Fledging, feeding and Funny babies!

Luke and Leia are now twelve days old. This is the last picture we will be able to take of them inside the nestbox. If they are disturbed after this, they might attempt to fledge too early, and this would be disastrous! Bluebirds usually fledge between 17-20 days after hatching. Once they fledge, they do not return to the nest.

Luke and Leiah fledge on the 19th day after hatching. After all the waiting and monitoring, it so happens that we are away that day, and so we miss seeing the big event! We know it has happened, however, because Anakin and Padme's behavior changes. No longer are they bringing mealworms to the nest, but they are flying off several hundred yards to the top of a neighboring tree. We know Luke and Leia must be up there - how we wish we could see them! The day finally comes, however, when they gather enough courage to visit the feeding area with Mom and Dad.

Ok, so Luke isn't the brightest light in the harbor! But he is sooooo cute! We've attached a little feeding cup near the top of the shepherds hook where the Bluebird feeder is hung, so that the babies can spot the mealworms readily. Luke seems to think that this cup would make a dandy place to take a nap! Doesn't it feel funny with those mealworms wiggling underneath him?

Anakin patiently brings mealworms up from the feeder hanging below to feed to Luke, who is sitting directly on top of a stash of them!

Leia seems to get the idea a little better than Luke does. She at least finds the worms in the cup, and tries a few, instead of sitting on them! Go on to next photo page