Today was fledge day for the 5 Bluebird babies! I have been expecting them to leave anyday now since they were one day younger than 2nd Cousin Dave's and his have already fledged. I was set up and ready for them to fledge to the tree I had set up about 10 feet from their box but they decided to fly to the dead tree instead...naturally! Most of the shots are taken from a distance but I feel fortunate to have witnessed and recorded the event.
Here is BB #1...thinking about leaving!
Oops..I will be back as I forget to resize the pics!
tap… tap… tap
Mrs. Ed....LOL!
Here is Mama..trying to talk the little one out of the box.
Papa...doing the same.
a second later the first is out of the box!
Darn...the heifers are up and I have to go feed and walk the dogs...sorry will return later!
hehe, we'll wait ... since we have too!
That cracks me up… "the heifers are up"
Probably looking for some sunflowers to mow over! The are just jealous of the bluebirds.
Ha...you two crack me up!
OK...more pics of the first fledge!
same one looking around and confused!
The second one landed in the same tree (I didn't know they could fly that far)!! Surprise!!
The third one really had wings and flew over to the old barn and landed on the roof...too far to get a pic!
The fourth one landed on another barn roof!!
I'm not sure which one this is...I got so confused trying to keep track of what was going on!
The last one stayed in the box for a long long time...and Mama and Papa were feeding the others while trying to convince the last one to come out, come out, wherever you are!
Mama Blue was busy caring for the long shot fledge that left the far barn roof and landed in tall grass in the fence line! Papa disappeared for awhile and returned with this guy!! When he first showed up I thought to myself "gee, his tail sure grew fast"...then I realized it was an older Fledge I had seen several times around the farm.
This message was edited Aug 3, 2008 8:25 PM
This message was edited Aug 3, 2008 8:53 PM
Anyway, the older fledge and Papa are trying to lure the last baby from the box! They take turns flying in front of the nestbox.
Papa keeps trying....
he lands on the spooker with bribe in beak!
then flies to the tree and waits...
the older fledge lands on the nestbox..
and tries to figure out how to get his sibling outta there!!
he lands on a fence post and keeps trying...
finally #5 leaves the nestbox and flies to the tree I am sitting under...never expected that!
It was a very exciting time here on the farm...all the while this was going on many birds showed up but when the Grackles showed up the BB's sent him packing! It was an amazing experience!
Here is a final shot of the hero of the day...I have named him Super Fledge!!
This message was edited Aug 3, 2008 8:40 PM
What a wonderful experience!!! Thank you for sharing it! :-))))
Wonderful story and pics, dellrose. Sort the heifers out?
Oh Rose, what an amazing experience for you and the 5 blues! Thanks so much for sharing the event blow by blow. Pappa sure had some motivating rewards for the kiddos. And how cute that big brother came to help out.
I really enjoyed each and every photo!
Margaret - I think Rose had to let them in the barn or something.
Thank you all. I am glad I could share this experience. I must confess I was very disappointed in the pics. I was shooting from quite a distance and mostly into the sky or against a white background...grrrr...very frustrating. However, I can't help but feel fortunate that I was able to witness the whole thing. It was so hot I feared one of us would have heat stroke!!
LOL...the heifers usually stay under the lean to when they come to eat but they decided to take off before I fed them that is why I took off earlier!! Birds and animals...you think you know what they will do and then they don't!!
Here is another pic of Super Fledge!! I just loved the way he came in and took over the situation...at least in my mind that is what was going on!! He really did seem to take his job serious!
I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed your pictures Rose. I love the first one to the last! Huge smiles here in NM..
Thanks Angele...I wish I could have recorded the sounds the parents were making when they were talking to the babies...it was so sweet.
Wonderful pics Rose! So glad you were there to witness the whole thing.
Thanks for sharing it with us!
Terrific ending to this story. What great parents these birds are. Nature is really amazing!
Thanks Pelle & GP...only "birders" seem to understand how special this was, I'm so glad I have someone to share it with!
Today I am suffering from "empty nest syndrome"!! It really does seem empty in the back yard without those Blues!
Here is Papa after taking a bath the other day...he is so handsome!
and another shot of Super Fledge!
How wonderful Rose, congratulations.
Congratulations Rose. You should be plenty proud just for having all five babies fledge successfully and it is rare for one of the older fledges to help out that way. I am finally back in front of a computer and have just read this entire thread and like the others, enjoyed each of your pictures. I presume we both have seen our last nesting for this year. The bluebirds seem to know when it's August. But I always clean out the nestbox anyway, hoping they may go for one more.
Dave
Dellrose - What a special "documentary" of your BB's fledging. Thankyou so much for sharing the experience with us. Super fledge sure was something. I had read about Older siblings helping, but be led to understand that is is really a rarity. You rally had something special in seeing him/her help and "take over" like that.!... So precious.! ....... Your "heifer situation" even added to the excitement! .... Indeed, we have experienced, "Bluebirds on the Farm". Again....thankyou...........and PS..I can relate to the lonliness of "after they 're gone"...........hopefully after the fledges week or so of 'boot camp", they will come back to feed where you can see them again......get some mealworms, for sure.
--Birdie
Thank you Nan, Dave and Birdie, I am glad I could share this experience. I had to do a complete recovery on my computer today and just got finished...almost 7 hours of tech crappola!! Grrrrrr....Luckily I had an external hard drive so I got all my pics saved to that...whew!!
I am glad to know that the older fledge was a rarity...I had not heard of it before and felt that I was witnessing something special (besides the obvious). After the 2 failed nests earlier this season this is certainly a blessing I will not soon forget (even with CRS disease...LOL)!!
Dave, I have my nestbox all clean and sanitized and ready to hang back up tomorrow (just one of the million things I have learned from your threads). I almost think it is too hot and don't know if I can handle the stress of another clutch but will have the box avail if nature decides to take it's course again on the farm.
I plan on checking the upper area where I have seen the older fledge and a pair of BB's as I think it is the same family. I will be in seventh heaven if I see all of them there!!
I just found this...that is sooo cool rose, and thanks for sharing with us!! Your pics are great!
