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That makes a lot of sense, your theory about the tree swallows.
Once you see that a native pair is attached, I would try installing fishing line (ask Julie for photos, it’s easy and cheap.) That will allow you a little more peace of mind since you can’t be there all the time, watching.
And switch baffle type, since now whatever ate those eggs might want to return.
Don’t give up: heartbreak is part of the game, but so is indescribable joy!I notice that in your earlier pictures, there are no feathers at the bottom and the eggs are laid right on the woven nest. I don’t usually see feathers in bluebird nests: do others? I’m trying to figure out when they were added. Also, they still look so neat–is that a surprise, if it was an animal raid? I’m only asking so we can try and analyze what happened. I find that’s the only way I recover from the sadness: what can I try NEXT TIME.
Personally, I prefer the cone-shaped baffle as it’s huge and hasn’t failed me.
Lastly, we’ve been experimenting this year with fishing line, which Julie on this forum coached me on. I found the lines don’t work well before the bluebirds attach, as in my experience (tho not for Julie) they deterred everybody. But once the bluebirds lay the eggs, I put them up *in addition* to the spooker, framing the hole. Julie can share pictures what the setup looks like: they have little washer rings at the ends to weight.
We also have ground trap for sparrows set up, but we have only caught one all season. Still, I like knowing it’s there!
Last year, in my own garden (versus the community garden, which I can’t watch as closely), I put a directed nozzle on my hose (capable of spraying 25 feet with the flick of a toggle) and I sprayed sparrows out of my trees whenever I heard or saw them.It is a horrible feeling. You all capture it so well. Stebet, I was moved to see all you are trying to take from the experience. Phillyblues, keep going! If it were easy, everyone would have bluebirds in their garden.
Since a house wren is a common threat to bluebirds (second only to house sparrows) is it such a stretch that a Carolina wren would be as well? I just googled them and they look about the same. House wrens can destroy bb eggs and definitely compete for the nest boxes.
You know what’s funny—I don’t garden there! I don’t enjoy a garden that’s not right outside my door. But it’s a great spot for birds and I’ve been monitoring the boxes there many years. Over time, two gardeners got interested and one became a dear friend. The bluebirds brought us together :)
Happy news: the female is back! They are busy building once again :)
We removed the fishing lines we had up and also put out meal worms. Whether it was one, both, or a coincidence, within an hour, things were back in swing.
We are ecstatic as this is the latest start we’ve ever had for a first nest! We were despairing that for the first time, we wouldn’t have bluebirds grace us this year.
Thanks, everyone, for your advice, because it was after reading the “watch and wait” tenor, my bluebird colleagues came up with the ideas to try other things.
