mountain bluebird

A male Mountain Bluebird with a freshly captured darner dragonfly, destined for the mouths of his newly hatched chicks. Recently emerged from a nearby pond, having slowly developed during the aquatic phase of its life, this darner was enduring the vulnerable teneral stage. For the first few days of life post metamorphosis, their wings need time to dry, and their exoskeleton is comparatively soft and dull in colour. Eventually, once their body hardens and muscles have had time to mature, they become increasingly proficient fliers. Until then however, they make a very easy meal for many insectivores; which the bluebirds were well aware of.