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BB Babies Peeping Out of Window

18 years ago

I have noticed for the past few days that my 16 day old BB babies peep out of the window of the box pretty often. I guess they are wondering what it's like on the outside. How much longer do you think it will be until they decide to try and find out? Do they come out on their own, or do the parents coax them (or push them) out? Just wanna know what to watch for.

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Comments (6)

bluebars
18 years ago
Our bluebirds usually fledge on day 17 or 18, so it won't be long now! The parents might stop feeding them, or bring food and not let them have it, hovering in front of them and teasing. They will get hungry, and the parents will call to them. Eventually, each one will get up into the entrance hole (or window LOL), and peek out more and more, often going back in, while others take a turn. When you see toes on the windowsill, they are very, very close.
Once I watched a little boy try to take off, but he would not let go of the box. Then he had one wing in and one wing out. It took him about a 1/2 hour to figure out what to do next, but he eventually made it to the trees.
The parents will then guide them to the safety of the trees, either by calling them or leading them.
Our best hope is that when they go, they can really fly, otherwise, they are vulnerable to predators; hawks and cats and such.
Enjoy the show. And don't blink. We set up a video camera once, to try to catch one bluebird fledging. The whole 8-hour tape was absolutly nothing--no peeking, no toes, nothing. At about 7 hours & 45 minutes into the tape, a blur went by. That was it!
BlueBars
bridget_bb
18 years ago
Our last two broods peeked out for about 1 or 2 days and then were off! It was funny to watch them vie for space at the hole or......" almost, not quite, dare I leap ...nope better scoot back in before I get shoved out!!!"

Bluebars is right... don't blink or you will miss it. We did earlier this year. One day they just started to peek out the next (day 18) they were gone! BUT we have had them back in the garden many times since, moreso than last year. I guess every brood is different.
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donnalovesblue
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My blues fledged on day 17...well, two of them did, while I was watching...just an awesome sight! Babies 3, 4, & 5 kept peeking out, looking around, but they just couldn't make that leap into their new world...I was sure something was wrong, as Mama fed them and left for about an hour, and I was concerned that Mama had forgotten about the other 3...LOL! I went straight to the forum and quickly found out that was perfectly normal....she was probably intentionally not feeding them as a way to coax them out!

Very early the next morning, the other three had joined their siblings and under the watchful eye of Mama and Daddy...Hope you get to see yours fledge...let us know!

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trailerparkbirds
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You are all right about not blinking or you'll miss them fledge, On the last batch I figured I'll try to get a bunch of pictures of halve of them stepping up the hole etc, and halve of them actually flying away for the first time. Well I got a whole bunch of pictures of them stepping up to the hole and looking out and about two pictures of them leaving and those two pictures you can barely make out they are bluebirds. A nestcam will help you see them step up to the hole to fly away, they will you get ready to take pictures, other wise it will happen before you know it.
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blumz
Original Author
18 years ago
I'm assuming all of the babies are still in there. Since I haven't opened the box in about 3 days, I can't be sure. I am putting out a LOT of mealies and the mamma and papa are still feeding babies inside the box.

I have photos of a brood of house finches from a couple years ago reluctantly leaving the nest. I spent the afternoon sitting on some nearby steps with the camera watching the show. They had nested in an arborvitae and it was comical to watch the last one step out, the back in, then back out, and back in ... for a long time before he finally took the plunge.

Once the babies have fledged, they will all be coming back to my mealie feeder for their food, won't they? I should be able to catch some pictures of the little ones then.
bridget_bb
18 years ago
I think some babies come to the feeders, but ours never had. The closest they've come is to a nearby fence.... where usually Papa would feed them a mouthful here and there. We just had to zoom in to get the pics... we were just glad they came to the garden so we could see them!

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