Bluebirds Fledging

My husband took video on the day that our bluebird babies left the nestbox. This was our first experience with bluebirds and oh, what a joy it was! I love how these babies, who had never yet ventured outside of their box and were completely unsure, took the plunge and flew off to meet the unknown, exciting future.
Video by Matt Broscious
©Matthew A. Broscious
I took lots of photos. You can see them here:
picasaweb.google.com/11692478...

[@ritchiewilson9209]

Exciting time

[@arrowflier]

Thank you for sharing!! We are about 10 days away from our first baby bluebirds fledging. We have a camera on them and hope to catch similar video. The whole process of nest building, egg laying, daddy feeding momma while she's incubating the eggs, and both parents bringing worms and bugs to the babies and carrying away the "fecal sacs" has been amazing to watch.

[@Beadseller]

It truly is amazing and exciting! I sure hope you are able to capture the fledging too. We were thrilled to have done so. God bless and happy birding!

[@beulahpowell1478]

My favorite bird! So beautiful! Love them. We have two bird houses they use yo raise their chicks!

[@Bluebirdpaperandthread]

I have my first ever bluebird nest, and I think my babies are almost ready to fledge. It has been the most fascinating thing to watch, and my favorite thing about having to be at home. I could see the whole thing. I hope I can catch them fledging before I have to go back to work.

[@Sobhan385]

very nice Thanks

[@ruth-annecain4094]

We're sitting on our back porch watching Mom and Dad bluebird coaxing the babies out. Should be soon. Loved your video.

[@Beadseller]

Ruth-Anne Cain I sure hope you were able to watch the babies leave the nest!

[@kimberlydobelman3180]

Omg. My bluebirds I believe are ready to fly to coop. Mom & Dad have been frantically feeding them in & out of the nest all morning. Thank you so much for the video.

[@Beadseller]

Did they fly? Aren't they wonderful? Glad you enjoyed the video!!!

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Lovely video Janine! Thank you for sharing it with us!👍💖😎JP

[@jeannet7443]

Thanks for this video! We just set up a bluebird house around May 19, and the babies just hatched about 10 days ago. We don't have a camera, so we may not see them fledge, and the opening to the house is facing NE, so it's away from our window and we see the back of the house. It has been fun to watch since the male bluebird showed up the day after we put up the house, and then the next building began; finally it was ready and then we saw the first two eggs and then four. The babies are snuggled in the nest right now. We won't check on them again, but will watch for when they fledge and leave.

[@Beadseller]

Aren't the bluebirds wonderful! Sounds like you've really enjoyed them. I took a lot of photos as well as video. Here is a link to my photos! photos.app.goo.gl/RVk5DbMeAFjIOG5A2

[@ongawesgone]

Amazing footage. How can anyone watch that and not fall in love with bluebirds, and continue to allow house sparrows to nest/breed in their boxes, is beyond me. Thank you!

[@annereynolds66]

@@78fordtruck4 do you trap the the house sparrows when they get in the boxes ?

[@annereynolds66]

@@78fordtruck4 we put up two boxes and the sprarrows took one , that’s the reason we put two because we were told less chance of them bothering the bluebirds and they did leave them alone . I so wanted to remove them but was afraid they would go after the bluebirds if I did . Last time it happened I took some eggs out to at least lessen the population. We are ordering a trap now because I prefer to have them totally removed from our property

[@annereynolds66]

@@78fordtruck4 also , hopefully you monitor the bluebird boxes , I realize we can’t catch everything but I do check mine daily

[@foxeslady1]

Thanks so much for the video, we watched our blue birds build the nest, lay the eggs, feed the two babies and sometime early in the morning they were gone. I so wanted to watch them fledge, but we missed it....

[@Beadseller]

Awww, we were actually at church when ours fledged, but my husband set up the camera ahead of time just in case!

[@annereynolds66]

We missed the fledgling of ours also . Am afraid to put a camera in just in case of an attack , however I do monitor the boxes

[@ken-fan-hoj2394]

They are so beautiful to watch, I wish we had those in Sweden. Great vid btw :)

[@Beadseller]

Ken-fan-hoj! Thank you! I'll bet you have some lovely birds in Sweden that I've never seen.

[@birdbrain56]

Such a beautiful video. There are 4 babies in my nesting box that just hatched today. I love having these beauties around.

[@Beadseller]

So glad you enjoyed the video! Did you get to see your babies fledge?

[@birdbrain56]

***** Not yet. They will fledge in another week or so but I have watched them in the past. This is fifth year I've had nesting Bluebirds in my yard.

[@Beadseller]

birdbrain56 Hope you get to see it again this year!

[@1015SaturdayNight]

Oh how sweet!

[@forgetmefox5027]

amazing video!

[@charlotterichardson7322]

We have 5 eggs just laid in nest box. This is their 3rd clutch. Raising and feeding mealworms pretty much guarantees lots of bluebirds. And...we LOVE them! Thanks for this great video. Loved it!

[@Beadseller]

Glad you enjoyed it, Charlotte! You are blessed to be having a 3rd clutch!

[@charlotterichardson7322]

Babies just hatched I think yesterday! They are SO tiny! More mealworms to go! lol Wish we could see when they fledge! Did you just luck into seeing them fledge, Janine, or did you have a camera set somehow to catch them? Would love to see them come out!!

[@Beadseller]

Charlotte Richardson I kept track of the time when they were hatched and figured out how long before they might fledge. On Sunday morning, I just had a feeling that it might be the day. I asked my husband to set up a camera before we left for church just in case! Two had fledged while we were at church and the camera caught it! Then he changed angles and caught the others too. It was amazing.

[@vaidojoost1584]

🌞🕊

[@Beadseller]

It was such a joy to have the bluebirds here. Alas, they started a second set of babies and they were eaten by snakes. Now only wrens are trying to build. I miss the bluebirds sooooo much.

[@Beadseller]

Thank you! We have sure enjoyed them. And the video was a real bonus! I love watching our bluebirds (Ozzie and Harriet) over and over again. Not sure what to name the 4 babies!

[@596xhgi]

Im from Norway and im also setting out boxes to other spicies. Verry good help for the birds in the modern woods with less old trees.

[@macetheace48]

Thank you for your video. We have not been able to see this for two hatchings now because apparently our birds fledge overnight. It was good to see that the chicks aren't hoppers but take full wing. 👍

[@Beadseller]

So glad you enjoyed it! These birdies left while we were at church but thankfully hubby set up the camera first or we wouldn't have seen it either!

[@robertharlow861]

Great video!! Your husband was very lucky (or wise) to have had his camera set up just at the right time. Well done. Have had bluebirds in our yard most of the last 15 years at least. Have only seen one baby fledge and that was mostly luck. Hope you have had many more bluebirds since then.

[@Beadseller]

robert harlow Thanks, Robert! It was such a wonderful experience. We have had bluebirds a couple more times, but lately sparrows. We keep taking their nests out but then leave for travel and they have taken over. :-(

[@HelloEzraWhereAreYou]

if you put some sort of flappy strings or bits of tinsel that can flap about in wind, that will spook house sparrows away.

[@kittenkorleone2918]

How many days was it from hatching to fledging?? I paid close attention to my box to hear the first peeps and watched for the first fecal sac carried out so I can count days to fledging because I really don't want to miss their first flight. Last year, one chick fell prey to a common grackle within first 30 min out and another flew right into the side of my deck and fell dead right beside it. Last year I happened to get lucky and was outside when they fledged not knowing when exactly they hatched, I have no idea how many days is average. This time I want to be right there to shoo away any cats, dogs, grackles, jays, fox, neighborhood kids or lawn mowers or weed whackerLet me know if you can! Thanks in advance!

[@Beadseller]

Thank you. We are talking about a baffle. I would hate for snakes to get the next babies.

[@USSTOLEDOSSN769]

I've got a lot to learn about the proper placement of Bluebird boxes. Both boxes I had placed in late February have failed. The squirrels practically destroyed one of them. I did see a pair of Bluebirds but the squirrels must've scared them off. Oh well, I'll have to try again next year. Next time, I'll put up only one house in the middle of the field, 5 feet off the ground on a metal pole with a squirrel baffle. That won't be cheap, about $80 for the pole and baffle.

[@Beadseller]

I found this website very helpful. Many tips on bluebird houses and problems. Hope it helps you too! www.sialis.org/predatorid.htm

[@vickyjohnson9064]

what is your thought on meal worms freeze dried or alive?'

[@Beadseller]

Vicky Johnson I only tried freeze dried and no one ate them. Our bluebirds do eat the suet at times.

[@vickyjohnson9064]

Thank you for the quick reply. When I looked at those old dried up meal worms I thought I would not eat that why would they. I am glad I did not spend my $$ on the freeze dried brand. I was out taking pictures of my blue bird brew. They are about ready to leave. They brought the last years clutch over to feed the babies. I have 5-6 feeding the babies. I ended up having my morning coffee and took 157 shots.Thank God for digital cameras. Happy birding

[@madelinewyman5158]

i live in centerville ohio and i made a blue bird house and i haven’t seen any blue birds only Jays im so disappointed . i saw a nest and than something got in there and knocked the nest down what do i do i have a lot of trees in my back yard and birds come and go i would love to see a blue bird I never saw one in life

[@Beadseller]

I found this website really helpful for learning about bluebirds and how to attract them. Hope it helps! www.sialis.org/attracting.htm

[@user-qj6yo8kb3v]

What diameter of hole do I need for blue bird

[@Beadseller]

This is the website where we got our information about bluebird houses: www.sialis.org/nestboxproscons.htm

[@cy-uf8sm]

1&3/8" or 32mm , 2'' down from the top

[@agile1111]

Very nice video. I would also recommend you add some additional top cross ventilation for this box. Especially if the box receives direct sun and you get temperatures in the mid 90's and above. Painting the box a light color also helps to reduce heat in the box. See my channel for extensive heat tests. Also check out thew forums at bluebirdnutcafe. (google it)