Our baby bluebirds have left their nest!! During my time outside power-spraying the deck, I noticed a distinct lack of parental activity around the box. My suspicion that the babies had left was confirmed with a quick look inside the box. Because we're inundated with cicadas I didn't stick around the trees long enough to locate them. I suspect that the adults will make the fledglings' whereabouts known if we pay enough attention.
I am just so thrilled that our blues have successfully produced 4 new birds to take their place in the world. Hopefully our heavy downpours will abate long enough to give them a headstart in finding their wings and their way around.
I'll be removing the old nest in a couple of days. I have every hope that the pair will go through the process again and have another brood. Happy days!!
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I walked with Jean 3 miles today on "our path" that runs along Clear Creek. Jean sniffed many things of interest and I spied many birds and butterflies. The highlights? For Jean it was time spent in the creek (he loves to lie in the water) and sniffing out a woodchuck. For me it was seeing two male Indigo Buntings. I haven't seen since I snapped that photo over a month ago. While I was viewing the Buntings, I had a guest on my arm; a butterfly! It landed on my arm as we were walking and traveled with us for about ½ mile! It apparently found something it liked (it was a hot morning in the sun and I was perspiring). It was the most incredible feeling to have such a delicate creature on my arm for such a long time.
In checking the bluebirds today, I have determined that one has died because there are only 4 birds in the box. I suspected as much since returning home, but didn't want to be too hasty in that determination. I thought that there might be a chance that one was wedged under the others, as was the case with the Song Sparrow babies. While it is sad that one has succumbed, I think that the bird's death has not been caused by predation for I see no signs of intrusion into the nest. Therefore, I have every hope that the remaining 4 will become healthy fledglings. And when will that be? Well, the first one hatched on the 10th with the others closely following on the 11th. Bluebirds remain in the nest 15-20 days after hatching, so I estimate that they will be fledging around the 28th.
I'm happy to report that the song sparrows fledged last week. I haven't seen them since leaving the nest, but then again, I haven't been here to see them! Now that the nest is empty, we can transplant the grass to the back of the house and finish cleaning the deck. Hmmm...not sure if this is good news or not ;)
While I was in Marblehead, Paul noticed that all 5 bluebirds hatched. I checked the nest today and they are safe and sound and growing like weeds. I'll get a picture online when I can.
I've been out of town most of this month, so haven't had time to post anything. I was in Akron and Marblehead last week. This past weekend I was in St. Louis. Yesterday, Paul and I made a roundtrip journey to Columbus, OH for his grandmother's funeral. But Ben The Super Dog is coming over on Friday for a little over a week, so I should have more time to update this weblog.