Bluebirds are back!

Well, at least one is back. We saw it on Saturday along the fence and then it was checking out the nesting box they used last year, but which is currently occupied by tree swallows this year. On Sunday we saw the bluebird going into a nesting box behind the house. That was followed by a battle for the box between the bluebird, the house sparrow and a starling (who can't even fit inside the entry hole to that box). Bluebirds are dwindling in numbers as a direct result of conflict and competition from those other two non-native species. Hopefully the bluebird will stick around and decide to nest here again. We'll be keeping a close eye on it. Here are some not so great pics taken on the rainy Saturday afternoon.