Harry Schmeider   "The Ambassador for the Bluebirds"
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Bluebird Facts
  • My greatest concerns about Bluebirding
  • Lets Talk Bluebirds
  • Upcoming Seminar's
  • Bluebird Photo Gallery
  • The XBox Design
  • Bluebird Nesting Timetable
  • Bluebird Slidshow
  • Contact Me The Ambassador

Fledging the Nestbox

3/12/2013

90 Comments

 
PictureClick to enlarge
A fledgling is a bird that is out of the nest but still dependent on its parents for food and care. Once the fledgling bluebird can gather food on their own, they are termed juvenile birds. When juvenile birds molt into their adult plumage in the fall, they are then called adults.
Nestling bluebirds know when to leave the nest box. They become restless at the end of the nesting stage, moving about and stretching their wings. At times parents stop feeding and calling to them as to encouraging them to leave the nest box. Adult bluebirds do not have to teach the young to fly. Their first flight will carry them 100 to 400 feet to the nearest perch and sometimes to the ground. This is why it is helpful that a tree or a shrub is nearby so that the fledglings can make as safe landing. Usually all the young leave the nest within an hour or two on the same day. The fledglings will call to their parents and they in turn try to get the siblings to stay together. The parents will lead the young to a safe spot away from the nesting site to care for their needs. This is why it might be difficult for the landlord to locate the family of bluebirds once they have fledged. Both parents will care for the fledgling’s needs for the first few days but after that the male will see to their every need while the female starts building another nest and starting the nesting process all over again. Bluebirds can have up to three nesting cycles a year. By the second week the fledglings begin to follow the parents around to get fed more often. After three weeks the fledglings begin to gather some food on their own. After the forth week, the fledglings begin to learn the behaviors of their parents of forging for insects from a perching position and the parents stop feeding the young going into the fifth week. Finally during the sixth week the fledgling becomes a juvenile bird. Juvenile birds often remain with their parents or in the general area throughout summer and into fall. Some juvenile birds are noted for helping feed other broods born later in the season. 
Experiencing the nestling’s fledging is what the landlord is striving for. And having a successful fledging experience will also be beneficial for the bluebirds as well, because they too remember their experience and will return to rebuild year after year. 


90 Comments
christine
5/18/2015 07:55:04 am

thankyou for this detailed explanation of the progress over the weeks after the young bluebirds leave the nest.
I now have hope that the ones who were in my yard have gone on to
a successful life. There have been crows in the neighborhood and I
assumed the worst, but probably the bluebirds are ok !

Reply
Ambassador's Response
8/26/2017 04:35:15 pm

Yes your bluebirds are just fine.Thank you for your part in their Recovery by being a good Landlord to these once threaten species.

Reply
Ella
7/2/2019 10:59:52 am

I have a couple of crows that hang around quite a bit lately, mostly just perching and trying to cool off in the heat, but also using the bird baths for water. There’s been a male bluebird trying to find a mate, but the pair of crows show up in the morning early, and the bluebird leaves. Is the presence of crows known to keep bluebirds from using a nest box? I love the crows, but I’m sad that their presence appears to keep the blues away. What is your take on this?

sandra johnson
4/29/2021 02:00:18 pm

In the two years since I moved to South Carolina there have been Bluebirds nesting in a bird house I installed on a ten foot post. I have sat on my back deck and watched the adults checking out the bird house and even bringing pine straw inside of it. What's curious is that on several occasions there will be four or five Bluebirds on the fence while a pair are checking out the bird house.
Last year a pair had four babies and I took a lot of photos plus videos of the mother bird feeding the babies and some videos of the babies looking out through the bird house entrance. I wasn't home the day they all flew away. I cleaned out the nest days later when I didn't see any of them return.
This Spring I watched another pair make a nest. I knew this wasn't the same female because she wasn't as colorful as the female last year. Might have been the same male but they all look the same to me.
I watched as the male brought food for the female then watched as both of them brought food to the babies. They were excellent parents. Always flying back and forth bringing insects.
It just so happened that yesterday afternoon I saw activity in the birdhouse so I grabbed my camera and began shooting video. I caught at least three fledglings poking their heads out. I'm glad I got the videos because this morning I had a feeling the birds were gone and I was right. No parents flying back and forth with food and no activity in the nest.
I'm fortunate to live in a very wooded rural county where there is a lot of wildlife. I have seen many different species of birds come to the feeders and many I have never seen before.
Last year at the feeders I saw Pine Warblers, Goldfinches, Red Cardinals of course, loads of brown and white Finches, Wrens, BlueJays, Grackles, a Hairy Woodpecker or two and even a Blue Indigo Bunting. It came around twice and I never saw it again.
The first time I saw the Pine Warbler I thought someone's parrot had escaped. It wasn't until I saw several flying around that I realized it was NOT a parrot. Lol.
I love to see the birds in my yard. I also get Ruby Throated Hummingbirds. The first time I hung out a feeder there were hundreds of them, The second time I hung the feeder out there was ONE male Hummingbird that chased off all the other birds so I didn't put the feeder back out. I'm not sure if I will this time or not.

Reply
Ambassador reply link
5/8/2021 02:36:02 pm

Thank you for your comments. I and many others enjoy reading other comments.

Maybelle
6/24/2021 01:07:39 pm

I have had several families of bluebirds in my nesting boxes with successful fledgling families. With the latest family of 4 only 3 left the nest. The mother comes back occasionally either to check on him or feed him. I don’t know if the remaining baby is alive or dead. Has anyone had this happen?

Reply
Sal
6/30/2016 05:34:20 pm

Will bb parents stop feeding the night before a morning fledge? Tonight they are not feeding the usual 7:30 to dusk meals. The parents are checking them, calling and stay nearby. I don't recall this behavior. I have a mini cam inside the box so I'm monitoring closely.
Thanks for any help

Reply
Ambassador's Response
8/26/2017 04:39:17 pm

Yes - That's exactly what they do. The parents will encourage them to leave the nestbox by not feeding them.

Reply
sandra johnson
4/29/2021 02:02:56 pm

The Bluebird parents fed the fledglings one last time yesterday afternoon and this morning all the birds were gone. I watched as the female brought food to the babies and that was it. I looked for the parents all day today but I knew this morning they were gone. No activity at all. However, there will be another pair probably soon.

Reply
Kristy
8/30/2017 02:53:32 pm

I had baby bluebirds leave the nest a few days ago. Should I remove the nest from the box?

Reply
Ambassador Response
10/15/2017 06:57:01 pm

Yes, Remove the old nest and clean out the box.

Reply
Shirlee
4/23/2018 10:22:13 am

The babies are poking their heads out for the first time. Might they fledge today or is it only a test run for tomorrow? The parents behavior makes me wonder if they are encouraging them to come out.
Thank you
Shirlee-first time BB grandma

Reply
ambassador
9/13/2018 09:38:16 am

As long as the parents keep feeding them they are not ready to leave the nest box. The parents know when are ready to leave, then they will withhold food from them and encourage them to come out of the nest box.

Reply
Anna Durden Hiers
5/16/2020 06:42:47 pm

I've had bluebirds nesting in a house outside my window. They had five babies hatch, and parents were constantly feeding them and carrying away the fecal sacs. Today I have been hearing sounds very close by that I concluded were crows. I haven't seen the bluebird parents since mid-day. There are fecal sacs on the ground beneath the nest, and one sat on the rim of entrance to the bird house. I finally removed it. There is still at least one fledgling in the nest. Did the parents stop feeding to encourage them to fly, or did crows get the parents. They were so attentive for so long, two weeks, now they seem to have disappeared. It has been a pleasure to watch them, but now I am a little concerned.

Reply
Nancy Gresham
7/9/2021 06:45:46 pm

I have a baby bluebird aopx 8 days old some feathers. Totally abandoned. I am feeding meal worms. What can I do from here.

Penny Wainwright
4/30/2018 12:20:10 pm

My brother brought me a fledgling from his yard. While it was an early fledge, I still felt it should have been left; however, that night it stormed andait would have surely died.
I fed it meal worms, moths and some cooked egg whites for a few days and it became obvious it was ready to get out of captivity. I wanted to leave it in thetarwa it came from, but when i went to his house, theretwast a cat prowling the area. I work in a state park, and the bird went with me on these walks every day. He would fly a few feet and come back. Today he flew up a tree and kept going.
Was I wrong to let him go in a a different location? Will he be OK

Reply
ambassador
9/13/2018 09:44:39 am

I do not know, Hopefully he will be able to find food on its own.

Reply
Shannon Phelps
5/3/2018 05:31:02 pm

I have 5 or 6 sixteen day old bluebirds in a Gilbertson box. Should I clean out the old nest when these fledge?

Reply
ambassador
9/13/2018 09:46:34 am

Yes

Reply
Patty
5/8/2018 01:14:41 pm

It's been 48 hours and bb parents seem to have abandoned the nest. 4 (?) babies inside box. They have wing feathers but still tiny. I put mealworms inside box. What should I do!?

Reply
Ambassador
9/13/2018 09:57:35 am

Locate a Wild Life Rehabilitator in your area.

Reply
Linda Murphy
5/9/2018 07:59:21 am

I have plastic strips flying over my blue bird nesting box to ward off the house sparrow. Should I take them down after the fledgling s leave the nestbox?

Reply
Ellen link
5/25/2018 01:40:45 pm

How could the BB nest be gone...I went to clean it and it was not there.

Reply
Ambassador
9/13/2018 10:25:18 am

Someone else cleaned out. ?

Reply
Joan Detrow
6/4/2018 06:20:07 am

I have a bluebird box on my deck and over the years dozens of bluebird babies have successfully hatched and fledged from this box. Something happened this year that has never happened before. I saw 5 eggs in the nest, but could only follow the progress of two hatchlings. Sure enough, those two successfully fledged late yesterday; turns out he three unhatched eggs are still in the nest, completely intact. I would assume that they didn’t hatch for a variety of reasons and that I should remove them now as I remove the old nest following a brood’s successful fledge every time and clean out the box to prepare for a new clutch. My question is that those three I hatched eggs would certainly be infertile, correct?
And no chance of adults returning to incubate them? I know it seems ridiculous to me even entertain that idea but I want to be sure!

Reply
Denise Ayers
7/10/2018 05:27:15 pm

I read that if an egg has not hatched 4 days after the rest hatched, you should remove the egg, because if it gets broken somehow it will cause problems. There were 4 eggs in my bb house but only 3 hatched, so I gently reached under the babies & removed the egg.

Reply
Jeff Spencer
7/19/2018 10:27:52 am

Correct, they won’t hatch. Toss them with the old nest.

Reply
Ambassador
9/13/2018 10:20:43 am

Clean out the box. She could have laid them before she was fertile.

Reply
Earl Feick
7/5/2020 11:54:46 am

These three eggs are not fertile and yes remove old nest and these eggs as son as possible you will have a better chance of getting a 2nd hatch nesting pair.

Reply
Ambassador's Responce link
7/9/2020 08:00:36 am

Sorry my site was down for a while. Yes clean out the nest box

Reply
Michele Dascenzo
6/25/2018 05:28:53 pm

My fledglings are 2 weeks old and dad was killed by a hawk.I see mom in the yard alone are they on their own already ?will mom take over for caring for them ? Or are they old enough to be on their own ?

Reply
Leisa
8/25/2018 07:49:44 am

This reply is long past your question. But for benefit of others. . . I would encourage those have 'widow/er' birds to offer live mealworms. This offering greatly reduces the foraging expenditure of the remaining parent.

I had a premature fledge due to a snake being in a tree near (but not in) the nest. The babies were 5 days premature their normal fledging. I made a makeshift nest, and both parents fed first day. Male stopped feeding. It is possible he was assisting another fledgling that we did not find (I found 4 and was unsure how many eggs). Mealworms made a huge difference.

Reply
Ambassador Reply link
7/9/2020 07:53:45 am

Mon will care for them, Around 3 week until they will fledge.

Reply
Doris Courinos
6/26/2018 03:19:55 pm

The B luebirds & babies flew to a neighbor's tree. When I went over to see what the fledgling looked like the female kept dive bombing my head and Didn't want me over there at all...after all those weeks of feeding mal worms and fresh water. Was very disgusted!!

Reply
Jeff Spencer
7/19/2018 10:48:22 am

It’s nothing personal. Bluebirds are fiercely protective.

Reply
Kaye Willis
7/8/2018 03:15:16 pm

Hi. I just photographed juvenile bluebirds who were born in May feed the chicks in the nest box. Is that unusual?

Reply
Jeff Spencer
7/19/2018 10:25:06 am

I think it is unusual given how many broods we’ve had in our box. We too are seeing this behavior for the first time after watching dozens of broods so I’d say it is unusual.

Reply
Sherry Simpson
8/1/2018 07:18:38 am

Something kept getting my baby blue birds and it would break my heart every time. So I put a long board at the top so nothing could reach them from the top and put a baffle top and bottom. I'm happy to say they have raised two broods since I did that. Five babies each time. My last brood left yesterday. its bitter sweet. I'm so happy they made it but I do miss watching the parents care for them. And to know I played a big part in it makes me feel good. love my birds.

Reply
Sharon Benson
3/23/2019 12:11:05 pm

I have bluebirds building nest getting ready to start family. Will lawn mowing have adverse effect or scare mom, dad and babies when babies start to fledge? It's my first time having them.

Reply
John Holland
4/21/2019 03:35:40 pm

Absolutely not. I have a box with 4 little ones in there and it is located right on the edge of my patio and grass. I cut right under the box and mom and dad are right back after I finish.

Reply
leonard johnston
5/9/2019 09:23:55 am

three fledgings this am and then it rained hard. Will the babies be alright? Have no idea where they went? More storms this p.m. I am feeding dry meal worms to parents. If I find them should I put them back in the nest because of the weather? They fledged at around three weeks.

Reply
D Tyner
5/11/2019 10:01:07 am

Our bb fledglings left this morning and relocated to hydrangeas nearby. We have already relocated once black snake. Now there is a 3 ft garter snake lurking and moving towards the hydrangeas. Are the fledglings still in danger? We have seen both parents gathering food and feeding them.

Reply
m vee
5/11/2019 01:06:44 pm

Bluebird laid 5 eggs, but there's only two fledglings and nothing else in the nest. Why could this be?

Reply
Rachel
6/5/2019 06:16:18 pm

I have bluebird parents with a 2nd nest. The first group fledged successfully. The 2nd hatching, I believe there may be 3 chicks, seems to be going well. Today, the parents tried all day to get the chicks to fledge without success. Tonight I peaked inside the box to see if they were gone but they are all still there, the parents are no where in sight. Have they been abandoned? Will they be ok overnight on their own?

Reply
Rob
6/11/2019 01:33:40 pm

My bb parents have tried all day to encourage the fledglings to leave the box. But the parents go to the box, then perch on an electric wire that runs 12-15 feet above the box. This seems awfully high. Im wondering if I placed some artificial structure - like a large potted plant or potted shrub - closer to the box if that might help or would it complicate matters.

Reply
jenn
6/20/2019 06:34:44 pm

I went to check on my baby bluebirds this afternoon. As I opened the front one of the babies flew out. They were due to depart sometime this weekend. I tried to get it to fly back closer to the bluebird house but it was flying further away so I stopped. Will the bluebird parents be able to find this poor baby? I feel
Terrible :(

Reply
Jim
6/28/2019 06:24:30 am

I have baby fledglings out of the nest and on the ground. Parents don’t seem to be around and they don’t seem to be trying to fly. Should I leave them alone or do something to help?

Reply
Penni McDaniel
7/3/2019 10:54:40 am

We have had some very strange behavior by our latest bluebirds. Before the babies fledged, the parents would make lots of noise by our bedroom window when they sensed danger. Waking us up at daylight and sometimes during the day of a cat strolled by. The babies fledged a little over a week ago and now the parents are back at the birdhouse making lots of noise. They flutter all around the birdhouse looking in but so don’t in. I am actually watching them now go from the birdhouse, to the feeders and back and forth making so much racket like they are upset. Do you think something happened to the young babies and they came back looking for them? It seems too soon to be contemplating building another nest so soon.

Reply
Jason
7/12/2019 05:47:51 pm

From 2nd brood I had 1 fledgling bluebird today. So exciting!!! I was sitting on the front porch being swooped by the parents.
I knew something was up because the nestbox is in the backyard. Saw the little guy wiggling around in the petunias until he flew my way. Hope he makes it!!! Unfortunately I 3 eggs were left unhatched. The 1st brood was abandoned. I think my bird house was getting too much afternoon sun.

Reply
Juhi Sharma link
12/9/2019 11:07:06 pm

Call Girls in Surat

Reply
Juhi Sharma link
12/9/2019 11:08:23 pm

Escorts Service in Aerocity

Reply
Carolyn
4/29/2020 08:30:54 am

Will the parents leave the box for a week or two with the fledglings? - they usually are no where to be found. A pair of tree swallows have taken over the box and mom and dad bluebird returned yesterday and are not happy

Reply
Nancy Hann link
5/4/2020 01:28:06 pm

Thank you for this info! This year was my first having a Bluebird nest box in the yard. It is within clear view of my office window and I have a camera set up to take pictures of the progression of nesting. I was so excited to see one of the babies peeking out from inside the box yesterday and hoping to see them on their first flight today. Sadly I must have missed it because I hadn't seen much activity today so I checked the box and there are no babies. Do they normally fledge at a certain time during the day? I thought maybe I heard them around 4am this morning when I happened to be awake. Is it possible they went at night? Is there any consistency on where they may go for the next few days or weeks? I'd love to at least get a photo of them while they have their "baby feathers".

Reply
Lisa link
5/22/2020 07:03:27 pm

I’m wondering the same thing. What time of day will they try to leave the nest. Thank you Covid 19 for keeping me home and letting me see Mother Nature unfold with these two wonderful bb parents

Reply
Lisa link
5/11/2020 12:01:44 am

I have a bluebird couple occupying my birdhouse that I thought was just for decoration. They have laid eggs and are now feeding the babies. But I cannot really see in the hole to ck on the little babies. I can’t open door cuz it’s so old it might fall off. I’m wandering if I can put some tape or glue so Incase the babies get bigger the door won’t fall off. After this brood leaves I night a brand new BB house. I hope they will nest again in the new box. It’s my first experience with any nest and I’m obsessed

Reply
Birdie
5/18/2020 09:30:43 am

We have been watching our bluebird family all along...during this covid-19 stay at home. There is a positive! Normally we would not be home this long to see this beautiful nature! We have splurged on telescopes, binoculars, cameras and mealy worms!! Love it. Worried about experiencing the empty nest syndrome. :(

Reply
Erin S Osbourne
5/20/2020 04:49:41 pm

We are novice blue bird landlords. We had 5 eggs. 3 days ago we saw the babies peaking out. Yesterday activity slowed down and today I checked the box. 2 eggs are in there. Mom just came by but didn't fly to the box. Could she already be laying more eggs? Or are these unhatched eggs?

Reply
Birdie Snyder
12/5/2020 05:08:43 pm

She probably was already having a second brood.... that's what we experienced also

Reply
Liss link
5/24/2020 11:40:28 am

Ok so babies are 18-19 days old. Peeking their heads out of hole today more than ever. Mama still seems to bring them small bugs but today daddy is no where? I’m worried

Reply
Steve link
6/25/2020 03:43:58 am

Two bluebirds fledged from our nest yesterday. One on the morning but the other at dusk....? Is it normal for a bluebird to fledge right before dark? We hope it is ok and survived the night. We’re pretty certain the parents found it last night before dark.

Reply
Birdie
6/25/2020 09:31:24 am

We have a second btood going of 4. They are now 10 days old. We watch and feed them every moring, I kudt love it. The original 6 still come at 2 feeding times, and I see them help feed the new ones! Crazy momma should have had the 4 first and then had them help feed the 6! I can tell that 2 of the 6 are looking like males.

Reply
Omie Schrupp
7/2/2020 12:41:08 pm

It looks like one of our baby bluebirds is having a hard time getting out of our bluebird house.

Reply
Barbara Kennedy
7/3/2020 08:23:03 am

3 baby bluebirds fledged yesterday... 2 July. 4th one flew out this morning and mom and pop were there but now whole brood has moved on and a 5th baby has landed the ground... he's been calling 20 - 30 minutes now... no signs of mom or pop... 😢

Reply
Ambassador's Response link
7/9/2020 08:12:45 am

If possible get him off the ground and place him in a tree or bushes. The parents will find him.

Reply
Tiffany Parkhouse
7/9/2020 03:45:40 pm

This is our first year with a blue bird house and we had a pair nest. Yesterday they were very active like normal in the day and today nothing. So I checked the house and it’s empty. Mom and dad are around on their usual perches and dad is constantly singing and does fly into the trees. I assume the baby’s fledged but haven’t seen any. Is this normal? Are we likely to see them in the days to come?

Reply
m vee
7/10/2020 11:32:56 am

Usually the male chirps when he seems to be trying to get them to move or come out of the box. They are slow to move when they fly at first and stick with him and go off in a direction and don't come back.

Reply
Maureen
7/11/2020 01:29:16 pm

I have had 2 bluebirds in our box since late May. I peeked inside when there were the first 4 eggs. I haven't looked again c I was afraid I would scare them away. The last 2 days the parents have been nearby but not going to the box except very infrequently. They don't even swoop in when I walk nearby like they had been doing. How can I tell if they have fledged? I saw the mother look inside the box once today but that is all. Should I go look to make sure they aren't stuck in there or something? If no, how long should I wait to clean out the box?

Reply
Alex
7/25/2020 03:59:51 pm

We had a pair raise 4 little ones successfully and nest in same box just about 4 weeks later. Those little ones fledged fine also. It's end of July. Is it too late for them to nest a third time??

Reply
Steve link
7/26/2020 03:56:39 am

Our 3rd brood was started at the end of June. 1out of 4 eggs hatched around July 14.

Reply
Marguerite M Sirrine
8/4/2020 12:50:20 pm

Hi, I have the same question as Peggy's last year. On day 17 parents sounded the alarm at the nestbox and three fledgies burst out in all different directions very rapidly. A fourth remained - I walked out to look for a snake but saw nothing. Female came back to encourage fourth to fledge by withholding food, then both parents sounded the alarm again and fluttered around the nest box. Fourth fledged. They CONTINUED this behavior as if they'd missed the first three fledglings and couldn't find them, so I opened the box and set it on the ground so they could see it was empty. Today I only see them feeding two fledglings so fear the other two were lost. Any idea what this was about - a nearby snake prompting an alarm, and parents losing track of frightened fledglings? Help?

Reply
Marguerite M Sirrine
8/5/2020 05:22:15 am

A happy update: eyeballed all four fledglings yesterday. Somehow they found them all. Still would like to know what causes parents to scream at the nestbox and refuse to land at the entrance hole - snake in the area is the only thing I can come up with.

Reply
Gail H link
12/5/2020 10:40:51 am

Appreciate this blog ppost

Reply
Leigh
4/9/2021 03:18:35 pm

Hi are these comments still actively answered?

Reply
Carol K
4/13/2021 01:14:31 pm

My first three bbs fledged 2 days ago. Seeing no further activity around the house I peaked in and saw there is one egg in the nest. I did not have a chance to clean out the house. Is this a new egg? or an old one? How can you tell? Should I wait a few days to see if more appear, then just not clean until after next fledge?

Reply
Emily Thompson
4/27/2021 06:29:31 am

We have a bluebird box in a tree that is constantly used by bluebird pairs. We provide dried mealworms close by and added a wire mesh predator guard to extend the entry to the hole by almost 6". Suddenly the nest box is empty. Since we don't count days I'm not sure if they've fledged or not. How would I be able to tell? I cleaned the nestbox out and it seemed clean and dry.

Our yard is very small and it would be nearly impossible to mount a box on a pole in a position where a cat couldn't jump from the fence to it. Our very suburban neighborhood has frequent possum, racoon, fox and feral cat sightings. Should we just take the nestbox down?

Reply
Barbara
4/30/2021 03:45:11 pm

Please help!! 3 of our 4 bluebirds left the nest today leaving one behind...the parents have NOT been back for 6-7 hours. We checked the nest and tried to give it a meal worm , it was Refusing to gap... I managed to get 1/2 of one in its mouth. It seems pretty strong. What can I do to help it? Should I take it out of the box or leave it alone? I’m sad;(

Reply
Lynn Brown
5/2/2021 07:59:09 am

I have had bluebirds come to the same box for years. Watching them fledge now. Two fledged yesterday evening, but the final two are just now fledging this morning. Did I spook them while watching? Normally they all fledge within 2 hours of each other.

Reply
Mary link
5/9/2021 05:52:52 am

I am a first time “landlord” for bluebirds and am wondering what it means to clean out the bird house after the fledglings have left the nest? We took out the nest, but it’s still pretty dirty from the baby droppings. Do I need to do an actual cleaning of the house? Thanks for your help!

Reply
mark C Smith
5/9/2021 07:38:36 pm

My wife and I have been recruiting, feeding, defending, and caring for bluebirds for over 12 years. It is May 9th. One of our baby bluebirds is not leaving the box. Any thoughts?

Reply
Elizabeth Still
5/14/2021 08:53:28 am

Two out of the three babies left the nest box this morning the third one is still in there and it has been several hours. The momma and Daddy bluebird have not visited the box in about an hour. is there anything I should do?

Reply
Lisa link
5/17/2021 06:50:51 am

Yes!!! Success All 5 bb eggs hatched and on the 11thbof may I actually timed it perfectly and saw them leave the nest box. I took out old nest and cleaned the nest box. It was quite a dirty nest and some ants were in it. I’m hoping mama comes back to start another brood. It’s been 5 days and no action at the box yet. I’ve seen the papa and babies about 100-200 feet away in the trees on the medium where I live. Should I keep putting meal worms out. I have not since they have been away with babies. What should I do. I don’t really want to attract other birds

Reply
Holly
5/18/2021 11:42:11 am

We have 2 nestling bluebirds in our nest box that may fledge later this week based on when they hatched. The parents have disappeared as of today - I don’t think they are withholding food to encourage fledging as they are not anywhere to be seen/heard. Babies are crying and there was a fecal sack in the box which I removed. 2 juveniles, probably from last brood, fluttered around the box for a bit then left. Definitely not the parents. I fed the babies some water soaked mealworms at 2:30pm as I was concerned they would dehydrate. What should I do now?

Reply
Paula
5/25/2021 01:34:16 pm

16 day old Western Bluebirds. Not fledged. Male only has been feeding, now there has been no sign of him since yesterday evening (it’s now mid afternoon of the next day). What can I do?

Reply
Joni link
5/31/2021 01:44:12 pm

Our babies just fledged! I have read your very good description of what happens next. My question is simple. Is it okay to continue to provide mealworms while the babies are suppose to be learning to gather their own food? Will they become dependent on the food source we provide? Our garden also provides some other insects that the parents gather when the mealworms run out. We do not want to interfere with the natural learning process if continuing to feed them creates an unfavorable situation.

Reply
Heather
6/8/2021 04:14:09 pm

Our 2 Western Blue Birds just flew out of the nest today. Their momma has been taking care of them since they hatched 3 weeks ago. The dad all of a sudden stopped coming around about 9 days ago. He was so attentive to the momma and bringing food to the babies. I feel like he must have died since he stopped coming around. Is it normal for the dad to leave? Thank you.

Reply
Ty link
6/15/2021 06:27:55 am

If you would like to see Eastern Bluebirds; nesting, laying eggs, raising babies and the baby Bluebirds fledging, go to “Eastern Bluebirds in Oklahoma” LiveStream on YouTube. It’s on 24/7 unless there is and internet service interruption.

Reply
Michelle
7/8/2021 09:08:04 am

I had 4 BB eggs in the nest. They all hatched and three of the four flew away a week ago. I still have one little BB in the box. I check on it everyday and feed it dried meal worms. I saw a parent a couple of days ago but not recently. I am worried. When I look inside, the little BB stares at me and I see him looking out the entrance of the box. He flutters around. Why has he not fledged on his own?

Reply
Iris E. Villafane
7/11/2021 09:17:57 am

I saw 3 bluebird fledglings leave the box for the first. What a great experience. Two of them are struggling to fly.

One hour later them and the parents are gone.

Where did they go?

Reply
George link
8/28/2021 09:43:15 am

We found an immature female Western Blue on the ground this morning. I’m leaving it alone. I keep checking on it through a window. No activity from its parents. Not sure if it’s solo. Not sure if it’s injured. As cute as it is, I don’t want to handle her. Any advice?

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Bird Mites
    Blowfly
    Blowfly Larva
    Bluebird Banquet Mixture
    Bluebird Perseverance
    Bluebirds Communication
    Climate Changes
    Copulation
    Diatomaceous Earth
    Dogs And Cats
    Fledglings Success
    Fledgling The Nestbox
    House Sparrows
    Linseed Oil & Nestboxes
    Migration Behaviors
    Molting
    My Favorite Nest Box
    Nestbox Placement
    Nesting Time Table
    Predators
    Sparrow Trap

    My Favorite Links Click on Blue Titles Below

    A Bluebird needs help
    Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania
    North American Bluebird Society
    Woolwine hOUSE Bluebird Trail
    Mealworms / Grubco
    mealworms / rainbow
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.