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Carol, it has been 10 days since they fledged here. I don’t know how many are left I only saw one today, we had a terrific storm last night, it poured down rain, wind blowing so I worried how they were going to make it. Today I only saw one with the parents but both are taking food up into the oaks, so I am hoping all 6 are OK.
It has been blistering hot here too with high humidity, which broke today. I hope your weather improves too. I thought maybe this pair was going to rebuild another nest but so far that has not happened. I am not giving up hope, and will keep my eye on the proceedings.
Connie (PA)Hi Carol, I knew you were answering me about the mealworms. I thought on the site they looked the same as the mealworms I was getting but then I thought well maybe there is some difference in the worms, not meaning I thought they were rainbow in color I didn’t think that, just maybe they were larger or had a slightly different coloring. Thanks for getting back to me about them and supplying the information.
Connie (PA)I am truly sorry Mspatt to read your news about your bad experience. What a heart breaking thing to happen. I am not sure they fledged too soon, 17 to 22 days is what I have read, and I know from previous experience one parent can finish the job, but with all gone they just might start a new nest. Maybe the HOSP forced them into the water as they flew out. Others probably know more about this than I do, but can you get rid of the HOSP just in case they do decide to start another family.
Connie (PA)I would have to agree that was a great save. We have snakes around here but so far I have not seen any near the BB house. I hope that never happens but one never knows. I will be keeping an eye on the posts hoping to see you report that you have seen the babies fledge.
Connie (PA)Lisa, I am hoping you get to see them fledge too. It is quite a process and is done little by little with lots of coaxing but to see them take wing for the first time is such a wonderful experience.
Let us know how it works out.
Connie (PA)Thanks David, I have seen the pair investigating the same box, he was in it for a while then she stayed hanging on the outside and looked in. I saw her do the same today, so we shall see. I hope I have good news to report. The great news is this is the first year out of 3 that both Mama and Papa are here for the whole process.
Connie (PA)Tammy, that is a guess. I just could not think of anything else that the larva might be. So glad the little ones are out before something bad happened.
Connie (PA)Cari I don’t think you will have any problem using up those 5,000 Rainbow Mealworms with that many Blues around. My 6 fledged, 5 on Sat. and one on Sunday. I know the adults are still around, they come when I whistle. I have not seen any of the babies but I did hear one chirping for food today. I have no idea how long it will be before they come out of the trees, but I hope I am here to see it. I am also hoping they will build another nest and have another family this summer.
I have some dried mealworms here that I bought when I first had a pair of bluebirds take up residence here, and this pair does eat them from time to time. I guess it depends on how hungry they and the babies are.
Connie (PA)Hi Tammy:
By the time I read your post I had already ordered the mealworms. I should get them tomorrow, hopefully. Next time if I am successful in getting BB’s to take up residence here I will give the rainbow mealworms a try. I did see them advertised, but was not sure they were the same as the regular mealworms.
Thanks for the heads up.
Connie (PA)Carol, it was pretty hot and humid (not as severe as you have) here too for the whole week, up until today, now the almost constant wind from the North is actually a little chilly, not that I am complaining. I worried about my little ones too but was afraid to put anything on the box that might scare Mama and Papa away. They are about to fledge, Mama and Papa called to them all day long, but none was brave enough to take wing. Maybe it was for the best with the gusty wind. I have a feeling they will start leaving tomorrow. I hope I get to see at least one leave the nest. In the meantime when they are all gone from the nest I will clean the box and put a heat shield on just in case they start another family, since we can have a lot of hot/humid weather yet this summer
I am glad yours have hatched, if that helps them survive in the heat, and Fourth of July babies is even more special.
Good going Carol.
Connie (PA)What a spectacular picture David. They are such a majestic bird, we have them here also, the last ones we spotted were eating road kill on our back county road. Hope you and everyone else had a wonderful and safe Fourth of July.
Connie (PA)Thanks Mspatt, we have no aquarium stores close by unfortunately, not even a pet store unless I travel 40 or more miles. I mail ordered my last ones and they are running out and I really don’t want that to happen, since I am hoping they will bring their off spring back to feed once they fledge. That would be a real treat.
Connie (PA)Carol,today I took the time to clean out the container, smells a whole lot better. I threw out all the dead ones I could find. Took me a long time, but it keeps Mama, Papa and babies happy and me too.
I will keep that in mind about separating them into more than one container next time and I will read the article on Sialis.org to learn more. Thanks. I washed the container and put new bran in, but since I fed them a few days ago I passed on that this time.
Connie (PA)mspatt, I think it is good that Mama is showing up at least in the morning, why not the rest of the day is beyond my knowledge of what a Bluebird would do. I can tell you in the last 3 years I have had Mama show up more than Papa to feed until Mama disappeared then he took over full time, but there is no set rule, as I am learning. I can see how it would be hard for you to miss Mama showing up with the box so close by. I agree it is stressful but we all love seeing them, and doing the best we can to keep them in our lives for a long time to come.
Maybe with the cooler weather coming Mama will show up more. We are due for a cool down this weekend, it can’t come too soon, and my little ones should be fledged or fledging by then.
Connie (PA)
