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I hope they bring them back....

18 years ago

Our Blues babies fledged on the 3rd of July, for the first week and two days they stayed on our property, mostly in the wooded area. On Saturday the babies were practicing hunting on our side lawn it was very windy and we left them be. On Sunday it was really windy again, 25mph with gust up to 40. The Blues weren't around much at all but did stop in and eat a few times. Yesterday the parents where up alot but taking the food far far away. The babies are quite aways from our house now however the parents keep coming back for food. Yesterday afternoon one of the babies (a male) did follow the parents back and sat on the swingset for a bit but then they must have taken him away again. It seems they have taken the babies back to the park (about two-three blocks away) where I monitor five nestboxes, naughty birds. LOL! I know they are just teaching them how to hunt and all but I wish they would bring them back to the yard. No clue if there are still four of them or not since they have been gone since Saturday however by judging by the mouthfulls of food they are taking they probably all are there yet.

Donna

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Comments (2)

kenn3d
18 years ago
Hi Donna,

Ours do stay in far trees mostly for the first week or so too. We see them, but not close enuf for a good look, much less photos. But they gradually work their way down to the deck and we've seen a LOT of our first 2 broods up close during the 3rd nesting so far.

Our 3rd nest has 5 nestlings about 8 days old and they're already starting to peek a little bit. ... but I digress... sorry. :)

If your parent birds are carrying your worms to their fledges, I bet you'll see them soon.

good luck,

Kenn
dzyg
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks Kenn, this is my third year with the Blues and they have never left the general area of my yard and the neighbors yards before when feeding the fledglings. These parents are now carrying the worms a good 1/4 to 1/2 mile away!! Only the parents are coming to eat not any fledglings, they will be 2 weeks out of the nestbox tomorrow. I had a talk with mom and dad twice today about this. As they came to check out the dishes, they will sit and wait for me to fill them if they are empty - sitting about 15 ft from me, I told them I wouldn't keep filling up the dishes for them unless they bring their babies for me to see. LOL! So far it didn't work. The first week they did just keep them in the trees in our yard, this week NOT. We have five acres but they are across a huge field now in a different small wooded area with lots of power lines around. I am sure they are teaching them hunting skills but you would think they would let them come to the feeder. It is almost like they don't want them to see the feeder and get free food. Smart parents actually!!

Donna
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