Introducing the Star of the Nest. She built it. Today, she deposited the 4th egg. Her job of egg laying is nearly complete. Tomorrow, she will lay the 5th egg, my guess is sometime just after sunup. The 5th egg will complete the clutch. She will begin incubation on Saturday. Is she an example of patient, and dependable? For nearly two weeks she has focused her energies and attention on nest building and egg laying. Impressed yet? Incubation surpasses everything she has done so far. How warm does it get inside the small wooden nest box with the sun shining directly on it and the outside air temperature over 90?

I tell you she is a Star.

This female bluebird is patient, persistent, even brave…if birds can be brave.

She is tough.

Her mate thinks she is a star. He brings her juicy caterpillars, and she always accepts.

It is a blessing to my heart to watch this pair throughout the day in our back yard. Their gentleness to each other, their constant presence, and peaceful natures bring me joy…stars of joy.

God, with infinite wisdom, knew this when He created the Bluebird...the stamp of His divine nature is seen in every action and heard in the sweet calls of the Bluebird.

Yesterday, with authority, I told you our "Star of the Nest" would lay her 5th egg today-and early in the morning. She placed egg 5 in the fine dry grass of the nest cup as predicted-not at the time expected. She did not lay her egg just after sunrise. There was no 5th egg when I checked the box at 9:30 AM. I was going to show off to my neighbor. "See there are 5 eggs?" I said that proudly, with assurance of my great knowledge. I knocked on the box while standing to the side so she could fly out if she were inside. She was not there. I opened the box, ready to display my great nature knowledge. There were 4 eggs.

Whenever it seems in my little mind that I have the natural world a bit more figured out...I am reminded that the more I know, there is still more unknown. My neighbor was patient. I ate my daily serving of humble pie right there.

Then I checked the box at sunset. Now there were 5 eggs. I have no idea when she laid it-but it was sometime today. Have I told you bluebirds chatter to each other during the day? Their voices are the purest comfort.

Our garden nest box holds their progeny, it seemed highly likely I would see them again.

Sure enough…

He feeds her. He warns her with soft calls. He watches. He guards her and the box. A large task for a small bird.

The sun had set. The twilight of another long late spring evening lingered. The evening air had a crisp cool feeling. Most birds were already at roost. Their sleep would be short, for sunrise the next day came at 5:32 AM. Robins begin to sing at twilight...7 minutes before 5 AM.

One of the natural world's grand mysteries has begun, in our back yard. Today, the female bluebird began to incubate her eggs. How many were there you ask? It was not my intention to disturb her today. It was a good thing. Yesterday, there were five eggs. My expectation was she would begin to incubate them a day ago. She was not on the nest last evening. I wondered, but trusted she knew best. She is the Star. Sometime that day she determined to begin the process of changing bluebird embryos to baby bluebirds.

That evening just after sunset, I determined to discover what was happening in the bluebird box filled with the treasure of 5 eggs. I tapped softly on the box in case she was on the nest. In a soft voice, I said, "Are you in there, Momma?" I took out the nail holding the box front closed and entered an almost sacred world.

My first glimpse inside revealed movement. The grass of the nest shifted. In the dimming twilight I bent down to look in. There she was... on the nest. No more eggs will be laid. In 12-14 days, she and her mate will be hunting during every daylight hour for insects, especially small caterpillars-in the grass of our yard.

As I looked in, she backed herself into the left corner of the box, all the while keeping the eggs covered. I had only a glimpse into this private world of mother bird and her eggs. I softly closed the box front, replaced the nail and walked away with joy in my heart.

There is a great mystery happening in our backyard...while I do not watch every moment, the male bluebird does. One more thing, my calculations make today the 3rd day of incubation…it could be the 4th. Many things happen in nature and I never notice.

This event is happening in our backyard. We’ll keep watching.

He has his feathers fluffed. This photo was taken in the cool morning air. His mate was incubating the 5 eggs in the box…he was vigilant. He heard the camera shutter click.