There are now a few more bluebirds gracing our neighborhood than before. Our resident pair managed to raise a family despite the sweltering days of late July and early August and the young ones have fledged.
Unlike previous bluebird families that used our bluebird box, this family stayed in the yard for several days after the chicks fledged, taking advantage of the free meal worms I put in their feeder bowl on the fence. Usually, the young ones leave the nest and the adults move them quickly away from our yard.
This time, they stayed close. I’m thinking that they may have lost their previous chicks in a hostile situation (to crows, jays or who knows what) and for this reason, they stayed closer to home this time.
Throughout the rearing process, there was a Nanny Bluebird on duty – an extra hen which helped feed the young ones and tend to the nest cleaning chores. We think she may have either been an early chick from this pair, fledged in April, or she may have been a hen who lost her mate earlier and decided to go the life of a spinster.
Regardless, we are excited that there will now be a few more bluebirds in the community. We hope to see them again next spring come nesting season.