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Finally Seeing Fledglings!

15 years ago

I'm finally seeing the bluebird fledglings at my mealworm feeder! I would occasionally see one with papa (being fed), but this morning I saw two at the feeder together and alone. So, I know at least 2 of the 5 have made it through the past three weeks since they fledged. It's a tough world out there. Hoping to see more.

My 2nd brood of 5 should be hatching next week. Loving this big time!

Hope all is well in your bluebirding world.

Margie

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Comments (4)

dzyg
15 years ago
That is great you are seeing them! Hope your second nesting is successful too! Sometimes the adults will chase away the fledglings of the first nesting when the second nesting hatches. Just in case you don't see the fledglings doesn't mean they aren't still out there. I've had some years where they let them stay and some years where they chase them away.

Donna
mlkbskt
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Donna. I had three at one time today! Soooooo happy I had a vacation day and was home to see them. Took some pictures, but I don't have a great camera, so they aren't as clear as others I've seen on this site. Still pretty cool though.
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It would surprise me if yours are bluebirds and they all fledged without the parents being there. Bluebirds are very much into fledging. Mine are about to go today and the parents obviously know it. They have been to the nestbox every 5 minutes or so and both of them are perched in a tree where they have an unrestricted view. They buzz any bird or squirrel that comes within 25 feet of the nestbox. This is day 17 for two of them and day 16 for the other three. I have seen some peeking so I expect the two older ones are ready to get out of that hot, crowded box. I wonder if some or all of the 16 day olds will go too, or if they will sit it out overnight and go in the morning. I am ready, either way. You're welcome on the pictures. I actually can document every day of the metamorphosis, except for the seven days or so right after they fledge, (and there is no perceivable color change during that time period anyway). And of course it's still approximate from a scientific point of view, since the birds do develop at different rates and my pictures are of juveniles from several different clutches. It's virtually impossible to track a single fledge all the way if it is flying free. Papa usually runs the juveniles off before the next batch fledges but fortunately, on several occasions (usually the last nesting of the year)he hasn't. Dave
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What great photos!! You certainly are lucky to have such wonderful activity at your feeders. I so enjoyed looking at all your photos, thanks for sharing them.
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Maybe I got sent the wrong plant . I do grow Green Rainbow here but it is planted about an acre away from this plant . Just did a photo comparison and you folks are right the plant shown is Green Rainbow which other than colors matching does not look anythign like Navajo Princess. I have written to the seller to ask about the possibility that my order for NP somehow got sent to someone else and I got their GR by mistake. These things do happen .
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dzyg
15 years ago
Cool, so you know 3 are still out there!! I could spend all day watching the birds. We have had so many fledglings around lately...Orioles, Cardinals, Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, Chipping Sparrows, Downey Woodpeckers, Red Bellied Woodpeckers along with the not so desirable Red Wings and Grackles and of course our Blues and Dees. My seed and suet feeders (and jelly dishes) are on the opposite end of the deck from the mealworm feeder so our deck is a very busy place.

I don't have an expensive camera either, I just have a old Canon S3IS which has a 12x zoom and then I have a 1.7x teleconverter added onto it to make it a longer zoom. I generally shoot in shutter priority mode so I can control the shutter speed so I can control how much light is let in. I would love love love a DSLR but I am pretty happy with what I have. I know I miss some good shots but I get some good ones too. It doesn't do very well in dim lighting though.

Oh and I use photobucket to share my photos here. Upload them there and then use the html code and copy it here to share your photos. Go to photobucket.com to get started.

Donna
mlkbskt
Original Author
15 years ago
I could watch the birds all day long too! They are so entertaining. Yes, it IS cool that I saw three baby blues out there today. Two were back tonight, after I finished mowing the yard. I'm sure they'll be back in the morning for their breakfast too. I will be up early to get their mealworms soaking and out there!

I am jealous that you have all those fledglings! I had orioles here for the 1st time this year, but they just left for whatever reason. Last saw one on Monday of this week. They were at the jelly feeder constantly for about two months. I have grosbeaks, cardinals and downy, hairy and red bellied woodpeckers at the feeders too, but no fledglings that I know of. Well, I might have downy babies, because all of a sudden there seem to be more than the usual amount of downies.????

Where in WI do you live?
Margie

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