Monarch Firsts (for Me)

Our property has hosted monarchs before.  I recall my first two larvae after putting in butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) probably ten years ago.  After a few years of seeing them, they seemingly disappeared from our yard for about three years (while their populations had really plummeted).  After a bit of a rebound, I have seen them in the yard again.

However, this is the first year that I not only got some photos of them in flight, I also witnessed a female laying an egg--twice (on two separate days).  :)  I found it very satisfying.

In addition, the adults used to seem like rare visitors, but this year, over the past two or three weeks, I seem to see one in our yard each day I go out!  Cupplant has proven itself a great favorite with not only the monarchs, but other butterflies and smaller pollinators. 

The milkweed that I winter sowed (and, later, posted about planting out in the meadow) are pictured here, in pots with the monarch making good use of them.

An Unexpected Surprise...

For the past two weeks or so, I had been checking my nestboxes periodically--but mostly just their favorite and the new one that I saw a pair checking out.  On occasion, I would look in two others.  It seems to me, I only looked at the one in the far corner once (the path there had become overgrown last year). 

Today, I checked it out, and noticed what I thought was an old nest from last year that I forgot to clean out.  Looking inside and seeing some eggs still had me thinking that it was an unsuccessful clutch from last year, but, when I  put my phone in and took pictures, I realized the eggs were blue...and newly laid--the bluebirds are back!  :)

Seeing no nest-building over the past two weeks had me prepared for my first year without bluebirds.  I'm happy that does not seem to be the case.

The Bluebirds' Second Clutch of Eggs :-)

New Life

Despite my silence, things are happening in the yard...some nature's doing...and some mine (but many projects of mine still remain undone).

It is hard for me to believe that the bluebird pair not only built a nest, but also laid eggs, fed the young, and fledged them...and I've yet to post about it.  Well today, that finally changes.

Trying to keep things in chronological order ended up causing me to delay some posts until I'd posted what happened earlier.  So, chronology be damned.  I'm finally posting SOMETHING so that I can give this blog some new life.

Speaking of new life, aside from the bluebirds, I watched robins go from eggs to fledging.  Currently there is a pair of chickadees with seven--count 'em--seven hatchlings...and two pairs of tree swallows with nests.  Unfortunately, I'm limited on pictures.  Some of the egg pictures didn't turn out well with my new cell phone, and others are "misplaced", but I'll share a few.  Hopefully, after this post, I'll get back to posting more regularly again.


Robins:

Bluebirds

 Chickadee:

Discoveries

Winter tends to reveal things. Today I spotted several praying mantis egg cases.

Bluebird & Eggs

Tree Swallow Nest with Eggs

Swallow Nest, Wasp Nest

Now that I realize that the tree swallows were still building their nest and not raising their young already, I decided to take a look in the box. They didn't dive bomb me as they have in past years--never actually making contact as I'd read prior to experiencing the scare tactic. Perhaps because there are only eggs at the moment and no hatchlings.

I spotted a wasp nest (I believe it is a species from Europe similar to our yellow jackets--but, luckily, minus the temper). Perhaps they could have lived in harmony with the tree swallow family, but I wasn't taking any chances, so, after taking a picture, I grabbed a stick and knocked the nest onto the ground.

Shortly after I walked away, one of the parents (I can't tell them apart) went over to check that everything was okay. :)

Perhaps this pair of tree swallows will learn to trust me, but I'm guessing after the young have hatched, they won't take as kindly to my monitoring the box.

Bluebird Brood(s) 2011

I finally got a shot of one of the bluebirds. He was perched on the second nestbox...which had only a half-built nest last time I checked. (I guess I never got around to posting those pics.)

The five--count 'em five--eggs (pictured below) were laid in the first nestbox (the one farthest from the house). The third, newly set up box was still empty last time I checked, but I hope the tree swallows will stay and nest there.

New Find

While cleaning out the nestbox today, I spotted something at the base of the post. Thanks to my friends at WildlifeGardeners.org, I knew what it was. It was another praying mantis egg case...what's more, there was a second on the other side! :)

I'll keep my eye on them and hope to see them hatch. :)

Bluebird's Second Brood