Please forgive my anthropomorphizing, but this was exciting. This happened
Saturday morning. It being Saturday, I didn't have to get to the exercise
session so I was lazing on the sofa, reading the morning Richmond paper.
First, a little background. My bluebird nesting box is installed facing my
patio on the ground floor of the apartment building. When I read the
morning paper, I can see through the window, directly into the entrance
hole of the bluebird house. I have been watching, on and off, for more
than two weeks as both bluebird parents have been feeding the 3 babies
inside. Saturday morning there was something different. I could see an
occasional face peering out of the entrance. This had never happened
before. The little ones were always out of sight. It was around 7:10 when
I saw the papa bluebird show up at the entrance. He did not bring food.
He said, "Everybody out! Today's the day! No more bugs to eat until you
are outside!". Then he left. I could not hear it (no hearing aids on,
yet, and being inside), but the parents were calling encouragement from the
branches of the nearby oak tree. The peering out intensified so I put the
paper aside, enjoyed my coffee, and watched. A head would look out of the
hole, then retreat. Disappear. Then nothing for a while. Then repeat.
Finally, at about 7:30, the first baby got up the nerve to try it. It
burst out of the hole and flew to the lowest branches of the nearby oak
tree. Less than a minute later, a second baby emerged. This one sat on
the wire guard on the front of the box. After about a minute, it became
brave enough to try flight. Nothing erratic about the first flights of
these babes. The third baby needed more coaxing before leaving. The papa
bird made two more visits to the box, about 5 minutes apart, sticking his
head inside and telling junior all will be OK. Finally, just before 8:00,
the last baby left. The babies do not return to the nest, once they have
left. Try telling that to your grandchildren! The parents continue to
feed the young for several days until the youngsters have learned to hunt
bugs on their own. In more than 10 years of monitoring bluebird trails,
this is the first time I have witnessed, firsthand, the fledging process.
I'm passing out cigars.
--
Tom Teeples
132 Lancaster Dr. Apt 105
Irvington, VA 22480
804-438-4243
So far, this is the oldest I have ever been.
