Shared Housekeeping Duties

Today’s post features some recent images of an active Eastern Bluebird nest box, with the parents sharing housekeeping duties. During development of the baby bluebirds, both parents keep the nest scrupulously clean by removing the fecal sacs (body wastes from the babies) from the nest box.

Furthermore, the parents don’t just remove the waste from the box, but carry the fecal sacs away from the nest before disposing. This helps to prevent highlighting to potential predators where the nest of babies is located.

Here are a few images I captured recently of both parents removing the fecal sacs from the nest box.

The male:

Male Eastern Bluebird with fecal sac

Male Eastern Bluebird with fecal sac

The female:

Female Eastern Bluebird with fecal sac

Female Eastern Bluebird with fecal sac

Since capturing these images, I understand that the baby bluebirds have successfully fledged the nest and are doing well.

 

 

Posted in Bird Photography, Nature Photography
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