Adult bluebirds always stay busy trying to keep nestlings fed. You can tell the nestlings are nearing the fledging point when the adult bluebirds feed them from outside the nest box in order to entice them to peer out of the entrance hole at the world. The importance of feeding meal worms during this period cannot be overemphasized. If possible, place a mealworm feeder in the vicinity of the nest box and keep it well stocked throughout the day.
The YouTube movie clip provided below shows the adult bluebirds shuttling between the mealworm feeder and the nest box to keep the nestlings fed.
It is a good idea to provide plenty of mealworms in a convenient location to help bluebirds with the task of feeding nestlings. You will also get to see the juvenile bluebirds from earlier clutches visit the feeder along with the adult bluebirds.
Adult bluebird loading up on mealworks to feed nestlings – 07/26/2009
True to form the bluebirds have selected the modified Gilbertson nest box for their third nesting cycle of 2009. The first two nestings were in the nestcam box. When we observed the bluebirds hauling pine straw to the Gilbertson, we put a small pile of pine straw near the nest box to make it easier for them.
Hard at work building the third nest of the season!
06/29/2009
You can observe the bluebird activity from the yardcam by clicking on the link below.
The five new bluebirds from the first clutch and the parents gather around every evening for a mealworm feast. The female parent continues to brood the five eggs in the nestcam box.
The fifth blue egg of the second nesting cycle appeared in the nestcam box this morning. Brooding starts when all the eggs have been laid so that all will hatch on the same day, 12-14 days later. The nestlings fledge 18 to 21 days after hatching.
Five blue eggs!
Brooding in process
We are looking forward to watching the second nesting cycle produce five more bluebirds. That will be a total of ten new bluebirds from the nestcam box in 2009.
Posted by helpforbluebirds 
Posted by helpforbluebirds 
Posted by helpforbluebirds 
