Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Sue's Bluebird route

Recently, I posted a photo of a different nesting box, changing the ID from Mountain Bluebird to Tree Swallow nest. The previous photo had just one (maybe two) feathers. The photo today shows a far more typical Tree Swallow nest, with an assortment of feathers arranged in a circle around the eggs. These nests really are beautifully made. Normally, of course, I never get the chance to take photos looking into nests, and would never get that close to a nest even if I had the chance. When a person approaches a nest of any kind, you leave a trail of human scent, which can attract predators to the nest, so nest photos are always to be discouraged. However, I was kindly invited to go along on a friend's Bluebird route mid-June, so was able to hold my camera over the top of the wooden nesting box, hold my breath, and click. Meanwhile, Sue was checking the number of eggs, or young ones, and recording all the necessary information.

Took this photo on 12th June, when I was invited by friend, Sue, to go with her when she did her Mountain Bluebird route out towards Bragg Creek. Each time she goes out, she has to record whether the nest belongs to a Bluebird or a Tree Swallow (occasionally something else such as a House Wren or a House Sparrow), how many eggs or babies there are, and then place a band around the leg of the appropriate birds. I was able to get a quick shot or two - sometimes, the nesting box is too high to see into to take a photo, so I had to hold my camera over the box, click, and just hope for the best, LOL. Later: I had been wondering why there were a couple of feathers in this nest, as Bluebirds have featherless nests. Thought they might just have got in there by accident. I didn't have time to do a bit of reading on Google, as I drove out to the beginning of the mountains this afternoon to check on certain plants, but now that I have had time to look on Google, I realize that of course Mountain Bluebirds DO have blue eggs and so these are obviously Tree Swallow nest and eggs! Usually, they have a lot more feathers lining the nest. Sorry for the mix-up! Here is a link to a Mountain Bluebird nest, taken three years ago. I haven't figured out how to post a photo in a comment box with this new Flickr layout, only a link. farm2.static.flickr.com/1310/549298588_986aaa3a13_z.jpg

This female Tree Swallow was patiently waiting for my friend, Sue (who has a Bluebird route), to check in their nesting box to record how many eggs or babies were inside. Taken 12th June, west of the city. I LOVE Dandelions : )