Bluebirds (18) vs Swallows (60-70)

Eggs and Nestlings

We had a total of 5 nest boxes with bluebirds. Of these we will get about 18 young to fledge, then there may be a second nesting. I think the North Side pair may move to a less central box, as there are a few boxes with no nests. But based on what we have in the boxes now, nestlings and eggs, it looks like there are 18 bluebirds to more than 60 swallows that will fledge within a month.

The swallows, all but one nest, seem to be having eggs hatch just about now, all within 3-4 days. The one South Side box I even have access to had a female on the eggs, She would not need to brood the nestlings in this heat during this heat, so I think she has eggs. They too will hatch this week. The nestlings are hard to photograph due to the pile of feathers in most nests, but here are new swallow nestlings a day or two old:

They are bit smaller than bluebird nestlings as often there are 6-7 eggs.

The south side gang with the half sized male bird (more blue) were happily napping. He likes to sleep on top. They were not starving so for some mysterious reason he is small. I think he has no idea at this point he will be struggling. If you look carefully, you can see his wing feathers are not all fully developed, parts of some are at the pin stage. His siblings have been feathered for days now and will fledge before the week is over.