If you’ve spotted a bluebird nest box in your yard or neighborhood, you may be wondering when exactly the baby birds take their first flight. Bluebirds typically fledge in the morning hours, usually between 6-10 AM.
Keep reading to learn exactly why bluebirds leave the nest during this time frame and what you can expect to see.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Bluebird fledglings usually make their first flight attempts in the early morning hours between 6-10 AM.
Why Do Bluebirds Fledge in the Morning?
When deciding on the optimal time to leave the nest, bluebirds have to balance several factors. The morning provides key advantages that boost the odds of a successful first flight for bluebird fledglings.
Lower Risk of Predators
The early bird gets the worm, and avoids the hawk! Predators like snakes, squirrels, and hawks are most active during midday when temperatures peak. Fledging in the cooler morning hours reduces risky encounters with creatures looking for an easy snack.
In addition, morning light and shadows make it easier for adult bluebirds to spot danger from afar. Their sharp eyesight alerts them to lurking predators so they can lead young away from harm.
Thermal Air Currents Provide Lift
As the sun warms the land, rising thermal air currents give an extra boost to fledglings’ first flights. These bubbles of lighter, warmer air help keep birds aloft instead of quickly dropping to the ground.
By mid-morning, ample thermal lift is available from the ground’s warmth. Yet temperatures are still mild enough to prevent overheating, which could lead to exhaustion during those critical moments leaving the next.
Adult Supervision is Key
Even with helpful air currents, branching out from the nest is daunting for vulnerable, naive juveniles. Sticking close to their watchful parents offers the best chance of surviving initial awkward flapping.
Adult bluebirds are most alert and active in the morning after a full night’s sleep. As the day progresses they tire out from hunting insects, keeping guard, and more. Their rapid response to guide babies is essential, making dawn the optimal period.
In rare cases where fledging is delayed until late morning or afternoon, the tiredness of adults likely played a role. Their diminished capacity to assist probably ushered the young out as a last resort despite the drawbacks of midday.
When evaluating the best moment to embark on that heart-stopping hop into the air, the scales tip towards sunrise. Lower risks, better lift, and fresh adults converge to give bluebirds a fluttering 🦋 nearly 70% success rate in their morning adventures from the nest.
What to Expect When Bluebird Babies Fledge
Fledging Age
Bluebird nestlings typically fledge (leave the nest) when they are 16-21 days old. This fledging age may vary slightly based on factors like the number of babies in the nest and food availability. Most bluebird babies will make their first flight attempt around day 17 or 18 as they become restless in the confining space of the nest box.
First Flight Attempts
A bluebird chick’s first flights are awkward and short, often involving an ungraceful landing on the ground nearby. The parents continue to feed and watch over their fledglings at this stage. Within a couple days, the young birds gain more flying skill through practice flights across the yard.
Their flight paths become more controlled and coordinated at this point.
It is normal to find fledgling bluebirds hopping along the ground or taking cover in bushes and trees at this young age. Though the sight may appear worrying, the parents are likely close by continuing their diligent care and supervision. You can support the fledging process by ensuring hazards like pets, people, and vehicles are avoided around active bluebird nests during this transition stage.
Continued Parental Care
For the first two weeks after leaving the nest, fledgling bluebirds still depend on their parents to bring them frequent meals and teach them to find natural food sources. The young birds may continue begging and chirping loudly as their flight skills, independence, and self-feeding ability develops more fully.
Around 4 weeks after fledging, the young are generally independent enough to disperse from their parents’ territory and care for themselves. However, some juveniles may still associate with their parents for protection, warmth, and occasional feedings as they adjust to life on their own over the following weeks.
With proper nourishment and protection, most fledglings will survive to the next breeding season beginning in spring.
How to Support Fledgling Bluebirds
Provide Open Areas for Practice Flights
Newly fledged bluebirds are just learning how to fly. They need open areas near their nest box where they can practice short flights and landings. Keep your yard mowed or allow a grassy area to grow a bit longer. Avoid planting shrubs or trees too close to the nest box.
An open lawn area about 30 feet around the nest box is ideal. This gives the awkward youngsters room to flutter their wings without crashing into objects right away.
You can also set up special areas to make it easier for the fledglings. Place some low branches, bushes, fences or otherlanding spots around the yard. Set up a landing pad using a wooden platform or board on the ground or supported just a few inches high.
The fledglings will use these areas to rest in between practice flights.
Keep Cats Indoors
Outdoor cats are a major predator of young bluebirds just leaving the nest. It’s best to keep pet cats indoors or supervise them when outside. You can also try deterrents like fastening bells around the cat’s collar to give the birds warning.
Stray and feral cats can be a problem too. It’s worth the effort to trap and remove them from areas around bluebird nests during spring and summer breeding months. Resolve not to feed stray cats near your nest boxes, as food will attract and sustain the population.
Avoid Trimming Trees/Bushes Near Nest Box
Fledgling bluebirds need cover nearby when starting to fly. Don’t trim bushes, trees or branches too close to an active bluebird nest box. Leave some leafy cover above or around the box so the young birds have places to seek shelter.
A young bluebird’s first flights are usually clumsy affairs. Having some branches or leaves overhead provides protection if they lose altitude quickly. Fledglings will cling to the vegetation while they regain strength before trying to fly again.
Sheltered spots also help hide them from predators like hawks and cats.
When to Be Concerned About Fledglings
Grounded Over 24 Hours
If a fledgling is on the ground and unable to fly for over 24 hours, it is important to monitor it carefully. Young birds often need a day or two to build strength and coordination before they can properly take flight.
However, being grounded for more than a day may indicate there is something wrong, like an injury, illness, or predator attack.
Visible Injuries or Illness
Signs like visible wounds, a drooping wing or a leg that the bird can’t put weight on, disheveled feathers, and lethargy or immobility may indicate injury or illness. Discharge from the eyes or nostrils can signal a respiratory infection.
These are red flags that the fledgling urgently needs help from a wildlife rehabilitator.
Signs of Predator Attack
Predators like cats, birds of prey, snakes, and raccoons may seriously injure or kill baby bluebirds. If the fledgling has puncture wounds, blood, matted feathers around the neck or back indicating grabbed from behind, or is missing body parts, a predator likely attacked it.
Seek immediate professional care.
Exposure to Bad Weather
Young fledglings cannot yet fully thermoregulate their body temperatures. Getting chilled by rain, severe cold, or heat can be dangerous or even fatal. A fledgling puffed up without moving or with eyes closed during bad weather urgently needs warmth and hydration.
Place it carefully in a ventilated box on a heating pad on low until wildlife rehab is available.
Keeping an eye on recently-fledged birds for any concerning issues the first couple days is wise. If in doubt about their condition, contact wildlife rehabilitators in your state for guidance, like www.nwrawildlife.org. Developing issues can often be successfully treated with prompt care.
Conclusion
Witnessing the fledging process of baby bluebirds leaving the nest is an amazing experience. Understanding their natural history helps you support them during this vulnerable life stage as they take their first flights out into the big world.
