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Thanks Judy and Carol. It has been a fun, if not trying year. But we seem to have made it and have some ideas for our next season. I am going to try a new box also using a bigger floor and if the kids got the hint about the mealworm feeder, I will try to start the year with mealworms.
Let’s enjoy our “time off”. See you next year!
David
Stafford, VAIt has been fun this year. Lots of unexpected happenings every where.
But we also had a lot of new young blues take wing.
Until spring….
David
Stafford, VAFinally Gone
Checked at 8:30 this morning and he was still there. Went to get gas in the car and checked again when I returned about an hour later and he was gone. almost 2 1/2 after the first ones. This one was probably that late hatch and was not able to compete with the others for food. Just took longer to develop. (Or he was just enjoying the peace and quiet.)
I am removing this box and may put up a new on next year.
David
Stafford, VAThanks Carol. I just checked again (5:15 PM) and he is still there. I had not seen the parent birds this afternoon and thought it might be gone but when I slightly opened the door – there he was just lounging in the nest. Maybe Tomorrow.
David
Stafford, VAI had 3 nestings this year – 1 nestbox. First nesting – 4 eggs, 4 fledged. Second nesting – 5 eggs 5 hatched but only 4 fledged. (1 hatched late and was under the other 4 birds. Third nesting – 4 eggs, 3 have fledged – 1 still in the box waiting for cooler weather. 13 eggs, 12 fledged total.
Nice idea Judy. Does anyone report their data to Cornell University?
David
Stafford, VAThanks Carol and Judy. The pictures are the next to best thing about this “hobby”, the first being able to send 2 or 3 broods of Bluebirds into the world.
Carol – I this is the first year that I have seen them around the box like this. It may be due my neighbor losing a couple of trees that were the usual first landing spot for the fledglings. There are no trees or substantial bushes for 50 feet or so for the young ones to fly to. I believe they may have just fluttered down to the stove pipe and then flew to the shepherds hook where Mom and Dad were perched. That is where I saw the first group of 3 birds this morning.
btw – as of about 8:00 PM the last one is still in the box. Like yours – it will rest overnight alone and will probably go before I get up tomorrow.David
Stafford, VAI think I got this one as he just come out of the nest box.
New ones checking ou the surroundings
It’s been a very good year. (Hmmm – that sounds like a song that I heard some years ago)
David
Stafford, VAThis looks like one of the previous fledglings waiting for the last one to come out.
Here is one of the best shops today. Siblings getting their wings with their older siblings
David
Stafford, VACongratulations Carol. I agree on the size of the box. I am thinking about building a new on this winter with a 5 1/2″ base to see if that improves the survivability of a 5 egg clutch.
My 3rd group is fledging right now. Still have 1 of the 4 in the box. (Photos in new thread)
It has been a good year.
David
Stafford, VAHere we are at day 7. It looks like the one in the back right might be the one that hatched the day after the other 3. The 2 up front must be getting most of the food. Just an observation – I could be wrong.
David
Stafford, VAI agree with Judy – you do tell a great story. I is good to hear that mealtime is now the way it should be. You have had a great year for blues. We should all be so lucky. With any luck I will have 12 fledge this year out of 13 eggs.
Take it easy for the rest of the summer.David
Stafford, VAThanks Carol. I didn’t put up a mealworm feeder this year because of excessive travel so I do not have the “returning fleglings” problem. I do see them flying around the trees and in neighbors yards with the parent birds quite often. They fly into a wooded area across the street from our house. I imagine that is where the good supply of insects and grubs are.
When is your expected fledge date? Hope all goes well.
David
Stafford, VA
