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Nest dispute

6/17/2014

1 Comment

 
The bluebirds near the house still have an active nest, whose young are probably due to fledge sometime this week.  The violet-green swallows have decided they like this nest - they often use bluebird nest holes after the bluebirds are done - however, the bluebirds, still having young birds in this nest, are a bit distressed!
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Violet-green swallow female starts rushing the bluebird nest behind the house.  Both swallows (a male and female couple) were circling the area, and the bluebirds were chirping their alarm sounds.

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VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW rushing bluebird nest opening
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Male bluebird at the nest, flustered by zooming swallows.

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Male bluebird just delivering a meal, when one of the swallows zooms toward it.

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Female violet-green swallow lands at the active bluebird nest hole in the apple tree behind the house.  They are not there to harm the birds, they just want to check nest out and claim it if it is empty.

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Female swallow checking out bluebird nest
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Meanwhile, bluebirds keep coming with the bugs - huge bugs, like this jerusalem cricket.or potato bug.

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FEMALE BLUEBIRD BRINGS CATERPILLAR TO NEST, looking over her shoulder for zooming swallows
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huge spider bug?
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This bug is so huge it barely fits in the nest opening!
PictureFemale western bluebird, watching the nest


The bluebirds mostly decide to ignore the swallows, if they can, and after a long afternoon of this, the swallows leave, and the incident blows over.

PictureYoung pygmy nuthatch
  Meanwhile, in the back yard, pygmy nuthatch still bringing their young for suet feedings.

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Pygmy nuthatch fledgling
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Pygmy nuthatches, back yard - adult is on the right
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Do hummingbirds yawn?


While photographing Anna's hummer by front porch feeder, it seemed to give a big yawn.

1 Comment
andrea
6/21/2014 01:24:33 am

Nice photo of bluebird from the back against the bark of the tree...good crunchies!

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    Walking through
    California coastal parks and redwoods, and sometimes beyond, with a Nikon DSLR & telephoto lens (completely amateur)



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