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My first nest fledged 4 bluebirds. First time for feeding live mealworms. I was hoping to see the fledglings coming to the worm bowl. I have never seen all four at the same time. I have seen two at the worm bowl. They were a month old on 6/18. Now I’m only seeing one at the worm bowl. Do you think something got two/three of them or do they take turns leaving the tree. Now down to one, did papa blue run them off because they will have new hatchlings to feed next week? Should I be seeing them hanging around the yard? Just curious on how this works.
Judy-Michigan
Judy, this thing about new fledgings will vary from area to area, bird to bird I believe. Mine will come to worm bowl after two weeks or sooner – depending on lots of variations, such as natural food, parents and their new nestings, etc. Sometimes they all come at once and other times, in groups, but are all done in 10 minutes or less. I have 4 juveniles and both parents eating worms right now two times a day, and papa blue takes my lone new nestling a few worms to his “private” box (other 4 eggs did not hatch). And yes, the parents will sometimes run off the older juveniles when new babies are about to hatch. My birds usually do hang around though. I did have 5 hatch 1st nesting but only have 4 juveniles eating – one probably did not make it, which is not unusual. Have you trained them to your whistle or voice when you put the worms out? Mine come right away, knowing that sound means “yum, yum, fresh worms.” Good luck on 2nd hesting.
Carol, thank you….I knew you would know what to expect since you have been feeding Live mealworms for years. Your answer is very helpful. So, I’m thinking since I never saw 4 fledgling at one time….maybe 2 were taken by predators. I have heard the survival rate is not good.
I have them coming to a clicker that I used for dog training. As of yesterday only mama and papa showed up. So, I think they did the tough love thing. I will be watching and hope to see them in the yard or birdbath. Second nesting of 5 eggs due the end of this week.
Judy-Michigan
I also think Carol is right about them going to the “tough love’ routine. This is my first year for meal worms and it has been interesting to watch the fledglings. I have 4 out of the 5 that fledged coming to the feeder. Sometimes they are with papa bird as mom is incubating the new eggs. Sometimes only 1 or 2 show up without the parent. Like Carol and most of those that feed mealworms I only put around 50 or so in the dish twice a day, and I whistle something like the male bird when I go to the feeder. Mom bird generally comes out of the nestbox and flies to a tree where she watches. and sometimes she flies off and comes back with 1 or 2 of the other fledglings. It is really a crap-shoot as to whether they will appear right when you go out or if you will have to leave the mealworms in the feeder and go get a cup of coffee and wait. Like we said – they seem to ignore the instruction manual, rule book and every other “logical” things we know about these birds
David
Stafford, VAJudy, very interesting – since your post here and my response I have not seen my juveniles much the past couple days – this morning only mama and papa came to eat and I had to put the rest of the worms away (or HOSP will show up there). Either there is plenty of natural food or parents have discouraged them from the worm bowl – my lone baby still has about 5 or 6 days before fledging.
David, your group act pretty much like mine – even about not reading the rule books!
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