Welcome to 'As the Nestling Grows'!

18 years ago

Oh my but we have had drama here today! Our last bluebird nesting here at the house had 2 nestlings (3rd egg did not hatch), one of which fledged sometime late Thursday or early yesterday. When I checked the nest last night I thought the box was empty, but upon closer inspection, there was the sweetest little girl all hunkered down, so I quickly closed the box and left. This morning, there she was, sitting in the grass just a few feet from the nestbox but she couldn't seem to get any lift. Mama and Papa were both nearby, calling to her, and after some inspections on my part, it was obvious she wasn't flying anywhere today. I think all parties were relieved when I put her back inside the nest. We've seen both parents visiting the box to feed her and she's done some leaning, but hasn't tried to come out again. I've got a hole reducer ready to install and will probably put it on later this evening so that she doesn't try anything overnight. According to my records she's only a day behind her sibling, so I'm hoping she will be able to take flight tomorrow.

Kathy

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Comments (9)

donnalovesblue
18 years ago
Gosh Kathy...if this had to happen, I'm relieved it was you and not me! I doubt I would have thought to put her back in the box, but you seem to know all the right things to do! I'm sure her parents are thanking you and I'm sure she'll safely join her family when she does take flight.
Bless her little heart! Please keep us posted!

Donna
griffin_MD
Original Author
18 years ago
Well, she's been peeking all afternoon, calling out that sweet little note to see if her family is still nearby. They are. We are going out for awhile this evening and I decided to put the reducer on--never had to do this before as nestings to this point have all had eggs hatch relatively close together. I'm going on faith (and the experiences of those of you who HAVE done this) that the parents will continue to feed her. I'm taking the reducer off in the morning and will keep an eye on things to see how the day goes.
Kathy
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voyager1
18 years ago
Thanks for relating your experience. Now I am better prepared.

Good luck
griffin_MD
Original Author
18 years ago
This is an update I'd rather not have to give. That sweet little girl was found dead in the nest this morning. I know the parents were visiting the box after the reducer went on, so she didn't starve or die of thirst--I can only assume it was the stress of not being able to go up and sit in the hole like she'd been doing. I'm honestly sickened by this and am wondering if I did the right thing by interfering in the first place. I probably should have put her back in the box and just let nature take its course. I know there are several of you who have used a reducer successfully . . . it just didn't work for my little one.
Kathy
donnalovesblue
18 years ago
Kathy...I am so very sorry this little one didn't make it. We all were hoping for a better ending to this situation. I know nothing of hole reducers, so I can't speak to that...anyway, you have always been so compassionate and understanding with many others who might question their actions, so let me be the first to offer the same. With your experience and knowledge, I'd like to believe the hole reducer had nothing to do with her death.

Think of all the many, many little blues who have made it because of you! Your hard work, experience and knowledge, along with other bb experts, have made that possible!

Hope Mom, Dad and her sibling stay around for you to enjoy!

Donna
michelle_4466
18 years ago
Kathy,
I dodn't think that your placing the hole reducer had anything to do with her death.She was probably suffering from some ailment to begin with and that is why she was not able to fly along with the rest of them.Some times eggs hatch on different days but they still all fledge on the same day.This sweet little girl was probably not fit to survive and nature made the decision.If she had been OK, her parent would have fed her and kept her alive.She would have found a way to fledge.
Please donot balme your self.
michelle
LindaMA
17 years ago
I agree with Michelle, I don't think the reducer had anything to do with her death. I think that she was ill or something else was wrong with her and that's why you found her one the ground yesterday.

I'm so sorry that this happened but please do not blame yourself, you did everything you could to try and help this little one out. It was just not meant to be.

Linda
griffin_MD
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks so much for your kind words. I suppose there could have been something wrong--when she tried to fly she kept going nose first into the ground. I thought maybe she needed another day or so for her tail feathers to grow. In any case, I know that the reducers do help in many situations and thus are a good tool to have on hand. It's amazing, I suppose, that this is my first encounter with this situation when you consider how long I've been a bluebirder. It's certainly been a strange nesting season for me and I'm glad it's almost over so I can rest!
I'm so grateful to have this place to come to for support.
Kathy
bonkers_for_blues
17 years ago
Aww, Kathy I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm by no means an expert, but I too find it doubtful that adding the hole reducer was the cause for her death. Sounds like something just wasn't quite right with her from the get-go. You did everything you could to help her.

Welcome to 'As the Nestling Grows'!

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