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No change here, except I haven’t seen the male yet today. Maybe I just missed him. Still not beyond the feelings of apprehension, yet.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Saw the male just now. He came in and landed on an arm of the feeder pole. I was wondering if it was a male or the male. After a bit he flew over to the nest box and peered inside for a moment, then off he went.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Mine has been standing guard on a nearby tree!
Hatch day! All three eggs hatched.
It is 14 days since the 15th, when the third egg was laid.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Haven’t had anything of note to post lately. Tomorrow is the date when I stop opening the nest box. Not visiting the nest box today because of the weather. Can see parents carrying food to the young. Every thing proceeding as it should. I’m going to try and get video of at least one of the babies leaving the nest box when they fledge.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
By the way, when I first started paying attention to the bluebirds and the nest box, I observed the female would land ot the nest box entrance and then go in. Later, I noticed she was going straight in, appearing to fly right to and through the hole. This is the way I remember it for the first nest.
Now, with the second nest, I noticed the female always flying straight to and into the hole without pausing, from the beginning, and continuing until the other day. Now, with the nestlings close to fledging, she is again landing on the outside of the box at the hole pausing before going in. It has been like this for the past two or three days. Maybe the female did this during the first nest and I didn’t notice the change.
I’m wondering if this is because of the age or size of the nestlings now, or if it is somehow part of preparing the nestlings to fledge soon.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Waiting and attempting to watch the nestlings fledge.
I sat on the back porch from early to mid-morning watching the box. Both parents were bringing food to the nestlings and carrying away waste. Sometimes they would arrive at the same time and perch on the arms of the feeder pole, then one, usually the male, would go to the box first, then the other. This went on for a couple hours.
When the feeding stopped and the parents were not staying perched nearby watching over the young, I decided the nestlings probably were not going to fledge today. Tomorrow I’ll take another look.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Thanks for the update. Hopefully you’ll be able to observe the fledglings directly. Good luck and keep us informed!
It’s noon here. The babies haven’t fledged yet—-so far as I’ve observed—- but there have been moments when I was sure they were fledging.
The parents are bringing food and carrying away waste, and they were spending time just perched nearby on the arms of the feeder pole or on the fence.
I have watched babies at the opening peering out. One time lasted over five minutes. They have had their entire head out at times. Once a baby had much of the body out like it was about to launch, but next time I looked after grabbing camera, it was either back in the box or had fledged. But I’ve been continuing to watch and the behavior has continued and none have left so far as I’ve observed.
Now, the appearances at the opening have tapered off. The parents are still coming to the box and peering in or entering and exiting.
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This reply was modified 11 months, 4 weeks ago by
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This reply was modified 11 months, 4 weeks ago by .
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
It is sunup here, about 06:00. I expected the babies to fledge yesterday. If they did, it was in the afternoon, which I think would be unusual. I haven’t seen the parents yet this morning. I have only about an hour to watch before I have to leave until this afternoon.
By the way, after I posted yesterday I looked back through the videos I made during the morning. There is one in which a baby is head and shoulders out of the opening, similar to the case I mentioned above. In this instance the baby withdrew back into the box. It sure looked like he was preparing to leave until he didn’t.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Almost 06:45. Haven’t seen the parents, and in this time they should have appeared at the box if it was still active. Merlin has identified the sounds of bluebirds in the vicinity, but I don’t see them. Also don’t see babies at the box opening. I’ll watch for another 15 minutes or so. I’m thinking the babies fledged.
Lesson: When the young are sticking head and shoulders out of the box, they will likely fledge that day.
Lesson: The young will fledge in the afternoon.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
I cleaned out the nest box this morning. Removed empty nest and lightly brushed inside with whisk broom.
The young almost certainly fledged Friday afternoon. I watched the box for a little while when I returned Saturday afternoon. No adults appeared in the backyard, must less visited the box. No young visible at the opening. I wish I could have seen the young leave the nest, but I at least have some short videos of them peering out of the box, and in some cases stick their heads out.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
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This reply was modified 11 months, 4 weeks ago by
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