Baby Bluebirds

They have arrived!  It is so exciting that this nest was successful, we have 4 baby Bluebirds.

Around 2 to 3 days old.

Around 5 days old.

OSRBA annual show

The Ohio State Rabbit Breeder's Association held their annual open show the same weekend as the UARC specialty show- 2 chances to show your rabbits with lots of competition. 

 

Judge Allan Ormond came all the way from Utah to judge.

Allan judging one of my white does.

 

Chocolate tort buck's turn.

Happy to have won Best of Variety and Best Opposite Sex of Breed amongst lots of competition.

OSRBA UARC angora specialty show

Recently we attended the Ohio State convention in Columbus and were fortunate to have a specialty show hosted by the United Angora Rabbit Club.  It attracted 61 angoras and their humans.  Lots of good competition and a chance for fellow angora people to catch up.

Me hanging out with Brock, a youth exhibitor who is on a winning streak with his English Angoras.

Judge Bill Patrick checking out one of my REW does.

Two hard working UARC volunteers, Marcus has killer writing skills and Janet the awesome show secretary.  Thanks guys!

My chocolate tort buck's turn.

"Put your rabbits in the boxes and nobody gets hurt." Hehe.  Writing for the judge can be a little stressful since you are trying to get a bunch of people organized.

Yep, he keeps on winning.  Brock with his BOB and BOSB youth English Angora winners.  He went on to win Youth Best in Specialty Show.  Way to go Brock!

I was very pleased with my unexpected wins of Best of Variety with my junior white doe and Best Opposite Sex of Variety with my junior tort buck.  These were there first legs.

New Camera

It was time for a camera upgrade.  After researching I decided upon the Nikon 1 J1.  These beautiful bluebirds are a perfect excuse to splurge a little. 

Mr. Bluebird.  Isn't he gorgeous?

Mrs. Bluebird.  She, too, is pretty.  Just not as vibrant.

Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird checking on their eggs.

I hope they all hatch.

OSU Spring game

Hope springs eternal, or so the saying goes.  This die hard Buckeye fan and alumni has much love for the Buckeyes and will not be deterred by one less than stellar season.  John, who also loves the Buckeyes and keeps me informed from all of his Bucknuts reading (this is a popular insider's internet subscription) and I attended the Spring football game at the Horseshoe.  The attendance was 81,000 strong which has to be some sort of record.  I believe that team up north had a measly 24,000 in attendance and those tickets were FREE. Yet I digress...

Ah, the Promised Land!

This was no time to be fashion conscious.  After some early drizzle the weather cleared up for game time.

Urban Meyer in the black shorts and white sweat shirt. 

Whoa, tight security.  See the guy on top of Morrill Tower?  Not my kind of job.

Best damn band in the land!

They break the team down into Scarlet and Grey.  Loosing team had to walk back to the training facility, winners get a bus ride.  Also, losers have to spend the day doing charitable work along with all office staff who was recruited for that team.  Scarlet was victorious.

Awe....

Go ahead, say it...  You KNOW they're cute:)

3 months old and positively squeezable.

Since last we talked...

Had a bit of a surprise when I signed on to update my blog- looks like they are changing the behind the scene format.  I hate change. But since it's free, I guess complaining isn't going to do much.

Since last we chatted those #*%@% sparrows took out all five Bluebird eggs.  It was heart breaking to watch the Bluebirds try in vain to ward off the non-indigenous cruddy little good for nothing birds as we were helpless to intervene.  And although the sparrows won over the coveted bird house John and I have been WAY more persistent in keeping the boxes free of sparrow nests.  They quickly (more quickly than the Chickadees or Bluebirds) rebuild a nest and we no sooner clear it out.  I can only hope we are delaying, if not preventing, them from laying eggs.  If I seem a bit extreme in my dislike for sparrows it is because they disrupt the natural environment of this area (all of the US, actually) and have played a part in the decline in the number of Bluebirds and probably other indigenous birds.  Bluebirds are such a treat to see, and with the help of humans who put up bird houses and do there part to irradicate sparrows we can look forward to seeing more bluebirds.

Fortunately, the destroyed Bluebird nest did not deter the Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird from trying again in a different box, which, so far the sparrows have left alone.  Hopefully, I will soon post pictures of a successful Bluebird family.

Picture compliments of http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/bluebirdcam/

Sure wish I could take a picture like that!