i think I'd put it back in.

Thank you.

UUMMM did you think they were all gone already? If not do you know how old the babies are? You should never check a box after day 13 of hatching. Please go to www.sialis.org and read up on how to keep these birds safe. It is a MUST read if you want Blues! If this was the last baby to leave it's gonna jump out again and it will peep till the parents find it. Did it fly well? Does it have tail feathers? If it was the last baby to leave then best to watch it and make sure it can fly and the parents find it. If you caused a pre mature fright fledge yes try to plop it back in the hole and leave them be. Let us know what happens!

I have been reading www.sialis.org that is where I saw that boxes should be monitered. The little one flew extremely well and was fast I did not get to see the tail feathers. He just swooped out and flew right into the pecan tree. Checked the tree and ground this morning but did not see anything. Did not dare mess with the box again. This was not the last to leave there were others in the box but I did not keep the door open long enough to count. I figured I had done enough damage.

I hope I have not learned a lesson at the expense of a little bluebird's life. I don't guess I will ever know.

Oh and to answer your first question I did think that since all my other bluebird parents were on their second nest with new eggs I was not expecting to find any little ones.

Just a P. S. here I wnet back to the the box and listened and not hear a peep. I did dare to crack the door to peek. All the little bluebirds were gone except one and it was dead and from the looks of it had been dead for a few days. I guess thing like this just happen. I cleaned out the box for the next nest.

I think the first little bird will be ok since the others fledged. Get yourself a calendar and start writing down whats going on . It will help you keep track of when they should hatch, when not to open the box and when they should be leaving. Im glad you are reading the website. It has helped us all keep our Blues safer!

Thanks Lisa. I have already written down on a calendar about the other boxes and their eggs. The site is very helpful.