This story started already last year, when I built a bird box that was especially designed for bluebirds. The Eastern Bluebird is a cavity nester that may use an old woodpecker hole in a tree or post but nest places became a hot commodity after more aggressive birds, like European Starlings and House Sparrows, became more widespread in the last century. Last year one of our House Wrens used the box for a nest. The bluebirds had no chance.
I photographed this male already while it came to one of our bird baths a few days ago and I became more excited when I saw it again yesterday flying into the entrance hole of the bird box with some nesting material. The nest is mainly built by the female but the males carry bits and pieces in and out of the box to attract a female. Once the female enters the box with the male the bond is established. I haven’t seen the female yet but my hope to have an active nest in this new bird box is growing.
Today’s photo was made right out of my office window on the second floor during the early evening. I had the 1.4 teleconverter between the Sigma 150-600 S and the camera and used the full focal length of 850 mm. The tree is across from the bird box, with some open space between, and the bluebird had obviously a good eye on it. He was cleaning his feathers after I made the first click and the bird gave me about 3 minutes to work with it.