Everything is OK now! After I posted the above message, I went out to check the little guy and found him/her on top of the feeder by the deck rail, staring at me. He/she then flew away and landed high on a tree 100-200 feet away, bypassing other trees on the way. He/she is such a good flyer! Mama blue joined the flight half-way through.

All 4 babies are out of nest now. I only saw 2 fledged.

Glad to hear it got out of that tight space. I would have probably moved it like you were thinking but good to hear it did it on its own. Look at that tail! Hardly there at all, amazing it can fly well! But that is great news! Congrats on a successful fledging!

Donna

Hi, Donna! This nestling is so different from the last. I looked outside of my window and saw another baby on the ground(hopefully not the same one), Mama blue was with him/her trying to encourage it fly. He/she hoped around quite a while, than I couldn't find it anymore. Mama is not nearby anymore, I hope the little guy flew away.

It's so hard for mommy bird to take care of all of them by herself!

I didn't see any fledged babies on the ground last time.

Do you know how old the babies are? Sounds like they could be fledging early for some reason. They still can make it even if they aren't good fliers but of course are pretty easy targets for predators. I have had babies fledge on day 16 and be good fliers, other times not, its better when they wait until day 18 or so. Hopefully they have all made it to the trees. One time during fledging time I know one of the little boys was on the ground all night, he just couldn't get lift of whatsoever and would not stay in a tree either. Approx 7 days later when the babies followed the parents back into our yard he was there with them so somehow he made it! Hope yours do too!

Donna

Donna, 3 of them were 17 days old (counting the day they hatched), one was 16 days. Since they were raised by Mama blue alone, I was sort of expecting them fledging later than that. But they were actually earlier. In the late afternoon the day before they actually fledged, i.e. day 16, they were already fighting to sticking half of their bodies out, then went back... this went on for hours, but nobody actually jumped.

When last nestling fledged, if the body stuck out that much, the baby jumped soon afterwards.

By the way, The Mama blue didn't come for mealworms today. She has come for mealworm everyday for weeks now, this is the first time she didn't. Is this normal?