Congratulations on a successful fledging. I don't know why the adults would visit the nest when their young have fledged. My only guess would be to draw potential predators away from where their young are in the trees. If you watch for a while, do the adults then take off into the trees? While I've never had them revisit an empty nest, they do tend to land in a few locations where their babies are not hiding before heading out to feed them.

I've spotted them a few times now! They're mainly staying high in 3 tall cottonwood trees. They almost blend in with the leaves! I've also seen 2 take flights! For being so young, they're flying exceptionally well! Of course the parents get nervous and chatter whenever they see me, but it doesn't stop them from feeding. I've also noticed that they fly high to the tops of trees and sing when the local hawk shows up at the neighbors' bird feeder. Kendra, unfortunately I take on too many other things and it would take to much extra time and money I don't have for meal worms. Though I'd love to if I could. I usually see them a few times still weeks later, though not as much. ~Tim~

Congrats on adding more blue to the sky! Hopefully, you will see many more fledgings. Sometimes they fly out so quickly, you blink and miss it. Other times, the parents tease them for hours, call them, and hover in front of them with food to coax them out. The funniest one I ever saw (wish I had a picture of this) one fledgling changed his mind in mid-fledge; one wing and one foot out, and one wing and foot still in the box. He must have stayed there a good 20 minutes trying to figure out what to do next. He eventually made it just fine, heaven knows how. Sometimes they are super flyers, popping out and turning in mid air to head right up to the tallest trees. Landing is another matter. I've seen one grab a bunch of leaves and hang upside down for a while, holding on for dear life until he gathered the nerve to fly up higher. They can climb very well, too. It always amazes me how the parents will guide them from one place to the next, and then gather them all up for the night, all snuggled together in a row. I used to think they always fledged first thing in the morning, but I've seen them fledge all times of the day, just before a major thunderstorm, even once at dusk. The most important thing though, is NOT to scare them when fledging time is close. The last thing you want is for them to fledge out of fear before they are really ready. Always keep good notes on your calendar so you know when the age of the nestlings, and do not open the nestbox after day 13 (remember unlucky 13). BlueBars Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.sialis.org/premature.htm

Thanks Donna and Ken....i had made up my mind that i wasn't gonna budge from my swing this morning...i've been watching them for the past few days because i knew fledging time was getting very close...then when i saw the parents constantly flying to the nest then flying just a short distance away and singing their hearts out i knew it was time.....no no no...i wasnt going anywhere...lol...i can hear them up in the oak trees and sometimes can see them.....this is soooooo cool !!!....their house is all clean now but isnt it a bit late for another nesting?...i'll be watching closely...thanks again !!!