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Bluebirds leaving the nest

homegrowninthe603

11 years ago

I’ve pieced together a little video. We've had bluebirds nesting here for years, but this is my first opportunity to view nestlings with parents. The male happens to be featured here, but both parents definitely share the duties. We noticed heads poking out of the box on Wednesday, so knew fledging was not far off. One curious nestling inadvertently frustrated the bluebird Dad by blocking the hole when he had other mouths to feed. Early the next morning we missed most of nestlings leaving the box, but there was one left. It finally poked its head out and I recorded it trying to find the courage to fly. The others were calling to it. When it fledged it flew directly to a tree at the end of the fence line to join the siblings and parents.

Susan

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Comments (3)

kendra2003
11 years ago
That was fantastic! Thanks so much for posting that video.
homegrowninthe603 thanked kendra2003
nelaina
11 years ago
Really really cute, thanks for sharing. Susan, did the parents and siblings all stay together since fledging? I'm asking because today I'm on day 17. Yesterday there were babies visibly moving around...not really hanging out of box so much but I could see them and hear them. The male was the only parent I saw feeding them as I observed for about an hour. This morning I saw the male nearby, flying from place to place, but he never came near the box and I still haven't seen the female since Tuesday morning. I couldn't tell whether babies were still in box this AM. I'll know more this evening when I get home but I was really hoping I would catch at least one leaving the nest.
homegrowninthe603 thanked nelaina
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homegrowninthe603
Original Author
11 years ago
Nephils, thank you! Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since they fledged and disappeared for a few days. Now the yard is full of juveniles in training with parents. The adults are still feeding them, but it's obvious that they are leading them to food and encouraging independence. This is the first time I have witnessed one leave the box in all our years of having bluebirds. I suspect it often happens around dawn. Poking their heads out was my tipoff that something was happening soon. I hope you get the opportunity to see some. Since a pair of adults is guarding box 2, I believe we will have another brood soon.

Dad with juvenile

Juvenile discovering the joys of the bird bath

Susan

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