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Bluebird parents abandoned babies

17 years ago

Two babies hatched two days ago, the other two eggs, unhatched. I've been supplementing a couple times a day in my bluebird feeder - mealworms for the mom and dad. Today, I looked in the nest, as no parents around, and one dead, other one lethargic and cool. Fed the adults - they ate and flew into the woods - have not even landed on their birdhouse. They added more nesting material (identical to their nest) today building it up over the babies. I'm in Michigan - cool weather. All my years of Bluebirding - this has never happened. Any reason or ideas?

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Comments (2)

tessa.flowers
17 years ago
I don't have an answer for you but so sorry to hear about the loss. I am new to bluebirding and lost my first nestling this morning to a sparrow. It's heart-wrenching isn't it?
Sammymomo1
13 years ago
I am new to bluebirds...I put up an ornamental bird house never dreaming blue birds would move in...now I believe they are laying eggs. I have read that after fledling you are suppose to clean the nest out. This is an ornamental house and never meant for real birds. What should I do?
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Hello, I have a problem with my beloved bluebirds I am hoping someone can help me with. We had a successful fledging a few weeks ago and then they came back and built another nest. Laid four eggs. I went out and one was destroyed and on the ground. The other three were in the very bottom of the nest making it hard for mama to even know they were there. A few days later she started building a nest on top of that nest. When I saw it, I pulled the other nest up on top of it so she could see the three eggs. Now she has laid two new eggs so far in with the old ones. And the nest is very high now and close to the hole. What will happen with old and new eggs in there? And should I try to squish the nest down from the hole more?
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Not really, but I found rehabber.
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Hello Michael, First I am glad you found this site, I was happy when I found it to, but I would like to invite you to join the bluebird nut cafe and we will provide you with all you need to know about these birds. It is way more active and you will get fast answers to your questions. Hope to see you there. http://bluebirdnutcafe.yuku.com/ Secondly your bluebird pair have committed to that nest with eggs so they won't abandon it easily. How much rain are you getting? One year I had blues there were several days of rain and no bugs except earthworms around to feed the babies. They didn't survive despite the parents efforts. My guess is your pair has left to find a food source and will return. I do find it odd that they left when you are providing mealworms. I would recommend you ask this question on the bluebird nut cafe site to get other's input. -Tyler
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I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I would very much doubt that the cool temps could have caused this. I've had baby blues, in early spring, survive wind and ice storms just fine. Did you check under the nest? It could be parasites of some kind. Are there blow fly larva under the nest? Could there be ants, or a mite infestation? Sadly, it could also be if one of your neighbors puts insecticide on their lawns, the birds could have fed the babies poisonous food (insects).
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