That's great! It's good to hear people are having success. For my local bluebirds this has been a poor season so far. 1st they mated in the spring then a hawk took the female. Then he got another, had 5 eggs, hatched 2 days late, and died at 6 days of age due to poor weather and parenting. Now I may have lost another female! However MR has one now. At another site from hear it's going smooth. The blues have 4 eggs w/ a sparrow spooker and have yet to have a problem. Good for you because my birds are now struggling. Congrats, Tim

My female is sooo focused! First nesting fledged (6) on Thursday May 10th, I got the nestbox cleaned out asap because I know this female is very quick to start the second nesting (she is the same female we had the last two years). She started the second nest on Friday and laid the first egg this morning! I couldn't believe only four days inbetween fledging and laying another egg! Dad is still busy feeding the fledglings which are in our woods, haven't seen any of them yet, hopefully by this coming weekend I will get some glimpses of them and maybe tell how many made it. Two were non flyers so I am not sure about those two, especially with the mom focused on the second nesting and not on her fledglings. Donna

Wow this sounds so much like what went on here. I put a bowl full of mealies out the day they fledge but none after that for awhile. I find they don't come for them much until the babies are ready to come with them. If this is your same female that means Dad was left to raise 5 kids and it may take a little longer with just one parent. My Pop showed up with the kids later than normal. He's always been nearly 2 weeks to the day and this time it was closer to 3. I have learned that NO, Blues do not always mate for life. There is no question this is Hussy Mom and that Pop got ditched with the babies. I have been feeling bad for Pop (but I guess more for myself). I hope I have not lost him, I know hes not too far, I hear him but still have not found his new nest. Pop has been here for 3 years that I know of. Something happened to his first female between first and second nesting last year and that's when he took up with Hussy Mom. I never would have know it was a different female untill she quit feeding the babies.(maybe the fisrt female took off on him too)? There was no question this years first nesting was Pop and Hussy Mom. The thing is I could never be certain I had the same pair each year, there was always a little something different about each nesting except for Pop, he's always been in the same branches and been consistant with his behavior. His red goes down much farther in the front also.I really hope that I will have both Hussy Mom & Joe Daddy AND Pop with his new female next year. I am looking at the bright side, I should have twice the Blues and after all more Blues is what this is all about! I hope your Dad shows up with the babies soon and as stated above, mealies have nothing to do with survival especially at this time of year!

I am on my 3rd nesting I think. First one had four eggs, then the nest was abandoned. Didn't see the blues for awhile,then the eggs were on the ground. Not viable at all. 2nd nesting there were 4 eggs, two fledged, 2 died, one very small one and one normal size. 3rd nesting, 3 eggs, 3 hatched, 17 days old. Saw them at 12 days old. Havent checked since for fear premature fledging. Saw Mama this morning a couple of times at the box, saw her once this evening get an insect but didn't go to the box. Doesn't seem to be any activity around the box. Could be they have fledged. Haven't checked. I will wait a couple of more days to make sure. I don't know if I would know the difference between an adult and baby. Haven't seen any around today but one, I think it was the mother.