Surprise Nest – what to do?

[phillyblues]

Yesterday I took a dog walk down to my local park box trail which I just haven’t been able to monitor much since late May. I cleaned a lot of sparrows out to get it going and swallows generally take all the boxes. There is a box I did not put up down there that someone unfortunately tacked onto a tree which we all know is not ideal. In the spring I ripped out several sparrow nests in it and while I was down there I opened it expecting to rip out another one. However, to my surprise and delight when I opened it there was a pine needle nest in there and brand new hatchlings in there! Then I saw the two adult bluebirds when I closed the box up. Figures they pick this box right? Anyways, is there anything I should do to keep them safer? I have had such bad luck lately I fee like just leaving things alone. Take a look at the photos and let me know if I should try anything on the small tree to prevent predators? I only see three babies from my photo so wonder if something already took eggs. Could be hidden though.

[phillyblues]

[phillyblues]

[AIH]

I don’t really have any good advice. But aside from it being a very poor idea for a nest box installation, it isn’t your nest box, correct? All things considered, I would leave it alone.

If you happened to meet the person who put up the box, you could have a talk. Even if that talk occurred today, with the nestlings, I think I would still leave it alone.

- Ira / Coastal NW Florida

[tamsea]

The only thing you can do is put a predator guard around the tree using some sort of aluminum/metal that you wrap around the tree. It’s been done before, I’m just not sure exactly what people have used. I’ll look it up.
Oh, I just thought of another solution and that is to put up a pole about 5 ft away from that tree where nothing can drop down on it. Put it right in front of where the house was on the tree and maybe at the same height. You would have to wait there and see if the bluebirds accepted it but I’m really almost positive they would.
Otherwise you’re just going to have to let it be and hope for the best. Predation is very likely but there are people that have boxes on trees that have successfulness nestings so it may work.

• This reply was modified 3 months, 1 week ago by tamsea.

Tammy

[phillyblues]

Thanks! The pole idea is a good one but since this is a public park I would be pushing my luck to put a pole up in that space because the grounds crews would probably mowit over or remove it. I do have a contact but the crew might forget and remove it. Stinks! Any kind of baffle idea welcome.

[phillyblues]

Should I attach a wire mesh predator guard on the front?

[phillyblues]

[phillyblues]

Hope this is a helps. Couldn’t resist doing something to deter predators

[phillyblues]

So far so good. Mom has no problem with the guard in place.

[tamsea]

Mowing is a dilemma. I’ll see if I can find some info on wrapping a tree trunk.

Tammy

[tamsea]

I’ve never seen this idea but it makes sense. It used plastic sheeting. https://nestwatch.org/blog/how-to-protect-tree-mounted-nest-boxes-from-snakes/

Tammy

[phillyblues]

Well whatever happened this nest didn’t work out. Haven’t looked in the box yet but i have been by several times with no adults in sight. Hopefully I didn’t scare them off with the predator guard but I did see the female going in and out after I installed it but that was over a week ago. Scared to open it. Man what a dud year. No luck.

[tamsea]

Bummer! Were they in there when you attached the wire mesh to the front? They are so vulnerable to all types of critters. Raccoons, squirrels, mice, snakes, cats. I think the wire mesh was a decent idea. It couldn’t have hurt anything. I don’t think they are very helpful normally but in this situation it was worth a try!! Sorry, that they didn’t make it.

Tammy

[phillyblues]

I think i could hear them when I attached the guard and saw the mom a couple days later coming out.

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