A company-record 89 young bluebirds left their nests at Flint Hills Resources this summer. Prior to this year, Flint Hills averaged about 50 fledglings per year over the last 10 years. Volunteers and staff members at Flint Hills carefully monitor the 20 artificial nesting structures located on a prairie ecosystem near the facility and report annual data to the Minnesota Bluebird Recovery Program.
“All 89 of the bluebirds that hatched at Flint Hills this summer ended up leaving their nests, and that’s good for their population, said Joel Mielke, process engineer and Pine Bend Bluffs volunteer. “Our 500 acres of restored native habitat on the Mississippi River have proven to be excellent sites for bluebirds.”
Bluebirds typically fledge anywhere from 16 to 21 days after hatching. Fledgling – the first flight away from the nest box – is an important step toward becoming an adult.
