Birding/baby bluebirds

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 4/30/2008


Question
When we came home last night the male and female bluebirds were hovering over one of the babies that was on the ground. It is trying to fly but only hopping. Did it leave the nest too soon? What are the chances of survival? If we had placed it back in the nesting box I guess it would have jumped out again.

Answer
This may be a tough answer, but it is the real situation. Leave it alone and the parents will feed it and hopefully get it going. Some young are slower than others. The survival rate of the young is low and the predators get the weaker and less smart. It is nature's way of keeping the species strong. Bluebirds can have 3 families a year, up to 15 or more young. If they all survived we would be up to our hips in Bluebirds. If you don't already have my free 20 page Bluebird book please send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net.

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Bluebird Bob Walshaw

Expertise

I can answer almost any question on Eastern Bluebirds and small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, etc. Also general questions on other songbirds. No pet bird questions please.

Experience

I have had a 100+ nestbox trail for more than 20 years, I do a lot of writing, public speaking and educational work in this field. My hands-on Bluebird talks include more than 1000 people each year.

Organizations
Oklahoma Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society, National Audubon Society, Oklahoma Audubon Society, Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance

Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Oklahoma Today, Fur-Fish-Game, Birds & Blooms, Nature Society News,Back Woodsman Magazine, Tulsa World, Broken Arrow ledger, Teaching Tolerance magazine,Trappers World, OK Hole Story, Birders World

Education/Credentials
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, Graduate of the Home Study Course in Bird Biology from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Oklahoma Master Naturalist. I am also a pofessional speaker and writer.

Awards and Honors
Chosen as a public speaker for the North American Bluebird Society, Bluebird trail accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, Chosen as a panel speaker at the 2006 NABS Convention.

Past/Present Clients
Many

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