It’s officially back-to-school season as of TODAY! We know there are many parents rejoicing with the thought that the kids are out of the house again and back at their desks. You might even be so lucky to have free time (what’s that again?) on your hands now. Come on down to the library and grab something to fill your time!

We’re returning to our busy schedules after the brief hiatus following our wonderfully successful summer reading program; this includes after-school teen club, baby and preschool storytimes, Teen Advisory Board meetings, and a doggy storytime for the kids. We’re still running all of our normal adult programs, but you will surely see an uptick in the younger crowd in the afternoons from this point forward. So congratulations, parents and grandparents, another summer is in the books and enjoy our transition into fall! Kids, congratulations as well and enjoy the school year.

Nature Corner: All In the Family

By: Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

Young feathered visitors to our feeders this week led to the identification of juvenile Eastern Bluebirds. At first, we thought they were young robins, but learned that they were indeed Eastern Bluebirds. There’s a reason for this mistaken identity.

Robins and bluebirds have something in common? They are both members of the Thrush family ( Order: Passeriformes, Family: Turdidae) and the babies have a similar appearance with speckled face and chests.

Bluebirds can have two broods each Summer and their babies go through stages in their development:

Hatchling 0-3 days old, naked, eyes closed, completely dependent on parents.

Nestling: 3 plus days….eyes are open, down and some feathers on its body, dependent on parents.

Fledgling: 19+ days. Has all of its feathers, is learning to fly and hope about, dependent on parents

Juvenile: Still has juvenile plumage but can gather food on its own

Adult: The first fall after hatching, the juvenile feathers have now molted and adult feathers in.

Note: In addition to the robins and Eastern bluebirds, New Hampshire has five other different types of thrushes: Veery, Bicknell’s Thrush, Swainson’s Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush.

To learn more about these beautiful birds and see the different stages

All About Baby Bluebirds From A to Z