Strawberry and BCCB Babies - Fledging

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:02 pm

Oh Sally how adorable they are. That is the first time that I have seen baby courdon blues. I have two pairs, but no babies. I want some!!!

I am so glad that you found the baby. I don't know how you went to be now knowing where it was. I would not have slept a wink!

I get on a hunt sometimes in my birdroom looking for one that I have maybe been concerned about or am watching closely and after about an hour there it is..... sitting somewhere watching me look.

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Post by **Sally** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:17 am

I may stay awake for a time, but I can't stay up all night anymore! I did think about a hiding place for the baby, just as I was going to bed, so I went out, turned on all the lights, and started looking around the base of the shelf posts. But I was waking up all the birds, and some of them started freaking, so I turned off the lights to wait till morning. I've got Strawberries sitting on eggs, one Star hatchling in a nest, a couple of RCCB hatchlings in a nest, a couple of Goldbreast hatchlings in a nest, and I didn't want to make them all start tossing.

I figured that they go thru the night without eating anyway, it is plenty warm in my birdroom now, so it would just sit tight for the night. And when I found it, it was at the base of a shelf post, only on the far side of the room.

These babies are just too cute! They still have tufts of tan fuzz sticking straight up from their heads, remind me of Kramer on Seinfeld!

Shy2 · Post by **Shy2** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:47 am

Sally your babies are so cute. I can't wait to see pics of the strawberry as babies.

Yesterday sitting in the back yard, by the bird feeder, it was flying day for the wild finches that nest in my neighbours garage. It is so fun to watch this family every year, spending the day with their babies flying around the yard.

I think this is the closest I will get to seeing baby birds. Thank you for sharing your pictures. I am really enjoying watching these babies grow.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:14 am

Thank you for sharing your photos....as always I really enjoy seeing them progress. I have learned a lot from *The University Of Sally*

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:24 am

Congrats on the fledlings im just happy they got through the nestling part at least now they can start trying to eat on there own soon. i remember in the beginning it was kinda scary if they would make it or not and now there getting ready to be own there own. Felix and oscar did a great job, wonderful fosters.

Post by **Sally** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:42 pm

Here are more photos of the BCCB fledglings, plus two photos of the first Strawberry fledgling. The 3 other Berries are hiding in the nest, and I don't think they'll fledge till tomorrow. Hope I'm not boring anyone with all these photos, I'm worse than a new Grandma!

This is the BCCB baby that escaped and spent the night hiding in my birdroom!

This is three of the BCCB babies. Isn't the one in front just a hoot!

This is all four BCCB babies--hard to get all four of them together, and sitting still!

This is the first Strawberry fledgling, with some of its BCCB nestmates.

And this is another photo of the Berry fledgling, flanked by BCCB nestmates. You can see that the Strawberry fledgling is very plain and smaller than the BCCBs, though they all hatched about the same time. Strawberries fledge a little later and wean later, too.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:52 pm

Awwww too adoreable - they look great!

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:23 pm

There growing up so fast, i can hear all my nestlings chirping in there nests now.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:37 pm

Sally we never get tired of photos!

The babies are adorable. I hope to have some photos in the next day or so of my shaftails that built their nest in the bottom of my silk tree. They came out last night but I think it was because I peered in and scared them. They went skating across the floor and I scooped them up and put them back.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:03 pm

So darn cute....Awwww!

Sally...what is that kind of plant they seem to like sitting on so much?

Post by **Sally** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:24 pm

FeatherHarp, that plant is just a plastic plant I get at the craft store, Hobby Lobby. I use it a lot in the cages, it is just $5.99 each, but I get them when they are on 50% off, so only 3 bucks. I just secure it in the corners with zip ties.

I checked on the babies today and found the three remaining Strawberries sitting in the doorway of the nestbox, trying to get up enough courage to take flight! They never did leave the box today, but they will be out tomorrow. I couldn't resist trying to get a photo of them peeking out, this is taken from above the nestbox, with their sibling on the perch offering encouragement.

Post by **Sally** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:21 am

And then there were eight! All of them have now fledged, the last three this morning. I doubt if I will ever get a photo of all eight together, but here are the four Strawberry babies.

These are the two youngest, I believe. They still don't have the confidence to get out in the open, so are trying to hide in the seed hopper. Plus, the tiniest still has a lot of 'head fuzz'.

These are the two oldest, as they look much more polished and confident than the other two.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:26 am

Wow they grew up fast. i remember when they were just hatchlings and now look at them.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:59 pm

oh wow Sally, you have the very coveted Strawberries. I wish I lived closer to you and could buy one from you. Are you planning on selling them?

Post by **Sally** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:26 pm

jamezyboo21 wrote:Wow they grew up fast. i remember when they were just hatchlings and now look at them.

You know, they do grow up so fast. For those of you that have babies now, or eggs, be sure and take the time to just sit and watch them--before you know it, they are grown up. When they fledge, they are little puffballs with stubby tails, and in just a matter of days, they lengthen and sleek out, grow their tails--it's just amazing to watch the transformation.