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Susan, they will probably be back – the parents always take them off somewhere for 10-14 days and then they will bring them back – yours should be returning soon according to your previous posts. (My new babies better return after they fledge, as I just got a new shipment of 10,000 worms – but the previous juveniles are still around so I know the worms will disappear)
Thanks Susan & Nicole – good luck to everyone with this last (should be) group of babies! My parents have already began feeding their babies mealworms – I thought it was a little early for this but I watched the “worm train” yesterday – back & forth from worm bowl to nestbow – fun!
Bummer Cher – it’s bad enough when you know what got the eggs (like mine by house wren last month), but to not know for sure is really frustrating. Sounds like you have it all covered, though. I have greased my pole right underneath the box when I had ant problems – took care of them for sure. Right now it is the heat I’m worried about, but mama is hanging there on these almost 100 degree days!
Susan, I don’t believe you never mentioned how many actually fledged. Rule of thumb is “15 per bird per day” as stated in http://www.sialis.org website in regard to mealworms. I like to feed 2x a day, too, so 50 x 2 for 5 babies plus mama would be about right. It is plenty, so I wouldn’t go any more – don’t count them every time, just guess & you will soon get the hang of how many to put out. They are supposed to just be a supplement to their main diet & to help parents out like you did. But they are loaded with protein & good for them if you don’t overfeed them. I am noticing that my parents are starting to wean (chase them away) their previous fledglings from the worm bowl, as they should have 4 new eggs hatch in about a week, therefore, they are protecting the food source.
Wow, Susan – that is fantastic – you & mama Blue did it!!! Rich is right about them sometimes disappearing a few days, however my parent blues take the babies close enough to here that they continue to bring them mealworms every day, just to a location different than usual. I’m sure they are all different – but mine want those mealworms every day to feed those that have fledged. This year they brought the babies to a neighbor’s yard because I could track them coming & going, but I didn’t see the babies until about 2 weeks later when parents brought them back to the nesting area where the “free food” is. I do not overfeed those worms, just think about giving a child a treat of candy, just a little bit. Congrats!!
Susan, if you can help mama get through fledging, you are half way there. They do not eat on their own for 10 days to 2 weeks, meaning she has to take them out & teach them how to find bugs, watch for predators, etc. You really should continue to help her out by feeding worms for some time, maybe a month or so. Then if you want to stop, that is your call but by then they should be able to find food on their own. I would try to keep feeding worms until fall at least but that is your decision to make. It is really fun to watch parent(s) bring them back to the feeder after fledging (usually 10 days to 2 weeks) and watch them as they learn to eat out of the feeder. If you wanted to try this you need to order worms in bulk on line. I usually buy 10,000 at a time but have bought 5,000 worms for around $31 including shipping. Just keep eye on the HOSP – the spooker should do the trick but nothing is foolproof. Come on fledge day!
Thanks for the reply, David. I sure hope you are right, but a week or more of this heat with eggs being incubated will be brutal. I researched the http://www.sialis.org website & found great information on heat and one idea really appeals to me for consideration next year. It is a heat shield made with window shades you can readily purchase. It is a vinyl type material which is like actual screen wire, only made of heavy vinyl with same type of openings. I actually have this on my front picture window and it does cut down the sun’s rays & heat a lot. The only problem is that it probably wouldn’t be very substantial in the sun over time. Time will tell, but I have this on my bucket list for this winter. For now my box is heavy cedar wood, has good top ventilation and right now has Styrofoam insulation on the top, south & west sides, with good dead-air space. Don’t know what more I can do other than crossing my fingers, toes & eyes!!
Just thought of another question – does having a wren guard on do more harm than good when it is this hot? In other words, since it blocks the hole’s air somewhat, would it be better to risk house wren or the heat? Which is the worse enemy, as they both basically are mother nature at work. I know there has been a wren around since it destroyed my last nest about 2 weeks ago, but I really have not seen it lately. My box does have good ventilation at the top, but geeze …….
Thanks, Nicole – my update is that the pair did build a 3rd nest and she is incubating 4 eggs right now. Keeping my toes & fingers crossed that the wren is gone – I have not heard it lately.
Yes, Susan, I believe you need to gradually move it farther away now that she has found them, maybe 6-8′ at a time in the direction you want it to be finally (of course up off the ground). You cannot monitor 24/7 and they will draw predators I’m afraid & being that close to the nestbox could be dangerous. That way she will know for later on and next season where to find them. My worm feeder is at least 60′ from current box, over 100′ away from another one and probably 200′ away from two others. They make it back & forth between the feeder and box to feed in a heartbeat! I know a lot of people do not have that much room, but 3 feet would be too close to leave it. That is my opinion and probably others here, but the main thing is that she found them, loves them & is taking care of those babies! Hurrah!
