I just read my post and it seems a little curt. I'm sorry; I certainly did not mean it that way. The little dead bird in the nest was all dried out and hard as a rock. I think it had been dead for more than a week but was too large for the parents to take out. The wing that I found ~25 feet away from the box still had moist flesh on it. That's why I think it was a hawk. Although a raccoon could have taken it. There was no other sign of the bird. Linda C

Today = 18 days since 1st 3 baby bluebirds hatched in my frontyard birdhouse and 17 days since the other 2 baby bluebirds hatched. We had a rainstorm late yesterday, so I thought the babies would not come out until this morning. Fortunately, it was a "normal" rainstorm without all the high winds we've had in the last couple of months. I got up very early this morning and I think there is only 1 left in the box. I hear his lonely little sad chirping and have seen the dad bluebird 5 times since 7:00 a.m. come to this one. They could have come more times, but this is all I have seen. The next to last time the dad bluebird just popped his head in the box and did not feed the baby, or I didn't see anything in his mouth to feed as he went in, but the baby quieted down for a while. The last time, he did feed the baby and checked in on him 3 times, and "bonked" his reflection in my window 3 times. He doesn't see me as the room is dark and he sees only the reflection of what is outside. I saw 1 in the backyard kid's playhouse and this one was soaking wet. It could have been that he just got wet from the heavy dew we have here today. The babies seem to love the little shed and kid's playhouse we have because they are also made of the cedar that their house is made of. My husband said that they probably think they are in a giant birdhouse - lol. I hear at least 1 in the tall trees in the woods in back of our house making the same little sounds asking to be fed. I so much wanted to see them fledge this time, but I guess I missed it again. The only thing I can hope is that I can sit where I am in the bedroom window where I have a direct view of the birdhouse opening and hope that this last one fledges today or tomorrow. I'm really not sure he'll be ready to leave until tomorrow, so I've got a long wait in store, especially since I have to be getting ready for my son's wedding.

Cool. I'd be willing to bet that mom and dad Blue will be bringing them to the mealworm feeder within a week. In the mean time, listen for them in the trees. While they're often well hidden, you can usually hear them when mom or dad is nearby with food. My last clutch started bringing their young to the feeder after about 5 days. At first the young would wait to be fed. But they soon learned how to use the feeder themselves.

Howdy! Many Bluebirders don't get to see the babies go for a few years. I am sure you will get to join the "I saw them fledge" club soon! Do you have a somewhat wooded area near? You say you thought they would go to your "tree" meaning you only have one? The parents will have guided them to the safest nearby spot with lots of tree cover. It must not be to far off since you have seen them on the fence. Keep the meal worms out and they will bring the babies down in a week or two.