Was watching the box again with my camera so I thought I would share the pics I got. I was standing about 15 feet from the box, parents kept right on feeding with me standing there. This is what they were doing this morning....

and now they are venturing a bit more.....

Donna

Donna, those photos are just precious! In all my years hosting dees Ive never gotten to see one peek! Very cute. I've seen them fledge a few times but the peeking is adorable.

Oh how cute! Ditto...I've seen the dees fledge but Never peek! Just love the pics! Thanks!

I am jealous - I never got to see my recent Dee's fledge. The picture is sweet..............awwwwwwwww

Well they fledged this morning...day 20. I didn't get to see them though wahhh! I looked around 7:30 and one of the adults was outside the box calling wasn't sure at first if it was fussing at the Bluebird near it or not but it wasn't a warning call. I had to go in and came out an hour later...they were all gone and I haven't seen them now. The box is on the side of the house on the other side of the garage so I cannot see it from inside the house. Do they hide their little ones for a bit like the Blues do? I sure hope they bring them up to our feeders someday...not sure I will be able to tell the little ones from the adults though. I am going to miss them.

Donna

Congrats Donna! Sorry you missed the fledging. Based on my two experiences with the dees, they don't hide the babies like the blues. They may not be around at the feeders immediately, but you will definitely see and hear them. In fact, you'll probably hear them close by in the trees before you see them. They have such a distinct "baby" dee sound and it's so sweet! Mine fledged on 4/22 (I think!) and I can still hear the difference between the adults and little ones.

Donna

All I can say is u r soooooooooooooooo lucky!!! thank u for posting the little cuties!!

karen

Donnalovesblue, you have me worried now. I walked around our property twice today, we have just under 5 acres. About 3 acres is woods with paths running through it. I just can't hear the Dees anywhere!! I sure hope nothing happened to them after they fledged!

Donna

Oh my, sure didn't mean to worry you! I'm sure the babies are OK. My lot is small as is the backyard, with alot of wooded area behind my property. The dees hang out in trees close by the fence. Anyway, my point is that with 5 acres, it probably would be difficult to even hear them. So, don't worry...I bet they show up soon. As for my blues, I rarely ever see the fledglings so I'm always concerned about them and disappointed that Mom and Dad don't bring them by for a visit! Keep us posted, OK?

Donna

That's ok Donna, it is hard not to worry when you don't see them. Because I feed the Blues they alway end up bringing the babies to the feeders until the leave in the Fall. I would worry about them too if they left after fledging.

I really don't think the Dees are in the woods by our house. I went down to the park today where I monitor nestboxes. It is about 2-3 blocks from my house and the closest woods other than our small one. The park is 32 acres, 10-20 wooded, I would guess. I was rewarded with seeing two chickadee families in the trees showing the little ones how to hunt for bugs. I couldn't tell the difference between the adults and the little ones but I could see some feeding the others. I watched them for awhile and a great crested flycatcher flew into the tree by them. Then I turned around and noticed a huge tree further off the trail in the woods, got the binocs and could see a racoon head sticking out of a hole in the tree, it was sleeping. Later walking out I saw a doe and a fawn the exact same time they saw me and they were gone in a flash. Just had to share that. lol! Anyway I around here the Dees are not at the feeders in the summertime even though they are here year round, the summer is for bug eating so I am sure they just took their little ones in the bigger woods (maybe one of the families I saw) and are showing them how to hunt bugs. Come late summer they start showing up at the feeder, I sure won't know if they are the ones that nested here but I will be glad they are back. Do you know if the Dees like to renest where they had a successful nesting, I am wondering if this pair will nest here again next year.

Donna

In April, the dees gave up the house, where they successfully nested last year, to a downy. Shortly after that, a pair of early HOWR's moved the downy along.

Little did I know that the dees moved into the woods about 100 feet from the bird house. About 2 weeks ago, while I was working in the garden, I heard a bunch of High-pitched, fast, de, de, de, de, dih, dih, dih sounds. They seemd to be everywhere. De, de, de, de, dih, dih, dih. De, de, de, de, dih, dih, dih. Every now and then, the signature dee, dee, dee, sound would pop out among the de, de, de, de, dih, dih, dih sounds. Then I realized that the dees, that frequent my feeders, had a very successful nest in the wild. The sound of the youngsters was an unexpected and welcome surprise.