I’m proud to introduce our first set of brood Bluebird hatchlings of 2014! This photo was taken on April 6th and they were already almost a week old. When we checked the nest box the week before, they were still eggs.

I can see four heads, but I think there are actually five hatchlings. They’re pretty cozy as you can see. They completely covered in down, but when they first hatch, they’re mostly pink with tiny tufts of down. I get the impression they sleep most of the time.

Eastern Bluebird Hatchlings, One Week Old

A week later, on April 13th, they’ve developed quite a bit. They’re losing their downy feathers and replacing them with adult-looking feathers that start to show their bright blue color. I can see two heads, but I still think there are actually five babies in the nest.

By the following week, on April 20th, they were gone. I hope they all make it.

Eastern Bluebird Hatchlings, Two Weeks Old

The following hatchlings are not Eastern Bluebirds, but rather Black-Crested Titmice. I know what they are because I’ve seen an adult sitting on the nest before. In fact, earlier, I wasn’t sure how many eggs there were, because the adult was covering them.

At this stage, less than a week old, they look pretty much like bluebird babies. I’m sure an expert can tell them apart, but I can’t.

They appeared to be asleep when I first opened the nest box door, but they quickly woke and wanted to be fed. How would you like to come home to that sight throughout the day?