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Watching 'em Leave the Nest!

18 years ago

I've been watching my grandbirds peep out the window for a couple of days now. I have been glued to my kitchen window waiting for the official fledging. Just a little bit ago one of the babies was really wanting to taste the outside world.

He watched me watch him

Then he took the plunge!

Now What?

Now Where?

He actually "walked" up this big tall roof, chirping for Mamma and Papa all the way. Then he flew to another roof and was joined by what appeared to be his parents. They were too far away to tell for sure. I haven't seen him since and it's been a little over an hour. His siblings keep peeping out and trying to get up the nerve. The parents have visited and fed them several times, but they still are staying inside. I was hoping the fledged baby would return with the parents after I put out the mealies again. But he didn't. :o(

I really have to make dinner, but I can't pull myself away from the window!!

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Comments (6)

donnalovesblue
18 years ago
Boy do I know the feeling...it's such a wonderful yet sad feeling to see that first fledgling pop out into a brand new world....The others may be gone early in the morning, so you may have to set your alarm, and get up before daybreak! Get a good nights sleep...hope you get to see the others fledge...

Donna
lisa11310
18 years ago
LOL, is this your frist fledge? Congratulations! My Hubby knows there IS no dinner when my Blues are fledging.Next time you will know dinner will have to wait! Our Blues should be leaving this weekend sometime so I made a trip to the grocery store and got all microwave stuff and a rotisserie chicken! The little fledgling wont be back for 10 days or so, but is high up in the trees where Mom and Dad can keep it safe. They will all huddle as a family for a few days and the parents will start teaching them the ways of the world. You will see them again.
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blumz
Original Author
18 years ago
This is the first fledge I've ever been able to witness. We've been in this house only 7 months - and I have a small backyard totally visible from my kitchen. At my other place I couldn't see the BB box well without having to go outside. So I missed so much of the activity. I'm totally loving this! Between the blues and the dozens of beautiful goldfinches, house finches, and hummers that feed just outside the window, I have a regular circus going on all the time. We designed and built the house with windows all across the back just so we could enjoy the backyard activity of the birdies in my gardens.

I'll keep being very generous with the mealies. The parents know where all the good food is and will bring the kids back for more. I can just hear my grandbirds singing now ... "Over the river and thru the woods to grandmother's house we go!"
blumz
Original Author
18 years ago
The morning after! I know there was at least one birdie baby still in the box this morning. He kept peeping out and then his parents would come and feed him. I thought I saw one come out and leave just a little bit ago -- but I was on the phone and couldn't be sure. (of all times to get a phone call!) The only way I have of knowing if there are still any in the box is to put out mealies and when the parents come watch to see if they feed any babies in the box. I don't want to open the box until I'm sure it's empty.

How long do you wait after they have all left to clean the box out? ... immediately? ... a few days?
donnalovesblue
18 years ago
I cleaned the box the day after all babies had fledged...my little blue family was very messy! I used about a tablespoon of bleach with 2 gallons of water, scrubbed well, and then hosed it out...I left the door open for a day so that the box could dry out completely, and about 2 1/2 weeks later, Mama began building her second nest...hope all the babies made it OK...

Donna
blumz
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks. I'm sure I'll be doing the cleaning this weekend. I've watched 3 leave, and one is still peeping out trying to get the nerve. Don't know if the 5th one went when I wasn't around, or if it is still in the box, too.

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