Grrrr……something attacked bluebird nest

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  • #7654
    blue diamonds
    Participant

      Well……I checked the nest on Saturday afternoon all was well, 4 eggs (5 more days of incubating). Sunday check, only 2 eggs and no sign of mama blue. Monday check, eggs not rolled. Today with a spoon checked the remaining eggs….they both had cracks/damage. Mama has not been seen. This is a slot box with a stovepipe baffle. Looks like it was not a wren attack. Whatever it was didn’t come back over the next two days for the remaining eggs. I’m wondering if maybe it was a hawk. Did he eat mama blue? Papa blue was seen on the wires Sunday and Monday, but not this morning.

      Is it too late to get another nesting? I left the nest in the box, but took the cracked eggs out.

      Judy-Michigan

      #7655
      Carol – Mid-Mo.
      Participant

        Judy, so sorry about this. We try so hard but sometimes there is nothing we can do and nature takes its course. If it wasn’t a wren, maybe HOSP or do you not have those around? It’s especially bad when a mama bird goes missing. I would rule out snake or coon, as they would eat the eggs I believe. Would think it is a little late for another nesting, but I’m not familiar with your area/weather.

        #7656
        blue diamonds
        Participant

          Thanks Carol…..I feel the same, we can only do our best. As far as it being a HOSP, I had a sparrow spooker up and they had never bothered a box with the spooker up in the past. I’ve not seen any hanging around the box. Whatever it was left 2eggs and didn’t return in 2 days to get them. Guess it will remain a mystery.

          Overall It’s been a good season, this is the first time I have had second nestings.

          Judy-Michigan

          #7657
          Sassy
          Participant

            So sorry Judy, I know how heartbreaking it can be to loose a Mama Blue. It happened to me a few years ago. I know it was a raccoon by the paw prints on the white fence, some of the eggs were gone and then Mama disappeared. I think she was injured by the coon.
            Connie (PA)

            #7660
            blue diamonds
            Participant

              Thanks Connie, I was wondering if it had been a coon. Has anyone heard of a raccoon being able to climb the stovepipe baffle? Or maybe a red squirrel?

              Good news is that I have 3 bluebird babies going to fledge soon from my backyard box. Today is Day 14 they are starting to get some blue in their feathers.

              Judy-Michigan

              #7663
              dogsandbirds
              Moderator

                I think the nest would have been messy if this was a raccoon. Does the baffle wobble?

                Does the spooker brush the top of the box?

                I’m not betting on a hawk but stranger things have happened.

                Different things can jump to the top of a box and bypass any baffle if there are shrubs or trees close enough. How about starlings? Have you seen any of those?

                Gin
                Atlanta, GA

                #7665
                blue diamonds
                Participant

                  Gin…..Yup, baffle wobbles and the spooker streamers touch the roof. We have a few starlings in our area, but I have never seen them around the bluebird boxes. Nothing close enough to jump onto the box from. Thank you for trying to help me figure out what happened. I’m wondering if it could have been a weasel. Something either flew in or got around the baffle.

                  Judy-Michigan

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