Last pictures of my fledglings...maybe

18 years ago

The five fledglings from my second clutch are now 51 days old and obviously in the way. Papa's new mate (his third in 3 years) has no time for them. She has three eggs in a nest of her own and apprently wants Papa to drive them away. Here are some shots from July 4th. As you can see, we got a torrential rainstorm, so in some of the shots the birds are wet.

Here Papa pecks, dangerously close to the eye.

Here, one of the fledglings tries to scare a HOSP away from the feeder.

When the HOSP returns, Papa gets involved. He actually took this HOSP to the floor of the deck before it got free.

Lest you doubt it was a hard rain.

And finally, these shots from last night. At least these four risked Papa's rath and came back for supper. He did chase them away again so it will be interesting to see if they come back tonight.

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Comments (17)

janie_may
18 years ago
Dave, you keep doing it..... OUTDOING YOURSELF! My goodness, just when I think you can't post a better photo than the one before, you DO it! These are incredible and beyond incredible!

Wet daddy in flight and clubbing the HOSP are.....just WOW!
michelle_4466
18 years ago
Dave,
I have not seen your pictures in a while.It is great to see your talent in action again.Those pictures are precious.I had 4 Bbs at my feeder this morning. I think 2 were Papa and Mama and the other 2 were babies from the previous clutch.The parents brought the babies to the feeder but then kept chasing them away!!! Will the babies have a family this summer? One of them kept going in and out of the box in which they were born.
michelle
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blake1112
18 years ago
Wow..... these pictures are incredible! I love the BB attacks HOSP picture. That is poetic justice and you caught it. Just amazing pictures and the 4 fledglings are so amazingly precious.
dzyg
18 years ago
Great shots! I love that last one, looked like they actually posed for you! So sad to see the parents have to drive the babies away like that! I suppose they have to learn to fend for themselves though. I am anxiously awaiting seeing the babies come to the feeder, mine fledged on Thursday. I have no clue if there is time for another nesting this year or not here.

Donna
dave_in_va
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks, folks. I have been taking a lot of pictures of the fledglings lately, in expectation of their departure. Here are a few from June 28, showing fledges in various stages of movement, including flight. Hope you see something you like. In the first one, he drops down to get a worm he dropped. In the second he jumps back to the feeder.

And finally, here are two attempts at meal worm humor.
janie_may
18 years ago
LOL! That "bored" remake is great!

How much do you pay them to pose like that? :D
debbie321
18 years ago
OH MY GOSH!!! Those are absolutely WONDERFUL pictures !!
I gotta know --- are you a professional Photographer?
I mean , those are incredible pictures!!!
Are you outside and close when you take those? I cant get mine to get close enough for good shots!!
I love it!!
dzyg
18 years ago
OMG Dave, those are incredible!! That fifth one down of the babies, it looks like he or she is either imitating a butterfly or an angel!

Dona
janie_may
18 years ago
Debbie, believe it or not, Dave is NOT a professional photographer! Why he isn't is the question I'd ask! I've seen plenty of great bluebird photos over the years and NONE better than Dave's!

So Dave, why don't you turn pro? :D
LindaMA
18 years ago
Wow, these are fantastic photos, I love how close you get to these fledglings or at least appear to get to them. Good question asked, how far away from them are you?

Linda
dave_in_va
Original Author
18 years ago
How close was I to these fledglings?

As close as I can auto focus with a 300mm f/2.8 lens, which is about 8 feet. They got so used to me bringing the meal worms that they would fly right up to the feeder while I was putting them out. I have had them actually brush my arm. Of course, I don't have my camera in my hand and it wouldn't do me much good if I did, since I can't auto focus that close. I usually move to about 10 feet and fire away. They tend to ignore me.

It's hard not to get a pretty shot of a bluebird, especially if it is sitting still. They are simply photogenic. I have this fancy equipment so I try to get them in action and catch them doing unusual things or get close ups that allow us to see them better than we do in real time. Their individual feathers, for example, are very beautiful, but they usually move so fast we don't get the chance to see and appreciate them. And can you imagine seeing your reflection in his eye?

Here's a shot I like from a few days ago. It has a lot going on in it. It was taken when Papa was starting to chase the fledglings out of the yard. In the center is a HOSP that was trying to steal a meal worm. Papa is coming in from our position to chase the HOSP. One of the fledglings senses Papa is coming and moves to get out of the way. After he hits the HOSP, Papa continues on and chases the fledgling for good measure.

Thanks for all the kind comments.

Dave
debbie321
18 years ago
OH WOW!! what an awesome photo!!!
I wish mine would let me get that close.
But about 12-15 feet is it for them and they fly off.
But I dont have the equipment you have or the talent.
Those are just GREAT photos!!
trailerparkbirds
18 years ago
Hey Debbie maybe you can get a good tripod and a long remote control of some sort. I know you can get the remote controls for the SLR's but not so sure of the less expensive point and shoot type cameras.
Keith
dave_in_va
Original Author
18 years ago
Here's another shot from a few days ago. This is the new step-mom coming in to ruin the party.
brendabayou
18 years ago
Awesome photos Dave.......Beautiful !!!!!!!!
cheema
18 years ago
Incredible pictures Dave. Thank you for sharing these. Your so skilled!!!!
orchid_ladycats
18 years ago
I'm just in awe of your eye -- and lusting after your equipment. Thank you so much for sharing your work. I'm confident that none of us get tired of seeing it!
Joan