After the exciting conclusion of the third brood of last year’s nesting season — where two juveniles from a previous brood returned for the fledging of their relatives — I was eagerly anticipating the start of 2021.
The nest box was up by the first of January and for days I caught myself glancing at it every time I walked past the glass door to the deck. Would they return this season?
My answer came the morning of January 11 when both the male and female were on top of the nest box going through their now-familiar routine of inspecting it. And then they disappeared for a month.
The bluebird pair made their first appearance on January 11. 
The bluebirds returned on March 1 to further inspect the box. 
As the previous years had taught, this process usually takes multiple inspections. 
While trying to convince the female to select this location, the male points out the home’s security features.
They returned in mid-February and conducted a few more inspections during the next couple of weeks. Then they disappeared for two weeks; I assumed they were still in the process of ruling out other potential nesting sites.
It was early March and I was beginning to get concerned because in the past two seasons nest building activity had already begun by this time, and the first egg of the first brood had been laid on March 11 of both years. So things were running a bit late in 2021. I checked with my local bluebird expert, and he said his bluebirds were behind schedule also, so my concerns were eased.
The female brings beakfuls of pine straw and grasses to build her nest.
Then on March 12 the bluebird pair returned and resumed vigorous inspections; two days later the female began building her nest. Nest building continued for the next few days and the nest appeared complete by March 19.
The first egg was laid on March 27. Four more eggs followed.
On March 27 the first egg was laid; four more eggs were laid bringing this clutch to five total. I checked the nest box daily and all eggs appeared intact and all seemed well.
On April 14 the first egg hatched and the following day the remaining four eggs hatched. This was my first-ever brood of five chicks! What a wonderful start to the year!
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This is the 10th column in a series.
Next in the series: “The first Brood of 2021: A Reminder That Nature Has the Final Word”
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