Finally – 5 New Hatchlings

[David in Stafford,VA]

After dealing with the multi-nest and lost eggs, cold and frosty evenings, I finally have new hatchlings. All 5 eggs hatched. I took this photo about 2 hours ago and the parent birds about 30 minutes ago. Everything is right with the would — except for the stay-at-home, CV, and related issues. But watching and tending the birds kind of brushes that away.

Here are the 5 new ones!

Here is Mom and Pop with dinner. If you can enlarg the photo you might see the little grub or bug in the female’s mouth.

And here is Dad – just hanging out – being cool!

David
Stafford, VA

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Great news, David – nice shot of the babies – I never can get decent photos of birds – I do better on my flower garden stuff. P.S. There isn’t anything real pretty about newborns, is there, but they sure grow up beautiful!

[David in Stafford,VA]

You are right, Carol. I just do it for record keeping. As I look back through past photos – they all look the same. That is why I started to use the date stamp on them so that I could tell which year the brood took place.

David
Stafford, VA

[Julie]

Congrats, David! This is the best news after all you went thru! I really enjoy your photos. I’m like Carol–my garden shots turn out, but the birds, not so much. Enjoy the feeding days to come! I love that busy time of the nest.

[blue diamonds]

I like the photo of mama and papa blue on the shepherd’s hook watching over their nest. Congratulations on your new bluebird family. This spring has been crazy cold. I hope the weather starts shaping up soon.

I hope to have hatchlings today or tomorrow……they did have 4 evenings where the temps went below freezing. Mama blue seems to be very dedicated, so I’m hoping for the best.

Judy-Michigan

[David in Stafford,VA]

We are right here hoping with you. We had 4 continuous cold evenings, 3 in the 30s and 1 29 degrees. But Mama bird must have kept them warm. I participated in the foam and cardboard insulation parade that several of the members tried. I now have to remove the package before it gets too warm. I had very strong winds so I attached mine with an adhesive putty. I am not sure how easy it will be to remove though. I was wanting to put up a new box anyway.

David
Stafford, VA

[David in Stafford,VA]

Here are the young blues at 8 days old.

David
Stafford, VA

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Nice – they are pretty good size for 8 days old.

[blue diamonds]

They are growing fast. So much cuter with feathers. Thanks for sharing.

Judy-Michigan

[David in Stafford,VA]

This mealworm feeder is fun. I took the mealworms out this morning and put them in the feeder dish, and took the remaining worms back to the garage. When I came back out of the garage both parents were sitting on the hook, as I went up the steps to my deck I looked back and saw the female on the bowl picking up mealworms. That is the first time I have seen her take the worms. Ran to get my camera and took a couple of shots.

David
Stafford, VA

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Nice shots, David, as usual. Is there a reason you do not put the worms into the cage feeder where other big birds cannot get in? I have had a cardinal this year actually squeeze into mine one time and try other times. I cannot afford to feed all those other birds. You could just leave the dish inside the feeder. Did this dish come with the feeder? – if so, it was meant to be used inside the cage, but whatever works for you is a good thing.

[blue diamonds]

You got some awesome shots‼️ Happy to see them both enjoying the mealworms……babies are next, yay! See you have your heat shield in place. Is mama blue taking worms into the babies? I think since you got them both so interested in the worms, when you move the bowl into the cage, they will go for it. Good luck.

Judy-Michigan

[David in Stafford,VA]

Thanks Carol and Judy. I took the bowl out of the feeder (1) because neither bird seem interested in going into the cage to get the worms, even though I put a good amount of worms in the bowl to be visible and (2) since I took down my other bird feeders several years ago when HOWR and HOSP, Blue Jays, and others became a problem with the Bluebirds, I have not had many of them in the yard . They do fly to the trees in the woods behind the nest box but so far, have not shown an interest in the mealworms. I did see a flight of 4 tree swallows fly over and around the feeder yesterday after the Bluebirds had emptied it but have not seen them since. I do intend to put it into the cage as soon as I think both birds will go for it. I am going to give mom bird another day and then will move it inside. Carol, this is the BFF-1 advertised in the Forum compete with the feeder dish. It is sold at the WBU. When I tried to order it here, it was “Sold Out” with unknown date available.

David
Stafford, VA

[David in Stafford,VA]

I put the dish in the cage this morning and left the top open so they could acclimate to the new location. No problem at all. Dad bird was first. He completed 2 trips to the nest box before mom showed up.

She watched while he loaded up again and then jumped right in with him.

So tonight I think that I will just close the top and see if they will use it as their own private diner.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by David in Stafford,VA.

David
Stafford, VA

[blue diamonds]

That was a great idea leaving the top off. It worked! They will be old pro’s at it before you know it. Enjoyed the photos…..favorite is papa blue with the juice worm.

Judy-Michigan

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