Bluebird Thread # 7

Man, those are huge beak-fuls of worms! Will pappa and mammmma stop feeding the first fledglings when the second batch hatch?

Beautiful pics - I especially like pappa's transparent wings in the 11:02 a.m. picture. Thanks.

Yes when exactly do they stop feeding them?

Mama pretty well stops when she starts incubating the next clutch, which was yesterday. She may help out in a pinch but Papa doesn't want her to and gets after her when she is away form the nestbox for very long. Papa will stop feeding them when they are between 35 and 45 days old. This bunch is 29 days old today and they are already feeding themselves, however clumsily. So I look for him to back off in a week. They will still beg if he comes near, but he will ignore them and often fly right at them until they stop the begging.

They are very cute. This morning when I looked out, all three of them had squeezed into the small feeder cage, even though there were no worms there. I hated to go out there because they all flew away, of course. Then Papa carried worms to them up in the tree. They were back for their 10 O'clock snack, however.

Dave

This message was edited May 4, 2008 9:40 PM

Here is a comparison between the girl and then the boy. The obvious difference is the amount of blue feathers.

First the female.

Now one of the males.

Probably the same one. Sorry Papa is out of focus and that is a female HOSP trying to sneak in behind him.

Here's the other male. Sorry Papa is out of focus again, but I was only about 6 feet from them and the lens has a very short field of focus at that distance.

Same two. Same excuse.

And a rare in flight shot of a fledgling, from 6 feet away.

Nothing special, but he is in focus.

Papa in the late afternoon sun

Wondeful pics Dave!
Big difference in the female and male.

Love the shot of the fledgling flying!

Thanks, Dave, for the info. about feeding - it makes sense. I continue to be amazed by the birds. Just look at the length and width of the wings compared to the fledgling's body. No wonder they can become airborne. Nature's awesome.

And that bully HOSP. Nothing there for him. Just hanging around to pick a fight.

Have a great day Dave.

Nothing much new. Except I now have 5 eggs in the new nest. That's a first for me. This is my eleventh nesting and they have always laid 4 eggs.

Here's a picture from this morning that I like. Hope you do too.

Dave

Poor daddy looks tuckered out from keeping up with those kids! One is going to wind up with a complex from not getting the first worm!

He does sort of look like he has some bags under his eyes!! haha

Another thing I find rather funny is the way the fledges clamp down on Papa's bill when they go for the mealworms. Notice how he has to jerk back. Here are a couple of examples.

Here is the jerk.

This one should follow the shot of the two fledges I posted earlier. This time its the female clamping down on poor Papa.

LOL, you can really see his reaction in that last pic!

While we're in a humorous vien, consider the sleepy eyed gal as she dozes and nearly falls over. She had her eyes like that for about 15 seconds. I managed seven shots before she opened them again.

OK This one's not all that funny, but I thought it was interesting to see the overlay of Papa's feathers as he stretches. I was about 75 feet away, so it's a bit weak.

This message was edited May 6, 2008 12:05 AM

Poor papa's really getting abused by the little ones! Talk about biting the beak that feeds you. That pic of the little girl really is hilarious. Adorable.

Yes Dave. Love the transparency of papa's wings. Also, the one you posted at 11:02 on May 2nd. Beautiful. Thanks for the great shots.

Love the shot of the sleepy little gal!

Aww she is sweet!

WOW 5 eggs?? Sounds like Mama is not as exhausted as Papa. I'm surprised, though, because typically bbs will lay a larger clutch first, and then a smaller clutch for batch #2. Mine typically lay 5, then 4; or 4, then 3. Go figure.

My backyard bbs are FINALLY back & Mrs. spent all of yesterday building. The nest already appears to be done, or close to it. 4 bb nests & 1 chickadee nest in the cemetery.....

Wonderful photos and shots of all the Bluebirds Dave! Especially love all the fledging pics! Love the sleepy shot!

Do the first brood chicks help out with feeding the second brood at all? With some bird species that does happen, but not all.

Resin

Resin

I've only seen it once. One fledge several years ago seemed almost obsessed with feeding the nestlings; did it every day and in fact, enticed two of the nestlings to fledge, while the parents were tucking away two others that had already fledged.

Here is a shot of the fledge in action.

This message was edited May 6, 2008 6:46 PM

And here it is, enticing one of the nestlings to fledge.

Oh that is cute!

Bet that youngster made a good parent the next year!

Resin

I can just hear that baby saying, "But I don't waaaaaaant to fly yet!"

Adorable photos!

Another thank you Dave for this thread and all the previous. There is so much to learn about BB's and I have sure learned a lot here.

I know this is off topic, but this is my favorite peony and it's called Coral Supreme. I nearly lost it several years ago and this is the first time it has bloomed since 2004. For anyone who might care, I also take thousands of pictures each year of flowers, particularly iris, daylilies and peonies.

mmm can smell it from here!

Thats a beauty Dave!

Early this morning when I went out to put mealworms in the feeder, I also sprinkled a few on the railing, thinking Papa would be able to get to them faster. To my surprise, all three youngsters came, without him, and all began feeding themselves. When Papa showed up a few minutes later, he stayed back to chase any HOSP that might show up. Later I did see him feeding one of the fledglings, but they apparently are becoming more and more independent at 36 days old.

Another shot.

And another. The supply of mealies is nearly gone.