can't believe they left at night!

17 years ago

Hi,

After over 50 days and over 300 hours of videos (raw footage) and the blogging, YouTube videos, my two little rascals got one over on me.

Yesterday during the day I did a blog entry on 'when do they know they are ready to leave.' Well, Thelma and Louie didn't read it.

It was only yesterday that I saw the first glimpse of one of the faces in the hole of the nest box. The chicks were doing what I've always seen as 1 or 2 days BEFORE fledging. My husband came home a bit before 7pm last night and he really enjoys watching 'real' TV. So I quit recording 'Bird TV' at 7pm which is pretty much typical.

At 8:10pm after we finished one show, I switched to nest box video and there were NO birds!!! They left between 7pm and 8:10pm, probably closer to the end of that range! I couldn't believe it!!! Yesterday the parents fed them as normal, there was no 'parent calling the kids out of the box' behavior. At 7pm, they were sleeping at the back of the box with their heads turned AWAY from the hole.

I can't believe this, really. And I was so worried that they left at that time of the day. We put out some mealworms and watched Mama and Daddy take it to them in the trees near the box. I heard the call they've been practicing for the last week. I saw them in profile.

Of course, I boo-hooed.

This morning I put mealies out early and watched the parents take the food into the top of the really high trees not too far away. I can't see the fledglings but I'll look later when we have full light.

I have 2 days of video to edit and post (day 16 and 17--they left on day 17 which is usu. when 'my' kids leave). I'm watching to see if Mama will come back to the nest to refurbish it for another brood.

Next brood is going to have to read my blog!!! :)

Off to finish the video editing...at least I reached the goal of finishing something I started (although I will do videos in 2 weeks when Daddy brings them to the mealie feeder). That will give me some closure.

bluebird blessings, Linda...

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Comments (6)

bbcathy
17 years ago
Well they made it out safely and that must be a relief. Like a friend of mine says "They don't read the books" Good job Linda. Your vigilance has paid off.
Cathy
lcmoore99
Original Author
17 years ago
Yes, it IS a relief to know they are safe. Usually, I predict fledging days before it happens. Oh well, live and learn!

Linda...
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dzyg
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Glad to hear they made it out safely. Too bad you didn't get it on video though. I had one fledge in the evening once like that, she was the sole survivor of a clutch of four. Usually they leave in the afternoons around here though it seems. How is your wren problem going? I heard the nasty things this morning for the first time and my stomach is all in a jumble worrying about the chickadees, they are nestbuilding at the moment.

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17 years ago
After this year, I no longer believe that the birds pay any attention to the weather. My first brood fledged the week-end we had 10 inches of rain in 2 days with a hail storm mixed in there. They actually fledged 1 hour after the hail storm and had to endure all-day rain.

All 4 are now coming to the mealworm feeder with the parents. Mom started a new nest this week and it's almost complete.

Linda C
lisa11310
17 years ago
Glad they got off ok...how are your Dee babies?
lcmoore99
Original Author
17 years ago
Lisa,

The 'dees are doing really well. I figure that today will be day 10 for them.

You can check out some pics I took of one of them on the blog...I think it's the most recent entry.

I know I'll have to take the wren guard off at some point. They often fledge at 17 days, right? When should I take off the wren guard?

Blessings, Linda...

Here is a link that might be useful: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

can't believe they left at night!

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can't believe they left at night!

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