Starting Bluebird thread #6

What a sweetheart! Can't wait to see the rest of the pics!!

Number two appeared in the opening immediately after number one left and he fledged 7 minutes after the first one. Whereas the first one flew out of the box and then directly to the left, which is where both parents were, when the second one popped out neither parent was there, so once out, he seemed confused as to where to fly, fluttered a bit, nearly landed on the shepherd's hook, and finally landed on the lowest part of the hand rail leading up to the deck. He stayed there for at least 5 minutes, most of the time looking for a parent. When they came for him, he didn't follow them, and to my surprise they flew off, leaving him there by himself.

Here is number two on the hand rail.

Here Papa tries to interest him with some kind if spider.

Aww so sweet!!! Thanks for the new pics Dave!

Dave,
I am a newbie to DG and just found this thread. I have several BB's at my new home (been there 4 years) and have up several BB houses. I have heard conflicting reports on whether I need to clean out the boxes each year..........can you offer advice??

Also, what type of feeders do you have out for them? They don't seem to visit my feeders at all. I have a friend who is going to start me on growing mealworms for them, but it will be almost a month before I see her. Advice on what to feed until then?

thanks
Genna

Thanks for sharing this journey with us Dave. Hope there will be at least one more adventure with your BB's.

BRAVO Dave!!!

You must be exhausted. So enjoy your 2-3 week respite until Mama lays batch #2~~!!

MuddyLou

Gen, Check the sticky. Pelletory put in Dave's information on nest boxes just a little while ago.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/805666/#new

Dave,

The Bluebird fledglings are so sweet and adorable! So precious! How are they all now? I'm guessing they are still 3 of them.

All the Bluebirds photos are wonderful!

Marilyn

Yes, Marylyn, there are three. However, I haven't seen them since they fledged but both parents have been back to the feeder at least five or six times today, and judging by the worms they hauled back with them, I assume all three are still alive and well.

Genna, I cleaned the nestbox this afternoon. I clean it after each clutch has fledged. Although it is not necessary, when I do that I take it completely apart, scrub all the inside surfaces with a toothbrush and a diluted bleach solution, let it dry and put it back together. For the first time in four years I discovered a lot of moisture inside the box under the nest. I am not surprised since the box faces south and the rain we have had the past several days has been from the south and the wind obviously blew rain into the opening. This afternoon Mama checked it out, went inside for a few minutes and then flew up to the gum tree behind the house where she likes to perch. I guess she was taking a break, and making sure no house sparrows get any ideas about moving in to "her house."

I would think twice about raising mealworms. I have heard a lot of people who tried it and all of them gave it up. Just too much work, most say. But, if you do, in the interim, to get by, I would look for some mealworms at a local pet store. Some place like Petsmart or Wild Bird Center, if you have one. You can buy 500 or so just to see if you have any luck with them.

I started with a small bowl placed near the nestbox and the BBs went right to it. I kept it there for several days, then moved it closer to the house and ultimately up on the deck. This was my preference so I could get closer with my camera. It also permits me to monitor the bowl and make sure the birds I want to feed are the ones that are eating the worms.

Here are some funny shots I took of Papa yesterday. It was raining on and off and I guess he felt wet.

Dave

Another

One more.

And finally, a more typical shot.

haha. that IS pretty funny Dave.

Nice to see they can have a bad day too! lol

Absolutely wonderful. Thanks for your dedication Dave.

You're very welcome. You know, I also post pictures on the Bluebird Nut Cafe forum. There are a couple of sequences I posted there there that you might enjoy.

Hope it's OK to post this link.

Dave

http://bluebirdnutcafe.yuku.com/topic/3463/t/My-birds-have-fledged.html

Wow, those are great. I love that you can do multiple image posts there. Plus, really funny about the falling worm.

Yes, not being able to post multiples here is a limitation. So many things, like fights or in-flight shots or even fledge feedings present better if you can see them one next to the other. I have posted as many as 30 images in a single post, believe it or not.

Dave

As always, Dave, fantastic pictures. So glad that they all made it through the sparrow attacks.

That first fledgling has such a disgusted (or something) look on it's face....so cute. And the second one is showing such beautiful colors already.

I love the silly shots of Papa. Those are poses that I never get to see. Thanks.

Your pictures here as well as the ones on the link are just wonderful! It has been such a pleasure to see everything from start to finish. Thank you for the joy and entertainment these wonderful images have brought.

Thanks for the pics Dave there all wonderful! Glad everything turned out well!

How long before they'll be back?

I'm glad everyone is enjoying the pictures.

If you are referring to the parents, guess you could say they are already back.

They apparently have the youngsters stashed somewhere in the woods but the parents have been back to the feeder regularly and a second nest is nearly completed in the box so I guess she will start her second brood in a few days.

If you are asking when the fledglings will follow the parents to the mealworm feeder, that should happen about this time next week (8 to 10 days after fledging).

Dave

Thanks Dave!

Here's Mama. She was at it this morning before 7:00 a.m, which was before it was light enough to shoot decent pictures.

It's times like these when I'm sure she would prefer more than an inch and a half wide opening.

This series is incredible. Your pictures are great.

Very nice!

I have to laugh ever time I read a post with mama in it and I think you are calling me by name (Marna, for those of you who don't know).

Anyway, she's so funny with that big mouthful!

Wow - I almost need glasses to distinguish between Mar na and Mama...... I can see why you do a double take each time.....

genna

Sorry Mrs. Ed

Maybe I can remember to call her Ma or Mom. But then, who knows how many others those names would fit.

Hee. No, Mama is fine… kinda like thinking you are talking JUST TO ME!!

Besides, if it bothers me, I can change my system font to something with a serif!

Hi Dave - have you ever considered putting together a book w/your pictures? I've seen lots of the bluebird books out there & NONE of them comes close to your work. One more thing to add to the "to-do-after-nesting-season-is-over" list....................MuddyLou

It's a nice thought, Lou, and very flattering. It probably will be added to the list of things I'll never get around to doing. However, I am thinking of collecting several hundred of my favorite pictures on a CD, perhaps in a slide show format. That I can do myself (I think), without the help of editors, printers and all that goes along with publishing a book. No money in it, but then, I'm not in it for the money.

I am also half-heartedly collecting pictures showing the BB fledgling every day in its first 100 days, as it molts and its appearance slowly changes to where it looks like an adult. That is a topic that interests me for some reason and I have never seen any book that attempted to document every step in this gradual change.

Dave

That would be cool Dave!

Well, she's at it again-- or should I say, she's at it still? The second nest is nearly finished.

The fledglings were in the Bradford Pear tree just outside the kitchen window this morning, hidden in the leaves but not more than 30 feet from the feeder. It won't be long before they'll be flying right up on the deck.

Boy, she doesn't fool around when she starts building a nest.

Your idea of the 1st 100 days of a fledgling would be awesome!

The Energizer Bluebird.

The wet bluebird

I mean wet