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Thursday, June 3, 2021

Thankful Thursday - For the beautiful and tough bluebirds

It is my favorite time of year, and I'm so thankful for the natural beauty around me. Some mornings start with beautiful sunrises over Lab Valley.


After breakfast, I head out for a mountain bike ride with Shyla. As I've mentioned, we put up a lot of bird houses in Lab Valley this winter. The birds seem to love them. In fact, this pair of Mountain Bluebirds have chosen one as their own. Others are occupied by wrens and swallows.


Usually, life at the Bluebirds' nest box is peaceful. The exception is when the tree swallows come around to search for nest holes. Then, Mr. Bluebird is on high alert watching for aerial assaults by the swallows.


Soon, he flies into the air to defend the nest.

My camera shows me the mid-air combat that occurs. Mr. Bluebird is tough!

 

He returned victorious from that fight.


But he did not get to rest for long before fending off another invader.


 

I was amazed how he held his own despite repeated attacks by the swallows.


 

One time, he returned to the nest box so frazzled that he flattened his mate as he landed.

For now, the swallows have turned their focus to other nest boxes, and the bluebird couple has continued taking twigs and grass into the box to build their nest.

I am so thankful for springtime! I love watching the birds in the warm sunshine.

20 comments:

  1. that is so great to take care of our friends from the air force... thanks to you and to all people who care about all living things..

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  2. Hari Om
    No need for television soap operas when you have that on your doorstep! YAM xx

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  3. I am thankful you captured this story for us to see. mr blue bird is so beautiful and a real warrior... good job protecting your home..

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  4. Well Captured Of This On Going Adventure - Lovely Sunrise As Well - Sending Positive Vibes

    Cheers

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  5. That's one hard working dad. Our bluebirds main nemesis is the English house sparrow. We have enough open land to satisfy the bluebirds but we have never had swallows at our nest boxes.

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  6. Dad works hard to protect his mate and have some babies. Great shots.

    Have a fabulous Thankful Thursday. Scritches to the pups. ♥

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  7. Wow - Mr Bluebird is one tough cookie and not to be messed with!

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  8. Mr. BB is the avian version of Superman. WOW and what wonderful photos you captured too.
    The in air confrontation was amazing.
    Hugs Cecilia

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  9. Wow...those are incredible action shots! Well done documenting the struggles the Bluebird have against the Swallows. I had no idea!

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  10. Now I know where the term "tough old bird" comes from!

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  11. It's a tough life when you are the homeowner!!! Hope Mr BB continues to be strong and keep off the ot hers, Stunning photo as he landed with all those beautiful feathers spread out, I am guessing you waited a long time for that one shot.

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  12. It's not an easy life for the birds. The robins who nest in my spruce trees apparently have moved on this year, the local crow and grackles just would not leave them be so I suspect there will be no young ones this year. Fingers crossed that Mr. Bluebird successfully keeps those swallows away.

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  13. What a lovely idea to set out the bird houses around Lab Valley. And now they're so popular that the birds fight over them. This post made me smile.

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  14. Amazing how aggressive those other birds are! That bluebird really wants to raise his family in that particular house I guess.

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  15. These photos are awesome!!! We run out of good words to describe your work:) It would be nice to spot a bluebird around here:)

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  16. Such beautiful and totally amazing photos! Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

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  17. HOLY COW PATTIES!!!! Those are some amazin' shots!!!! We gets LOTS of burdies in my yardie cause we have water fountains, and they likes to bathe and drink, butts this year, we have only had one nest that I know of. We gots to put up some new burdie houses! Thanks for the amazin' pics!
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

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  18. Definitely a tough little guy, and what great shots you got!! ♥

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  19. Those are really some amazing photos, I hope the Bluebirds find a home to settle into in peace! And I need you to come here and take some pictures of the cicadas in flight for me! 😊

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