Hi I am new here but could really use some advice!! Yesterday (day 14) late afternoon I was sure one of the babies left the nest as the parents were making
quite the rucus outside, couldn't see the baby at all but I quickly went and checked the nestbox and there were only three in there, I checked cause I
couldn't imagine it being a good flyer at day 14 and I wanted to find it if it wasn't in the nest anymore! I had done my final nestcheck on day 13 and
they were all fine and doing the you can't see me scrunch. I couldn't hear the baby calling or anything but the adults were clearly trying to coax the
other three from the box. After awhile things seemed to settle down a bit but the adults were staying around the nestbox so I assumed something happend to the
one. This morning I went to let the dogs out and found a baby bluebird in the garage!! It must have spent the night there as all the doors were closed! So I
went to put it back in the box and another one was peeking out, totally unfraid of me too! I pushed the one back in (Gilwood box) and held my hand in front of
the hole until they all calmed down, two of them were trying to get out. I left and watched and in a little bit one flew out, flew a bit and landed on the
ground, not a good flyer. I put it back in the box and put a cork in the hole while I was trying to get a hole reducer made up. I had a 1 1/8 inch reducer but
wasn't sure if that was small enough for the fledglings, they really seem tiny yet, so I added a bit of cardboard on the inside to make it 1 inch. By the
time I got out there with that, one was one the ground and only two were in the box. Because of the Gilwood box they still were able to get out the top space.
I put the one back in and put the reducer on. It is working and it cannot get back out. I have no clue where the other one is. The adults are again trying to
coax the babies out of the box but after awhile realized the babies weren't coming out so they did start to try to feed them but I am not sure they are
taking the food. Took a bit for the adults to even land on the box but the female is now going to the box with food. She can't get in of course but sticks
her head in but it usually comes back out with the food still in her mouth. The one that was peeking and trying to get out did give up and I don't see any
of the three peeking anymore. What if the other two don't go up to get the food the mom is bringing, is a one inch reducer right or should it be larger
than that? I am scared if I leave that reducer on the babies will die but I am afraid if they leave the box they will too!! What do I do???? Also by putting
the reducer on, it closed up the air space on the top of the Gilwood box, I am worried it may get too hot in there today (temps are supposed to get to 80
something). That one baby I think was in the garage all evening/night so didn't get fed then either and I am worried it won't get enough food this way.
I don't know if I should just leave them in there or take the reducer off and hope for the best. Another bad thing, my husband needs to mow the lawn
tonight. Ugh! We have to get it done as we have a party on Friday and it needs to be mowed. I don't know what to do!!!!
Donna
~ Central NY
Gin
