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Fledgling Photo!!!!

18 years ago

I got one, I got one!! Woohoo! Although the Blues have been taking the babies far away they keep coming at regular intervals to our yard for the worms. After the day I had my talk with them the babies started coming too. I am really not sure if all four are here or not, I know for sure there are three and I "think" there are four. I think there were three boys and a girl. They have been showing themselves more and more each day and this morning while delegging some crickets (my mealworms are almost gone) I saw a baby on the branch by the mealworm feeder. It flew shortly thereafter. Later though when the family swooped in the yard again one did follow Dad to the tree branch and sat there. I scrambled for the camera and tried in vain to focus, dang trees in the background. Totally missed Dad feeding "her". But then I did finally manage a few shots of "her" sitting there. I "think" it is the girl from what I saw when she flew to a different tree. I am not good at telling for sure but the boys seemed so much brighter Blue than she did. Here is one of the shots I got......

and Dad from yesterday.....

Donna

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Comments (8)

anita55
18 years ago
You did good! Nice shots. :)

Anita
dave_in_va
18 years ago
Both are nice shots. I love the coloring on your male. He could serve as the bluebird poster bird.

Dave
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Mine are just like your first picture today. Still peeking out when i came in, How long do they do that before they go? I thought they'd be gone today, but there is still at least one in there, I had 5 (I think)I wish I had seen at least one go, but I didn't, and probablyby the time I get home tomorrow nite from work, they'll be gone. Do I take the nest out, same as Bluebirds?
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Comments (5)
Hi Debbie, Sorry you missed the fledging. :( But they are most likely fine and in some tall tree nearby. Yes, your parent birds will probably continue to thank you for your mealies, and also carry them to the fledges. If you watch you may see where they are by following the worms up. After awhile, they may bring them down to your feeder to eat. We've gotten a lot of closeup looks at ours this way. And yes, you should clean the box and remount it as soon as possible after the little ones fly. It's late in the season and in many places too hot for another nesting... but you never know. Hope you see your little ones soon and often. Kenn Here is a link that might be useful: Some recent fledgling photos
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Comments (5)
Thanks Rachel and Sue, We love all our birds of course, but having our Bluebird fledges up close is such a big joy for us. We just posted some very closeup shots of them here. Or, you can see all our fledgling photos at the link below. Kenn & Temple Here is a link that might be useful: Fledglings
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debbie321
18 years ago
WOW those are nioe pics!!
How long was it before they brought the kids back?
kenn3d
18 years ago
Hi Donna, and congratulations again, both on the fledging and on your little ones returning to visit you.

We think our first nesters have moved on now. And we're shooting a LOT of photos of the 2nd brood up close. The 3rd batch of nestlings is @13days and peeking plenty. We expect them to fly early this week, and hope to get some pictures of the event.

Beautiful photos!
Looking forward to more.

Kenn :)
mac60
18 years ago
Donna,
Those are GREAT pics! Thanks for sharing! I so wish I could get photos like that. I am trying to learn how to take quality pictures. That has become a new hobby of mine, thanks to my new OBSESSION........bluebirding!
I really need to quit my job so I have more time!
Thanks again for sharing your pics and congrats on your new blues!
dzyg
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks everyone, I am just thrilled to have them back in the yard, I thought for sure the parents were going to take them away for good. LOL! Here is another shot I got today even with my dd jumping on the trampoline in the backyard they came in. Sadly I believe there are only three fledglings. That was how many came in and later I saw them in a tree all cuddled up together, so dang cute, but only three. =(

What do you think, boy or girl??

Mac60, Bluebirding is an obsession, that is for sure. I just have a Canon S2IS, would love a DSLR but I cannot complain the little IS's get pretty good shots.

Debbie, the fledglings were in our yard (but hidden in the wooded area) for the first week +, then the parents took them away for the next week, far away across a hayfield and cornfield to a small wooded area with no houses. They would come back for food but would not bring the babies with them. Until Thursday which would be 2 weeks since they fledged, then the babies followed them and have been following them since. They don't stay in our yard, they keep going back to the fields but they come regularly for food.

Donna
donnalovesblue
18 years ago
Donna..your pics are just great! After 7 months on this forum, I've decided I HAVE to get a camera worthy of capturing my backyard birds. Last October, the moment I saw several blues checking out a box, I was totally hooked!

Congrats and many thanks for sharing.

Donna
trailerparkbirds
18 years ago
Great pictures Donna
Keith

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