I have been watching the bluebird box a lot the past three days expecting to see the babies leave the nest. I am convinced that the mama and papa bluebirds are trying to coax the babies out this evening. They have flown to the box and to the lowest board on our arbor that sits about ten feet in front of the birdhouse. Then they fly to the trees as well. There is no way short of opening the box to know how many are still in the box, so I’m waiting as patiently as I know how. I also watched one bird take a bath in the birdbath.
I’m having to watch through two panes of window glass plus a screen, so I can’t be sure if I’m seeing a parent or a fledgling. On top of that I had eye surgery four days ago. My eyes aren’t working together well right now as my left eye is recovering to a new level of seeing-though it isn’t there yet. So dissappointing!
I went outside to get a picture of the birdhouse with the arbor and birdhouse all in the picture. Unfortunately the birds fly away when I go outside so no birds this time. While I was outside, I witnessed the bluebirds take on a much larger bird – possibly a hawk. They seem to have successfully driven it off.
Baby birds apparently don’t just take a notion to jump out of the nest when they are big enough to fly. The mama and papa Bluebirds are being so persistant. They will fly to the box at the same time, and while one goes inside the other hangs on the front opening or sits on top of the box or the post. This keeps happening over and over. I wish I had a video cam inside the box so I could see what is happening. I wonder if the bird that goes inside is pushing on the babies or anything.
The sun is setting and still the babies haven’t fledged. I wonder if the parents will continue trying once the sun goes down or will wait until morning. According to the information I have on Bluebirds, they should have fledged either Saturday, Sunday, or today (Monday). A mockingbird appeared on the scene a few minutes ago and I scared it away, along with Mama and Papa Bluebird.
Pictures and text copyright © 2008 by Janice Green
I read this page. Have the babies taken flight yet?
I never saw them leave, but they were gone the next day when I got home from school. I also never saw the parents feeding them after they fledged, so I may never know if they successfully fledged or not. There was a storm brewing the night the parents were trying to get the babies to fledge, but I don’t know if they would have continued trying to get them to fly after dark with a storm coming on. I just don’t know what happened.
There is a new nest in the box now with two babies hatched out of four eggs.
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. 🙂 Cheers! Sandra. R.