I am still new at this whole protecting our bb houses, I have learned the hard way twice and now IM coming here for some great advice, which I am getting and you will also. I thought someone told me that if you clean the bb nest out after fledging to leave it open for awhile. Mama bb will be busy with her baby's. IM not really sure but I do think this was suggested to me? If not someone will set you straight soon. Congrats on the six fledglings, that is huge!! After watching video of wrens and sparrows raiding and killing bb's IM pissed and ready to rip their little heads off. (oh my) LOL good luck.

Six nestlings Donna. Wow that's really cool. They are lucky to have you to supplement their young. What I found surprising is that in past years when the weather was very cold during brooding they ended up with blow fly larva in the nest. This year the weather was warm and sunny (up until fledge day) and there was no sign whatsoever of a single blowfly larva when I removed the old nest.

Hi Michelle, Congrats on the baby blues fledging!!! Those wrens are a pain!!! They have taken over 2 boxes and I just keep pulling twigs. I put out grape jelly 4 the orioles. I get tons of them. This is the first time EVER I have had 3 orioles nesting in my yard. Last year there was 1 nest. They like 2 build in the choke cherry trees. That's where all 3 of them built their nest. Yesterday I could hear the babies cheeping and I kept watching, but the little buggers left when I wasn't watching. They are a joy to be around, and because they built so close to my house, they can hear my voice and they have become quite tame. I mean they will come to the jelly feeder when I'm standing on the porch. I can't wait for them to bring the babies back. If u have orioles around try grape jelly....they LOVE it!! Best of luck!! Karen

glhandler....you mentioned checking the box often on this nesting that fledged on day 14. Had you checked it on the day they fledged? You could have caused them to prematurely fledged by opening the box that late. You said they fledged on 6/17 that is two days ago. A newly fledged baby bluebird would not be following the adults to the feeders yet at all. They stay hidden in the trees and the parents go feed them. They don't normaly follow the adults to feeders until at least 7-10 days and sometimes longer. You are probably seeing some first nesting fledges with the adults not the newly fledged ones. Hopefully these early fledges are ok, I doubt they would fly real well at that age. I had one fledge on day 14 once because I opened the box...he couldn't fly at all. Put him back in and added a hole reducer. Day 15 he still couldn't fly but the other three could (not well but they got lift off) and I let him be. He did end up making it ok but opening the box after day 12/13 isn't a good idea. Not sure that you did that actually though but if so it might have been why they fledged. Donna