Bluebirds make their new home in Bill Leslie's yard

My wife Cindy discovered three eggs when she inspected our backyard box this week. Also, these eggs are white, which is unusual for bluebirds.

The normal color of bluebird eggs is pale blue. In doing some research, I have read that fewer than 10% of all bluebird eggs are white.

We now realize why it took so long! Bluebirds like to nest in open areas.

Trees have really grown up in our backyard over the years, so it’s probably unusual to have a nest in a place with so much vegetation. We do have an excellent source of food. While bluebirds are mostly ground feeders, the pair in our backyard has taken to Cindy’s bird feeder stocked with no-mess seed from Wild Birds Unlimited.

One of my favorite emails came from Jane Currin at Trinity Academy. Jane’s family started a bluebird trail on the 38-acre campus of the school in North Raleigh 15 years ago. Jane uses the trail and its 11 bluebird boxes as part of the third grade science curriculum at Trinity.

Jane shared with me a fascinating video of a curious bluebird in her backyard and another video of her weekly inspections along the bluebird trail at Trinity Academy.

Walter Sumpter sent me a wonderful photograph of a bluebird baby being fed near his house.

Richard Sampson talked about the joyful noise of bluebirds in the backyard.

“I look forward to the early Saturday morning, with cup of coffee in hand, when I sit down within ear shot of the bluebird house and hear the little ones telling mom and dad how hungry they are," he said.

Don Swankie and Robert Bos offered advice about keeping away predators including cats and black snakes. We are now making regular inspections.

Don Brake in Henderson says he has learned over the years that bluebirds are picky about housing.

“Many bluebirds raise three sets of babies a year, and they like to have a clean house each time," he said.

Jane Currin installs nesting cups in her bluebird boxes to help the birds get on with the business of raising a family.

Jami and Miranda Blizzard are bluebird enthusiasts and have enjoyed many broods over the years, saying, "Our bluebirds seem to really take to the boxes available at SECU branches. We also entice them to our yard with a fresh water supply and mealworms. They love these!"

Samarys Kelly was delighted to get away from the daily drumbeat of COVID-19.

“During these uncertain times it is nice to see something other than the gloom that seems to surround us, especially something that signifies hope," Kelly said.

WRAL’s Heather Leah says our original story about the symbolism behind bluebirds and cardinals brought back memories of her grandmother:

“When I was a child, I remember my grandmother would always get SO excited when she saw a cardinal. She'd always call me over to look, and I never understood why," she said. "My grandmother lost her mother at age 11. Lost both her brothers at age 18. Lost her husband at age 55. Now I look back and wonder if every time she saw a cardinal, she thought it was Grandpa or one of my ancestors. Did she call me so urgently because she wanted me to meet them And as excited as cardinals made her -- bluebirds make her the HAPPIEST of all.”

bleslie@wral.com is my email address. Let’s keep this bluebird conversation going. I will keep you posted on our bluebird family and tell you about Jane Currin’s calculation on when we might have babies in the box!