There’s a discarded eggshell at the top left corner of the image. As far as I can tell all five made it out. Keep an eye on the bluebird feeder when the mom leaves the nest…

Bluebird nest cam

Here’s some video of the parents in the nest box at the same time (briefly) feeding the babies:

Egg #2 arrived around 10AM on the 19th

Egg #3 arrived on 4/20 at around 10:02AM

Egg #4 arrived on 4/21 at approximately 9:45AM now in color during daylight

Egg #5 arrived at around noon on the 22nd so much for my theory

(4/21) I’m guessing she’s done. Today was the first day she sat on the nest for extended periods. If my theory’s right, I’ve learned that she pretty much abandons the other eggs until the last one is laid, then she starts incubating. Makes sense: give them all a pretty even start.

Duck, she’s spotted the new color cam…

This cam is great when the lighting is good. The snapshot below is near sunset; it looks like there’s a spotlight in this dark, closed, nest box. However, it fades shortly thereafter and I have it programmed to switch to the night vision cam until the sun comes over the mountains, well after sunrise.

I was able to get sound and video recording working on it, so I’ll have some color videos w/ sound to view/download soon. It should get pretty noisy in there after they hatch.

Wow, drew them both in. It’s right near the weather station fan & cam now so I wasn’t sure if they would hit it…
Male Alone:

Dining Together on Exquisite Live Mealworms:

Wait, don’t leave! 0% down, 0% financing. It’s unfurnished but it comes with a free nightvision security cam for that big family you want, plus a bonus meal worm mini barn in that big backyard. A few slightly nosy neighbors but you’ll never notice them. Come back!! 3-WORDS: “FREE NEW HOUSE”.

Live shot (~20-second refresh is the best I’ve been able to squeeze out of it so far)

I’ll try to add some streaming video to this (it’s a tiny, funky cam so not sure yet), and I’ll at least (hopefully—it’s obviously up to the missus) have some recorded video w/ sound for viewing/downloading at some point.

…on Saturday, the final day of the national Christmas Bird Count, five pairs of binoculars were trained on a pine tree in Fannin County. “Brown-headed nuthatch!” barked Tom Striker. “See him? To the left of the notch. He’s working on some cones. Upside down.”

Blue Ridge, in the North Georgia mountains about 90 miles from Atlanta, entered the count for the first time this year, its 20-odd volunteers fanning out across the standard count area, a 15-mile diameter circle.

“We don’t know exactly what we’re going to see,” said count coordinator Robert Kimsey, a poet who lives in McCaysville. “I’m hoping for at least 50 species. I’m dreaming of 70.”

He and Striker, who owns a bird feed store in Blue Ridge, escorted a small group walking around a fallow area of Mercier Orchards. Their most striking find of the morning – a great blue heron. The group also spotted a belted kingfisher, patiently watching a creek. link to AJC article…

Interestingly, a pair of Eastern Towhee’s (mentioned & photographed in the article) has been frequenting the feeder at our office. However, they hide in the Hemlocks or scamper from under the porch and only feed on the discarded feeder pickings on the ground. I’ve lived in GA most of my life and have never seen one of these–beautiful bird. I’ll try to grab them with the office porch cam and post a photo.

UPDATED: Here are a few shots, difficult to capture; they’re skittish and move fast!)

Don’t forget about the Great Backyard Bird Count, February 15-18, 2008.

Thanks to Barbara for sending in the article!

Northern Cardinals:

Goldfinches:

House Finches:

Carolina Chickadees:

White-Breasted Nuthatches:

Tufted Titmice:

Woodpeckers:

Hummingbirds:

Blue Jays:

Mourning Doves:

Eastern Gray Squirrels:

It appears to be a little foggier than it is this AM because I still need to hook-up the enclosure fan; I’ll also be attempting to add audio to the streaming cam today.