Although the screech owls have been hogging all the attention this spring, many more birds are raising families in the area. Spotted towhees, Bewick’s wrens, lesser goldfinches, and chipping sparrows can be observed singing their songs and collecting food for their offspring.

We have been very lucky to have a clear view of a pair of western bluebirds. There has been a nest box on the back lot for many years. Last fall, it was time to replace the old, battered box with a new one, and the birds settled in early this spring.

They were getting things ready by the beginning of March.

Despite the cold, they were ready to get started. Note the fluffed feathers in the photo above.

The process was largely mysterious, with the parents coming and going during April and May, but no sightings of the nestlings.

The babies finally started sticking their heads out in May. Mom and dad brought food on a regular basis/

By the last part of may, the kids were ready to see the world. Within a day of showing their heads, everyone was gone.

I cleaned out the old nest a few days after the fledglings left, and was surprised to see a pair of bluebirds bringing new materials less than a week later. It is impossible to say whether these are the same parents, but it seems likely. They can often raise more than one clutch per year, so maybe we’ll see more fledglings in a few months.