Spring sextuplets chirp & chip their way into the world

Oh, OK, thanks Pelle. I also sure wish I could locate the spell check on here, my typing is not the greatest and the proof time is a drag + I hate to misspell things, especially due to fast typing.......oh if those were my biggest worries lol

I think these open eyes were my birthday gift, first noticed well on Sat May 9 (appprox. 1 wk old) ---amazing at the develovement in just 1 week, of healthy babies, isn't it!!

Daddy Blue at 1 of his favorite look out posts--a dogwood tree next to the porch--about 15 feet from the nestbox

LOL...Wrong picture again.this is an Indigo Bunting who visits my frontyard woodland area ea spring for a week or so...Lovely song!

We are about 11 or 12 days old and it sure is getting crowded in here. We're ready for more food though!!

This picture was the morning of day #15 from hatching...also the day that they fledged. Later this dday when I set out mealworms the parents flew into the trees with their beaksfull of worms rather that into the nest box. Man was I surprised!. Bluebirds seem much more developed that the typical "nest"birds when they fledge. Both clutches that have fledged from here were apparently up in the trees within hours. Where they were nurtured and fed by the parents for about a week, after which they returned to learn about feeding themselves... It looks like Mealworms, when available is what the parents like to bring them to for their beginning self feed. Watching them learn how to land on what they are aiming to land on is hilarious.

I nearly cried when I saw this empty next and realized I had missed the fledge...I searched all around the yard & deck area , bescause with a privacy fence, I didn't think they could excape and I didn't want my Poodle to get them...but then I noticed the parents take food up into the trees. I had ablosutely no idea that newly fledged Bluebirds could get that high up the very day of the fledge. Wow!! I promptly cleaned out the nestbox...far away from the site, also, for safety of the next clutch.

this, lo lshould be a pic of the Daddy Blue on the roof, with one of the fledgs that he has just fed...they are trying to get the fledges to feed without being fed, but do not seem to be able to resist for long the persistant cry of a demanding "baby" (sound familiar to any moms??)

the next notible event was rathershocking to me. One Friday, both parents would not let any of the fledges eat from the mealworm dish or even settle in any of the nearby "favorite" trees. they would practiacally divebomb them , The confused fledges just cowered a little and then tried again. By the end of the day I think there were 2 of 3 fledges hanging back trying their best to stear clear of the unexpected wrath of their parents., and one had "flown the coup for safer grounds"
The next day the 3 eggs in the nestbox were hatching. The parents knew somehow and were switching into their newborn mode I guess....interesting huh??

These are the 3 remaining eggs of my BackPorch BlueBirds 2nd spring clutch, layed Mon 6/2-Fri6/6 (roofer's & hosp interferrence)

Thanks for sharing your Blue Bird Action 2008 with us Birdie. It is certainly apparent that fledglings must learn to fend for themselves ASAP after flying the coup. I'm really enjoying this thread.

Yes, I am so glad to share this enthralling experience with you........
these 6 fledged, but only 3 returned to the house after their week of survival training"...........so 3 apparently healthy Fledglings,were taught landing skills on my deck railings and the mealworm dish rim, etc and became self feeding and also familiar with me as the mealworm provider, once they learned thad food did not always come from a beak. ;-)

Soon after they became self feeders, Daddy coaxed momma into the nest again, where she soon built a 2nd nest and laid 4 eggs (1 got eggnapped by a Carolina Wren), so then there were 3..... The day before her 2nd clutch of 3 hatched both parents vehemently chased the above fledges away from the mealworm dish and the nearby trees............
..........to be continued .....

1 to go and ain't they odd looking litttle scrawney critters! BUT, beautiful to Mom & Daddy BB & me!!

Hey...your wing tip is in my eye.......Well that fuzz, you say is feathers is tickling mine....so there............................Awwww, c'mon you two, I just hatched out and I need a nap, peep down , OK?...............

Mom, Dad....mealworms please.....c,mon, we KNOW they're there........that woman's hollerin "Bluebirds, Bluebirds"
Puleeeze, peep, peep, peep......

Oops!...This 1 is a little out of order. It is of Daddy Blue feeding one of the fledges of the first clutch......(so.........would this be a big brother or an Uncle?). This pic just happened to be taken right before the female spied the 1wo of them and did not like what shthem and chased 'em away (the day before the new ones hatched!)....What I did not know then, but have simce learned is that the mom can hear the new young peepinthru the eggshell.

I do apologize for posting that last pic, as it had been posted among the pics of the first group.
Here The 3 newbies a few days later, consideringing singing for their meals!

#1 of 3 - Singing for our supper

#2 of 3 Singing for our supper

Very sweet pics Birdie!

And finally ...# 3 of 3.....and don't we just look like 3 little Calla Lillies? OOPS!......LOL ...looks like the calla got cut off our lilly ...oh well, you nearly got the picture. ;-) wing waves to ya, and now we're gonna grow some for ya!

thankyou Pelle, they were very fun to document. I have also gotten closer sightings of my "ghost" bluebird. ( The Leucistic female)." She is so very stunning, and is slowly becoming used to me as the bearer of "goodies". I will be very happy when I get a better pic to post so that you all can enjoy her also. It just occurred to me that I need to contact my local audobon Soc and notify them of our local "celebrity". (LOL)

Following are some additional pictures of the 2nd Bluebird Clutch that were born in a nestbox under the eaves of my back deck. The Mother of both this and an earlier clutch of 6 eggs (3 returning fledges) sadly ended up missing when these 3 were about 1 week hatched, but still in the nextbox. The Daddy raised them as a "single parent" and I assisted him by providing mealworms (some dusted in calcium powder).
All 3 fledged and have just returned with the father's guidance to my porch area and their mealworm goodies. A new family addition has returned with them. A leucistic female Bluebird. She looks sort of "white" from a distance. Upon closer inspection, sparse failtly colored feathers are noted. I haave referred to her as my "ghost" bluebird at times. When I have more pictures of her, they will be posted. Currently there is only one. Taken at quite a distance, she sits erect on my roof. @nd Cousin Dave has kindly cropped it for up for optimum visibility. I wish it was clearer, but it gives an idea for now of her unique beauty (Scroll up to an earlier post to see the Leucistic BB on the roof)
--wing waves to ya,.
---BirdieBlue--

We sure grow fast in that nest box, where al we do is eat , peep & ...well you know.... ;-)

See how big we're getting, and how about our blue feathers! Cool, huh? Our Mom would'v made our nest a little bigger, but we don't think Daddy knows how to do that. We just cuddle at night, though and it's OK!

We're pretty ready to fly this coop as soon as Daddy gets ready to take us.

Well, they were ready to go all right !! Shucks.......missed the event again!

Meh, It's all good. lots of cute babies!

OP, Mrs_Ed, Pelle, and all the people who posted and enjoyed this thread: thankyou for your comments. It was very fun and had made my joining DG last month a wonderful decision.
I can't believe how much I've learned over the past 5 or 6 weeks and also all of the great friendships that have begun. This is a very special site and I am so greatful to Dave the originator of DG for his idea and what it has grown into.
---Sheri

Hey birdie, i meant to ask you, did you try to do a baffle this year for the snake problem? since it's such an odd place I thought it might be quite challening.

no, actually...I am quite sure that that particular snake does not live here anymore....does not even loive anymore , for that matter , and have taken measures to decrease the possibilities of snakes near or @ my porchstep (I'll dmail you if you like)

HAH!!

Well then. problem solved!

OH my....Daddy Blue returned today after a 2 day absence...With him were his faithful 3 fledges....still begging to be fed....Missing was his one of a kind leucistic female...I wonder; might she be nesting and laying somewhere else? He seems so enamoured with this next box, however many Carolina wrens and their new offspring have also discovered it ( much to my regret)...;.this, I assume would make the potentially new mate even more skittish about nesting here. I am trying only to offer MW's when the BB's are around to disscourage the wrens from hanging around...........any feedback???.................and then, I am keenly aware of the everlooming possibility,... due to her very non-camoflauged colouring......unfortunately.... is that she may have been captured by some predator...(to soon to think about that though!).....soooo......I have only 1 recourse, as usual..... .wait,.....wait..... wait..... and see!

This message was edited Jul 30, 2008 8:13 PM

This message was edited Jul 30, 2008 8:14 PM