A baby bluebird on our deck. July26, 2009.
If you have been reading Betsy’s blog, you know how interested she has been in the bluebird family that has been nesting in our back yard. We’ve been watching the second brood and Betsy felt that it was close to the time for the babies to fledge.
In the late morning yesterday Betsy noticed the baby bluebird in the above picture on the deck. He most have flown to the deck from the nest, but he wasn’t very good at flying just then. He mostly ran around the deck before falling off the edge. Fortunately he wasn’t hurt.
Were there any birds left in the nest? A quick check of the nest showed that there were still babies in there, but that they were thinking about venturing into the big world.
Ready to explore the world. July 26, 2009.
Betsy was able to see the maiden flight of one of the babies. They didn’t get very far on that first flight, but at least they were out in the world. Daddy and Mommy Bluebird (and the juveniles from the first brood) kept a close watch on the babies, encouraged them in their efforts to fly, and in general offered moral support.
Daddy Bluebird keeping watch. July 26, 2009.
But things got very interesting when squirrels got too close to a baby. Then all the bluebirds started chattering and raising a ruckus. If the squirrel didn’t leave quickly enough, the bluebirds started dive-bombing it. I didn’t know squirrels could move so fast once that started. I only wish we could have captured a picture of that.
Senior Moments 
July 27, 2009 at 5:22 am |
That’s so fascinating! They really do act like a very loving family, don’t they? It’s wonderful!
July 27, 2009 at 6:31 am |
Don’t you wish humans were that concerned for each other? You got some nice pictures….I’ve always loved blue birds.
July 27, 2009 at 6:47 am |
So pretty
July 27, 2009 at 8:18 am |
What a great show that must have all been
Lucky you- and great capture of pictures! 🙂
July 27, 2009 at 9:01 am |
It’s great to be able to watch the birds like that. So much fun watching from the building of the nest to the birds growing up. It’s great entertainment.
July 27, 2009 at 9:03 am |
Nature excitement—what fun. Great pics. Tweet tweet–MB
July 27, 2009 at 9:06 am |
I almost feel sorry for the squirrel. ALMOST.
July 27, 2009 at 11:03 am |
George: You wouldn’t even know they were Bluebirds when they first come out.
July 27, 2009 at 11:13 am |
George, those are some great shots! I did not know that the teenagers helped with the babies of the second brood!
And, I know just how fast a squirrel can run when there is a whippet on its tail (often, not fast enough)!
July 27, 2009 at 12:26 pm |
Great pictures you took George and thank you so much! Love the excitement you’ve stirred and I wasn’t even there! I also love showing these pictures to my visiting grandgirl, “See, my friends have bluebirds in their backyard, and these are some of the pictures.” She loved it!
July 27, 2009 at 3:41 pm |
Parents being parents..don’t you just love it..when a little intruder gets caught up in mom and dad raising jr? Our Daddy blue bird, last year, was quite the threat to ANYTHING that came into the yard…including our dog..hard to do your business in your own yard when the blue birds keep diving at you!! lol Great post. Congrats on being bb godparents!!
July 27, 2009 at 3:57 pm |
They are so cute at this stage 🙂 I’d be sitting there all day taking photos.
July 27, 2009 at 7:40 pm |
I would have loved to see the squirrels run for a Bluebird.
Blessings,Ruth
July 27, 2009 at 10:51 pm |
First look at a blue bird fledge for me George..I am so happy that you and Betsy got to see them…..Michelle
July 29, 2009 at 7:39 am |
What a lovely little baby! And gorgeous colors on the dad! We don’t have that bird in Norway. So exciting it must be, to have them in your backyard!
July 29, 2009 at 11:52 pm |
I came from Betsy’s blog and seeing her birds, thinking I would see flowers here. But, I’ve enjoyed your birds too. 🙂 I’ll come back to see flowers another day.
July 30, 2009 at 4:27 pm |
Wow! I’ve never seen the babies before. I would have never guessed those babies would turn out blue. We had bluebirds in Missouri–lots of them, but I never saw the babies. Cool post!