Sorry Donna, gosh... I do feel your pain.
Our one and only late-summer nesting last year ended with the entire family fanishing for 4-6wks. Very empty feeling then.

But don't despair. Our pair is on nest 3 now and Missy is incubating her 5 new eggs. Their urge is strong, and there is still time.

best luck,

Kenn

Donna -

I was so sad I cried when my first set vanished after fledging. I didn't see feather or beak of any of them for close to two weeks. Then fleeting glimpses of Dad coming back to check for worms (I would wait and put them out as soon as I saw him). And then they all came back and ate heartily while the first three little guys grew in their feathers and Mom and Dad laid a new set. That set fledged today. And honestly, I wish I could say it happened completely like last time, because (to my great dismay) the Runt came stumbling out of the box tonight at 7:15, a full three hours after his four siblings!! NOT a good flyer and darkness coming FAST!! I think I'd have done anything to have had them all fly far away on strong, able wings. Instead, now I'm worrying about this little runty Blue out there in the dark cold night...
But I digress - I bet they'll be back - give them just a little more time and keep us posted.

Thank you so much..and congrats, Mullipuff, on your new fledglings..I'm sure your little runt will be safe!!!

I just miss them so much and wonder where in the heck are they!!! So very strange, but I'll keep on watching and listening, and waiting...

Thanks to you too, Kenn...Your Missy is quite the Mom!!! Wow...five eggs this time??? I look forward to seeing the pics of the babies, as always.

Donna

I wouldn't give up hope just yet, Donna. There's still plenty of time and I suspect that they are taking a much-deserved breather. If I were you, I'd try and relax a bit yourself during this lull because I don't think they're done yet!
Kathy

It's called Empty Nest Syndrome. Just be happy that there is more blue in the sky, and you have done all you can for them. Don't be sad unless there was a nest failure!
They are wild creatures, and they don't live by our rules. Right now they have to teach those fledglings to find food and be safe; they are very vulnerable and MUST learn to stay hidden. Hopefully, they will return soon. There is plenty of time for another brood, so now get that nestbox cleaned out and ready. And CONGRATS!
BlueBars

I feel your pain also Donna, the second batch left haven't seen hide or low of the first batch of fledglings or the second batch of fledglings. There's an adult pair of bluebirds working on a new clutch, but I suspect either the female or male isn't the original pair. I suspect the original adult pair has split off and one of them has ran off with the kids. It is still dry here in Tennessee, their isn't much flying insects around the trailerpark so I suspect they have moved out of the neighborhood for a better neighborhood and/or as far as peace and quiet goes have left for a better place.
Keith

That sounds familiar- "Where have all the bluebirds gone?" Maybe they have been fooling us all these years- hiding away so we'll erect houses & build trails for them! :)

I wouldn't worry- there wasn't any sign of fledglings or Mom for weeks after mine left the box. I see an empty box is a victory- when opening it after the "presumed" fledge day there is always that fear of finding dead chicks or other problems- a nest intact and empty is a sigh of relief. The parents probably just have their hands full with their new family and are very busy concentrating on their offspring's survival. They'll be back and it will make it all the better when you finally see them again!

Tracey

Many thanks, all!!! I'm so glad to hear that my little Blue's vanishing act is familiar...Since I'm still new to bluebirding, I just expected the scenario after the 2nd fledging would be exactly like the first!!!

LOL, Kathy...I do need to relax and keep reminding myself that those NINE little blues from the first and second nesting are hopefully safe, secure and flying about...that does bring joy to my heart!

The nestbox has been cleaned out and ready to go should there be a 3rd nesting! All of you have given me renewed hope!

Donna

Donna, the same thing happened to me (my first year hosting bluebirds) and I was frantic. I went way beyond driving to the closest Cul-d-sac....... honey, I drove through every street in my subdivision and CALLED and WHISTLED to them! (OMG, the looks I got from people who first asked if I'd lost my dog and then looked at me with shock when I told them I was looking for "my" bluebirds!!!) It was after their second and last nesting of that first season and I was just heartbroken when they took off with their four babies. It was explained to me on this forum that sometimes they go on a little "bluebird hiatus" and I do believe that's what happened. On the 16th day of them MIA, I pulled into my driveway and saw the adults sitting on the electrical wires across the street. I few inside, grabbed a cup of meal worms, called them and filled their feeder. They came straight to it PROVING it was my couple, Ma & Pa! They had two of the four fledglings with them. I scolded them repeatedly and then just cried, tears of joy. That was the one and only time they are any couples since have disappeared for that length of time.

Hope you see your two very soon!

Donna, I sure hope they come back for you. IMO, the mealworms are what keeps them in your yard and if you ran out maybe that is why they left. However it does sound normal from what everyone says. This is only my third year hosting Blues and only the first year did I get a first and a second nesting in my yard. That first year the Blues never left after the first or second fledging until it was time to leave for the Winter. Last year and this year my pair showed up late so I am assuming they both had a failed first nesting and my yard was their second nesting so there was no time for an additional one. Last years pair didn't leave my yard until it was time to migrate south either.

At the park where I monitor five nestboxes, last year I got two nestings of Blues in one box. I didn't see any of the first fledglings but I did see the second ones. This year I had two nesting of Blues down at the park. Both have fledged, one pair has just laid its third egg of the second nesting and I did see three of the four fledglings this past weekend. The other pair I haven't seen nor heard from since fledging. I keep checking the box, Friday will be two weeks since they fledged. Today while checking (still nothing in the box) I did hear a baby Blue in the woods so I am thinking maybe (hoping) they are back around to start the second nesting. It is too far away from the other box to be a flegling from the other pair down there.

Donna

Janie..you Crack Me Up!!! I laughed all the way through your response! I didn't go to that in extreme when I drove down the cul-de-sc, but I sure as heck wanted to! I had the binocs, window rolled down but didn't get out of the car, for fear the neighbors would alert the police of suspicious activity!

I just love these BB stories and rely upon them everyday!

Yes, I need some mealworms...so many other things have demanded my attention this past week, but I intend to order some (I believe Dean's supplier in GA) tomorrow...hopefully Sunshine will have some beginning next week! Can't believe that this time last year, I never thought I would host bluebirds and become addicted to them...come to think of it, this time last year, I had never heard of mealworms!

Many thanks again for your thoughts and Lord knows, patience with us "newbies"!

Donna

This hiatus business seems to be a little early this year--my blues are still going strong, but I suspect it's because we had such a cool, wet spring. I do know that we have this discussion every year and, for those of you who are newbies, their disappearance is NOT because of something YOU did. I, personally, believe the bluebirds are all together somewhere, laughing at all us crazy humans because we're wondering where in the heck they've gone to--it's a conspiracy, I tell you. Janie, I've never resorted to driving around the neighborhood and calling my blues, as you described, but I will admit to pratically giving myself whiplash when I even think I hear them during this lull!!!!
Hang in there guys, they'll be back.
Kathy

I am so glad to hear I'm not the only one who drops everything when I hear those bluebird sounds to see if they are back in my yard where they belong, lol. They have been so elusive, I'll hear them and know they're out there, but they don't come close enough. Oh they do an occasional fly by, just to tease and keep me in my place. I know they will be back, and hopefully nest one more time this year. But for whatever reason they are delighting in playing hide and seek right now. But on the bright side the little titmice have been so fun to watch. They come to the water and splash and play, then hang around chattering and eating from the feeder. When one species plays with your mind another is there to fill the void.

You all, if I weren't as old as I am I would probably be ashamed and embarrassed by some of my crazy bluebird behavior over the past few years. :D Come to think of it, my hubby is OLDER than I am and he's still ashamed and embarrassed by it! LOL! My sons do their best to ignore most things I do regarding "my" bluebirds.

Get a load of this, when I told people I was looking for my bluebirds they asked me if they were pets! I guess that was a valid question considering that I said they were "my" birds.

It really is amazing how attached we get to our box nesters even though they are wild and there are so many things that can happen to them no matter how safe we try to make their nesting experience. Even when it's out of my control and I KNOW that it's out of my control I still worry like there is something I can do to keep them safe forever.

In years past, the parents & fledges disappeared for a couple of weeks and then I would start seeing them come around for mealies or water. This year, my first family has disappeared for weeks. They don't even come to the bird bath. But mom and dad have started a new nest, and one day I saw one of the babies up on the sparrow spooker and dad seemed to run him off. I think they are still trying to keep them hidden..."No Bambi, you must never run out into the meadow!" I miss them but am sure they are fine.