Western Bluebirds — Fledged May 15

Along with the dramatic Western Tanagers in the yard this week, another drama has been playing out as four Western Bluebirds left the nesting box on May 15. There were five eggs on April 15. So the process of incubation to fledging the box took about one month.

Of the four that flew out, two were considerably smaller. And one was particularly small and not fully developed. The two smaller siblings hung around the yard and survived three hawk visits and getting trapped on our back patio. So they were lucky survivors. The two larger and more developed birds flew off to another yard nearby and have been dutifully fed by the adult parents.

It is now almost a week later and the small guys appear to be making it and are now today for the first time flying about the yard freely. But they are still mostly sleeping, well-hidden, in the trees.

Enjoy the photos. Really touching to observe them safely from inside the house and get these great photos. 

Click on photos to enlarge.