Bird Watching: Bluebird Nestlings Peeking Out, 1 by 2dCousinDave

2dCousinDave wrote:
They are 14 days old and already they are peeking out at the world. This is new for me since with the previous 13 nestings I have watched, no nestling ever showed his face until day 17, the day they usually fledge. I figure this is partly due to the cramped quarters. Five birds need a little more room than they have in a four inch piece of PVC. But I may have played a part too. Mama built a beautiful nest in this box for their first nesting and when the eggs didn't hatch, I removed the nest box. the nest had a beautiful cup so I left the nest in the box. She then nested in a NABS style wooden box. When they were ready to start their third nest, I put the Gilbertson back up, with her previous nest still in it, thinking she might lay in it with little or no additional building.

Not so. She worked three or four days and added at least an inch to the nest. As a result the nestlings are that much closer to the opening. This worries me because the are closer for a preditor to reach and they may climb out or the box before they are ready to fly