Return of the Fledglings!

This morning we were treated to the delightful sight of five of this spring's bluebird fledglings visiting our bird bath and tray feeder. Some of their juvenile spots were still visible, and Barry managed to grab his camera and quickly capture a couple of them in this photo. We hadn't seen them since they fledged, and were thrilled to see them return to check out the yard in which we are sure they were born in one of our two bluebird nestboxes. We've typically experienced the return of the juveniles in the fall (no doubt after a summer of vacation adventures, searching out bugs far from home), and this year was no exception. The funniest thing is that a few of them were intently checking out the tray feeder in the photo. In the springtime, Barry put mealworms in this feeder to help Mama and Daddy Bluebird supplement the food they hunted for the nestlings and fledglings. Some of the fledglings had once come to that very feeder to be fed, and they apparently remembered its bounty! Unfortunately, it held no such riches today; but we are richer for having seen our precious bluebirds come home.