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QUESTION: I've been taking care of a baby bluebird for 5 weeks now. She was the only one in the nest after one or both parents were apparently killed by a hawk. She seems healthy, but doesn't fly yet. She hops around on the ground & we try tossing her in the air, but she'll just drift back down to the ground. Will she ever fly? It seems that all the bluebirds have left our area. What should we do?
ANSWER: There must be something wrong with it. Bluebirds fly just 19 days after hatching. Call birding organizations in your area (Audubon, Bluebird Association, Wildlife Dept., etc) to see if they have any ideas. The other birds in the family may have flown but that one was abandoned due to a problem.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I don't know how you can say "the other birds in the family" when she was the only one in the nest box & her eyes weren't even open yet when I found her.
In more than 1000 families I have never seen only one baby. There must have been others, and if that one was that small some predatory birds must have taken the others. If it is normal it should have been able to fly after 19 days. That is an instinct and does not have to be taught.
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Answers by Expert:
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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