Round two appears to be underway in my Arkansas yard. Eastern Bluebird nest building started again this week in one of my birdhouses.
After a morning rain, I photographed the female carrying long pine needles toward the entrance.
Eastern Bluebird Nest Building Begins Again
For several days, I watched the bluebirds inspect this birdhouse. They looked through the entrance and made several trips inside.
Yesterday, I finally saw the female bringing nesting material. She continued the work this morning after the rain had passed.
She carried several long pine needles across her bill. Some extended well beyond each side of her head as she flew toward the birdhouse.
The softer blue on her wings and tail helped identify her as the female. Her coloring is more subdued than the brighter blue usually seen on a male.
I am not sure whether this is the same female from the earlier nesting. My guess is that it could be, but I cannot confirm that from the photographs.
The earlier nesting ended successfully. I shared that story in Baby Bluebirds Fledge From My Arkansas Birdhouse.
Photographing a Bluebird Carrying Pine Needles
The female approached the birdhouse quickly, so I needed a fast shutter speed. The thin pine needles also moved as she flew.
I photographed her handheld at 600 mm. That focal length gave me a close view while still allowing me to include the birdhouse in the first photograph.
A shutter speed of 1/4000 second froze most of the wing and nesting-material movement. The high ISO was the tradeoff for maintaining that speed at f/9.
The soft green background also helped separate the bluebird from her surroundings. In the second photograph, the clean background draws attention to her wings and the pine needles.
Camera Settings
- Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark II
- Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
- Focal length: 600 mm
- Aperture: f/9
- Shutter speed: 1/4000 second
- ISO: 8000
- Exposure compensation: +1
- Support: Hand-held
- Date and time: June 22, 2026, at 10:25 A.M.
Hoping for Another Successful Nest
Seeing the bluebirds begin another nest so soon after the last one was encouraging. Nest building is only the beginning, and plenty can happen before young birds leave the box.
I will continue watching their activity without interfering with their work. Hopefully, this nesting will end as successfully as the last one.
Whether this is the same female or a different bird, I am glad to see the birdhouse being used again.