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I had babies just about to take flight for the first time in 3 years in my neighborhood. Not to be. So sad and bitter to report that I checked the box today…as I approached a sparrow was coming out of the box. When I opened the box I was horrified to find one baby killed and two others barely alive. They didn’t look obviously attacked so not sure what happened. They were still warm but couldn’t move. Very slow blink once in a while. I comforted the two for a bit and sadly placed them back. I am defeated. One of the brood made it out I think and the mom was around. Hopefully taking care of the survivor. I cannot hate sparrows enough. I had not even seen one on this trail all year. Sickening.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/pBZD4AfvQno8nYyb9So very sorry phillyblues – I cannot imagine how horrifying this was for you when you opened the box. All I can say is your must go on – don’t let those HOSP defeat you.
Nature can be cruel at times. It is sad when we find something like this. I can only encourage you to not let it get you down but resolve to help the parent birds start anew. Even if you have not seen them HOSP are still around and dangerous. Do what you can to curb their population.
Good luck on the next nesting.David
Stafford, VASo yesterday I put the two babies back in the box just in case by some miracle the mom could bring one back…they were not completely dead. Tonight I went back to collect the bodies and to my shock, there was only one bird in there. The one that was in worse shape was still there but the other gone. Is it at all possible the mother worked some magic? Is it possible a baby could have been revived? I am so confused.
philyblues, I have no answer to your question – just don’t know, but guess anything is possible. I am curious – did you have a sparrow spooker on this box?
I did not have a spooker. Kicking myself now. But this trail has been sparrow free for the most part for a couple years. The swallows are everywhere and seem to help keep the sparrows away in swarms. In fact as I was approaching the bluebird box from a distance I could see swallows swarming the box…while the sparrow was in there. No excuse though. I should have used fishing line or something.
Very sad news. It’s the bluebirds host nightmare. I hope you will get another nesting soon. Hang in there…..good luck.
Judy-Michigan
P.S. Do not let the HOSP win.
Phillyblues, soooo sad to hear this!! Those awful sparrows! I have no love for them, either. Don’t give up and keep some hope for another brood yet this summer. The blues here just laid the 1st egg of the 2nd nesting, so there’s time yet in PA. The sparrow bothering boxes here isn’t here full time, seems to be nesting a few yards away, but still comes back on occasion to torment everyone. They are just hateful creatures. The spooker is the only thing that saved the TRES in my yard. Keep hope!
Thanks for the encouragement, Julie. That trail nesting was my sliver of good bird news this spring. Swallows declined my yard for the first time in 4 years….last year I had bluebirds ALMOST nest in my yard too in late June for the first time ever…but haven’t visited yet this year. Hoping for another late visit maybe. Fingers crossed. I need some good news.
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