Feathers and Fuzz

one woman's cure for the empty-nester blues

Nesting Challenges: Bluebird Wayward Child

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When watching nestlings fledge, it’s all about trajectory.  Gaining elevation upon takeoff generally means the nestling is mature and made it to a neighboring shrub or tree.  (Yay!)  When I see a nestling flutter to the ground upon takeoff, I share the parent-birds’ concern.  The ground is not a safe place for nestlings.  The parents will immediately coax a grounded nestling into elevated vegetation.

I don’t want to shock you, but I have been known to run outside to ensure a nestling doesn’t remain on the ground.  It’s a silly practice as I have yet to beat the parents to the rescue.

The Bluebird Wayward Child

In the featured video, a Bluebird Wayward Child (just-fledged from a nearby birdhouse) defiantly flapped-off his dad’s efforts to get him off the ground.  Dad tried coaxing him with food, pounding him on the head, and chest-bumping him onto a better path — to no avail.  Along the way, Wayward Child clumsily investigated the birdbath. (Horrors!  Songbirds don’t swim!)  He moved on — meeting a brilliant, red Cardinal and a big, fat Mourning Dove.  He was undaunted.

You will see the fledgling take flight at the end of the video clip — directly toward the swimming pool.  It’s amazing how fast an old human can move — down to the pool I went!  Wayward Child just looked up at me; curious and unafraid.  His lack of fear frightened me — birds are supposed to be afraid of humans!!  As I stood there deciding what to do next, Daddy Bluebird went into attack mode — diving at me without hesitation.  Momma Bluebird followed close behind.  Wayward Child just sat there (on the ground!) watching the excitement.

We stared at each other, the Wayward Child and I.  Neither of us had a clue what to do with the other.  Thankfully, I was relieved of guard duty soon thereafter.  Wayward Child took flight away from the pool.  My work was done.  The next time I saw him, weeks later, he was flying strong to the worm feeders with his family.  I love teamwork!

 

Nesting Challenges: Sibling Rivalry

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As in our human kingdom, sibling rivalry is quite apparent inside a birdhouse.  Primarily, rivalry is about food.  Nestlings jostle for position.  Getting closest to the door, and reaching highest with gaping mouth, seems to be the alpha pose.  I truly do not know what cues the parents use to determine whom to feed next, but they obviously have it figured out.  Rivalry, or not, everyone eats.

I remember having a furnace replaced.  I had a small computer screen connected to the bird camera’s recording device in the area where the technician was working.  The tech couldn’t help himself.  He was caught-up in the world of the Chickadee nestlings; remarking on how taken he was with the fact that the parents made sure to feed each and every one.

Occasionally, rivalry takes a different shape — who gets to look out the door and see what’s going on outside.  Every once in a while, pushing and shoving leads to an “oops moment” … an accidental fledge.  Such is the case with the Chickadee siblings in the video.  (FYI — the nestlings were old enough to fledge.  I expect all went well in the world outside.)