Eastern Bluebird Nest Update: It’s Hatch Day!

It’s with great excitement that I follow up on my April 4th post, “Eastern Bluebirds Nest Update: Eggs Laid and Incubating Underway.” Yesterday morning, I witnessed a wonderful sign of spring – the chicks have hatched!

I knew something was different as both the male and female bluebirds were flitting back and forth to the birdhouse, beaks full of goodies. I grabbed my camera and settled in on my deck, documenting their tireless efforts to feed their hungry brood. This isn’t the first time I’ve been captivated by their feeding strategies – I wrote a post about it last year, “Male and Female Eastern Bluebird Feeding Strategies“.

Here’s a closer look at how these amazing parents nourish their young:

• A Protein-Packed Buffet: Both mom and dad bluebird take part in feeding their chicks from day one. Their menu is impressive, featuring a variety of insects like crickets, spiders, and grasshoppers, alongside berries like mulberries, pokeberries, and elderberries. This high-protein diet, roughly 68% invertebrates and 32% berries, helps the chicks develop quickly and fledge sooner.
• Division of Labor: Interestingly, the male takes the lead feeding role during the first five days after hatching. After that, both parents contribute equally. In the first week, the female alternates between feeding and brooding the chicks, as they can’t regulate their own body temperature yet. Once they reach a week old, they can manage their temperature, so mom spends more time finding food.
• Early Bird Gets the Worm (and the Grub): The bluebird parents seem to be most active feeders in the early morning hours, with afternoon feedings happening less frequently. When a chick is fed, it performs a fascinating trick – it turns around and presents the parent with a fecal sac! The dutiful parent then carries this waste away from the nest, keeping the home environment clean.

Stay tuned for another post where I’ll delve deeper into the fascinating world of bluebird chick waste removal, complete with a photo.

In the meantime, I’m thrilled to witness this next chapter in the lives of this bluebird family. I’ll keep you updated on their progress!

What a coincidence that these little ones hatched on the same day as the rare solar eclipse we experienced here in Arkansas – April 8, 2024! Perhaps it’s a sign of good luck for these hatchlings.