. The male Bluebird was perched on the opposite side of the birdhouse, keeping a watchful eye on his mate’s activities.
Observing from a distance, I watched as the female bird placed the dried grass inside the birdhouse before flying away to gather more material. It was fascinating to witness the bluebird’s dedication to constructing a comfortable and safe home for her upcoming offspring.
Interestingly, Eastern Bluebirds are known to construct their nests out of a variety of materials, including grasses, pine needles, and animal hair. They typically build their nests in tree cavities, fence posts, or specially designed birdhouses like the one in my yard.
As I continued to observe the female Bluebird, I was surprised to see that she was still in the process of building her nest. I had assumed that she would have already been sitting in the birdhouse preparing to lay her eggs. It was clear that the nesting process was not yet complete and that the female bird was fully committed to providing the best possible home for her upcoming offspring.
Although I was eager to document more of her nest-building activities, I decided not to disturb her and left her to continue her work in peace. I look forward to watching her progress and seeing her soon-to-be hatchling thrive in their cozy new home.
Gear Used:
- Camera: Canon EOS R7
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500 mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Technical:
I photographed this Eastern Bluebird from my deck. I had my camera and lens resting on a beanbag draped over the deck rail.
- Location: Lavaca (Arkansas)
- Date and Time Taken: March 22, 2023 (09:00 A. M.)
- Exposure Mode: Manual
- Aperture: f8
- Shutter speed: 1/800
- ISO: 3200 (Auto)
- Focal Length: 500 mm