Read up on sialis.org...it is full of information on Bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds. Bluebirds typically fledge 16-19 days after hatching. Do not open the nestbox once the babies are 12-13 days old to prevent premature fledging. Please make sure your nestbox is mounted on a slick metal pole with a predator baffle to prevent predators from getting to the nestlings. Houses mounted on trees/fences/wooden posts or un baffled poles are an easy meal for predators like raccoons, squirrels, cats, snakes etc. Good luck Donna

Hi all, Our 1st-nesters all (5) fledged fine on April 25th. We heard and saw all 5 in far trees mostly for 7 days. On their 7th day in the wild they all returned to our near trees and one came to the deck to be fed worms by both parents. In the past 2 days however, we've seen just 4 together and apart all over the yard including the deck, but have not been able to veryify the 5th... we worry that one may have been lost to we know not what. We hope to be surprised to see all 5 together again soon, but know the many dangers to new baby birds. Oh, and Missy has 3 blue eggs in her 2nd nest as of this afternoon :) Best luck to us all, Kenn

cindy.holiman2511 I have just found this forum, but wanted to respond to your post. Please get bluebird boxes that you can open and monitor. The blues are people friendly and will not abandon the nest even if you check it daily. That way you can head off some problems like wasps and ants in the box. Last summer I found a dead baby bird in one of my boxes and was able to remove it so the parents could continue to raise the others to fledge. In addition, the blues will nest up to 3 times per season, so you need to clean the old nests out of the boxes as soon as the babies fledge. Snakes are one of the worst predators so you need a snake baffle or do as I do. I twist deer netting around the base of the pole up about 2'. The snakes get caught and I cut them out and release them miles away in the woods.

Donna, glad your dad is OK. OK, here is my vote..... they are fine! In MOST fledgings I don't see babies for a week. Now I do see the adults come in for a haul of mealies and take off farther than I can follow them even with binoculars but it is rare (in my case) for them to keep the babies close by for at least a week. On the first nesting (not in my box but in a street light that I could view) I watched papa blue take off to feed in one direction and momma in a totally different direction leading me to believe that they weren't together. That only lasted about one day till all four kids finally came to my yard. It does seem a little odd that you are seeing the adults take meal worms and perch rather than fly towards their fledglings BUT if I've learned anything in this bluebird thing it is to always expect the unexpected! Good luck and keep us posted!