Bluebird Nestlings Peeking Out

Step Dad

Another shot of Step Dad

And another

I like her wings in this shot

Stunning photography!

I love that last shot! Oh of course some would fledge as soon as you walk away,lol. Little stinkers! Hope you catch the next ones.

thanks so much for the beautiful photos and the good bluebird info. they are so fascinating to me!

No more fledged today (monday) The parents tried all day to coax them out but there were still four in the nest box when it got dark tonight.

Lots of peeking of course, many with their heads well out of the opening. I spent the whole day waiting and watching.

This picture has nothing to do with the current situation but it is a picture I came across while I was clearing some cards for tomorrow. It is my male that was killed and I thought it was particularly sharp so I will post it here before I file it away and probably lose track of it.

All the images are beautiful Dave but that last one needs to be framed...Papa looks exceptionally handsome.

I'm sure the little ones will fledge tomorrow....fingers crossed and please keep us updated.

I read with interest, Dave, the second comment about dad shoving the whole wad down the throat of the nearest chick. I watch "my" blue birds pick up as many mealworms as possible so I was wondering if they somehow spread the wealth when they get to the nest. Thanks for the info.

That shot of wet stepdad on the 21st made him look like superdad with his wings outstretched. Beautiful shots. Thanks. I enjoy your thread so much.

Well, forget what I said about two fledging on Sunday. All five fledged today. Here I have been standing, literally, from daylight to dusk with three cameras trained of the nest box and all I saw was a lot of peeking, all day Sunday and all day Monday. I got up at 5:00 a.m. today, thinking there were three chicks left in the nest and determined to get a picture of at least one of them as it left. The parents were there at first light, already trying to coax them out, but nothing happened until 7:15. One bird squeezed out to the edge of the opening and sat there. Then, suddenly, he left. I was holding a wireless remote and pushed it but there is a slight delay before the camera reacts to the signal. I got a great shot of the tip of his tail.

In less than a minute number two left and number three was about five seconds behind him. I kept clicking the remotes and did get a picture of one of them. Probably number three.

At that point I thought it was over, since I had assumed two of the five had fledged on Sunday. I was surprised to see two more heads appear in the opening and I had to wait until after 8:00 p.m. for these two to finally leave.

Pictures? I was using three cameras mounted on tripods, all with telephoto lenses and all controlled by wireless remotes, and a fourth camera with a 400mm lens that I used sort of like a spotting scope. All were aimed at the nest box. Needless to say I got a lot of pictures but most of them were insignificant and/or redundant. I haven't looked at them all but here are a few. In this instance I was too close (my primary camera was just five feet from the box) so any movement by the bird is exaggerated. So please overlook that. Due to the location of the nest box, there was no other place to set up my cameras.

Here is bird number three, about to go.


This message was edited Jun 24, 2009 3:16 AM

Next

Gone!

We have a Bradford Pear tree in the yard about 20 feet from the nest box. Two of the fledglings flew to that tree. One was clinging to a small branch on the side near me. I opened the window and got about 50 shots of him.

Mama was frantic with three birds loose at once. She rounded up the first one then flew back to the top of the tree.

She went for the other bird and the one closest to me continued to hang on.

Here are the two hold outs.

From time to time one or the other would come to the edge, then go back.

All afternoon the parents divided their time between the three in the trees and the two still in the box

Step Dad was doing his share.

Finally, a little after 8:00 p.m., number four fledged

And right behind her, number five. Finally!! It was over.

And so, to bed.

Excellent photo work!

Many of us will never get to see that level of activity in our own back yards, and it is an incredible treat that you shared your hard work with us.

Thank you very much!

Ditto!

Thanks Boston and Juney. You are surely welcome. It was fun but now I have a lot of chores to catch up with. The lawn looks like a hay field and the basement is scattered with stuff while I painted my shop.

Here are a few odds and ends. First, another shot of Mama at the top of the pear tree. I was shooting toward the sun so these were somewhat backlit, but it is so rare for her to perch there that I was happy to get them.

Here is Step Dad while they were looking for the fledge on the other side of the pear tree. He could hear its peep...peep...peep, but it took him a few seconds to locate him.

Here is a cropped shot of Mama while she was feeding. I have got to run but I will check back from time to time. Have a good day everyone.

Oh, Congratulations. Good going Dave and step dad! I"m sure you'll be glad to take that box down now!

Dedication my man...dedication. That's cool stuff.

Thanks Marna and thanks Al. That is definitely on my "to do" list. Especially when I looked out at it a few minutes ago and saw this. Step Dad chased them away. Makes me wonder if they will try for number four. I'd be surprised. But this game is full of surprises.

This message was edited Jun 24, 2009 9:04 AM

Wow. Doesn't take those stinkers long!

Congratulations Dave!! Thanks for the happy update!

Wonderful, Dave. Thank you.

Congratulations Dave...well done, I really enjoyed all the shots you were able to get. You are very dedicated!

Thanks for your dedication Dave. The pics are great and I'm so happy that this nesting turned out so well.
Even with my binoculars, I can not see them as clearly as in your pictures. It is a real treat to see your pictures.

Absolutely captivating photography Dave. thanks again for sharing your Bluebird world with us.
I remember you commenting on beak length difference between Papa & step Dad. I didn't really see it myself until you posted that shot today of Papa. Wow! I don't know which is the unusual one or if maybe they are just at the extreme ends of the long and short of BB beaks but there sure is a noticeable difference.
I really love the shot of fledge #3 showing a bit of wing movement. It demonstrates how hard they are working very well I think.
Awaiting updates

So glad the babies made it!!

I loved this story. I followed it all the way through. A love story for sure. :) Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

I love the photos of the fledglings taking flight for the first time. The look in their eyes is almost like a mixture of wonderment and sheer terror.

Dave, Please help me to understand how the Bluebird babies know to fly out of the nest so well. Perhaps I misunderstood, but have gotten the impression that most or at least many babies "fledge" because the nest is simply to crowded to hold them any longer and so they either fall out or hop branch to branch. But these Blue guys definitely fly. what can you share with us on that please
Sheri