Hi, I too am in NW Georgia. Until yesterday I thought I would not be having a bluebird nest in the nestbox I have had up for years that has a video camera in it. Yesterday, a titmouse started to bring in materials but I was SHOCKED & VERY HAPPY to see the bluebirds going in and out of the box taking OUT the material. Just a minute ago, the titmouse came into the box and looked around and left. It came back again but so did the blues who took out more of the material. Last year Mama Blue took 13 days in March to build the nest and then she laid the first egg on April 1st. If that is going to be a repeat (that's a long time to make the nest), we are way behind schedule but it has been a much colder spring than usual. When it's egg laying time, Mama lays the egg in the morning and usually does not go into the box again that day. She will not sit on the nest for long periods of time (incubation) until all the eggs have been laid. Daddy may go in and check things but if it's egg laying time there, you won't see a lot of activity. Bluebird blessings Linda... NW Georgia (Acworth)

Leslie, I'm sorry that happened but as many others have replied, we've all made mistakes. Fortunately I had bluebirds nesting for at least two years before a chickadee showed up and claimed another box. Because of this forum, and the helpful members here, I knew that I could protect the dees FROM the bluebirds by adding a hole reducer (to keep the bluebirds out). I've talked to several people over the years (people I know personally and not from this forum) who have removed chickadee, titmouse and brown headed nuthatch nests because they wanted bluebirds. When I listened to their stories I took a deep breath and then explained how much these other species NEED our help. Bluebirds have been getting our help (YEA!) for the last 40 years and sometimes it's easy to forget or not even think about the other species who also need a safe nesting spot. I think that when we put up that first bluebird nest box we only have one thought in mind...... getting bluebirds to nest in our box! I waited FIVE YEARS to get my first bluebird couple! LOL! What I've experienced in hosting three nest boxes is that the Dees and the brown headed nuthatches are just as much fun and such nice little birds! I've never been lucky enough to host titmice but maybe one day.... Anyway, I know you are sorry and won't do it again and that really is the point. Janie

Very odd things happening with my houses this year. I had bluebirds in one house that laid 5 eggs. For the most part I try to stay away so they don't get spooked. In this case the next time I checked there was one fledgling that I saw but he didn't seem ready to fly away yet. But when I checked 2 days later there were no babies or eggs. The nest was empty. This box was protected with the mesh on the opening. I'm hoping time just flew by and the brood hatched and fledged in my absence! Will the parents start a new brood in the same nest or should I clean the box out for them to start over? I had another box that had activity, 5 eggs layed and a week later no eggs or babies. I fear they were killed since it was an old house from last year and it did not have the protective metal mesh at the opening. I have a nest nearby with the mesh protection. I kept checking and there was no activity or eggs. Then suddenly there was one egg!! I assumed the mom would lay more. I checked for 2 days, still only one egg. The third day the egg hatched with a tiny bald with a little fuzz baby bird. I kept watching from a distance and I did not see the male or female going into the house. I skipped looking inside the box today. I wanted to stay totally away. Tomorrow I will check again. I hope the little guy is okay.... Is it unusual for a female to lay only one egg? I'm thinking that perhaps the pair that were in the other box moved to this box when a predator got their other eggs..... Thus only one last egg to lay??? The box with the one egg is about 20 feet from the empty box. Perhaps this is part of that brood? Can the mom or dad move an egg or did she just lay it in a different box?? I have another box about 100 feet from that one protected with the mesh that some sparrows have taken over. They have built a nest and hang out in front of it on the mesh opening and on top of it but no eggs for well over a month. Perhaps they are the culprits that got the 5 bluebird eggs. Very strange that they built a nest and aren't using it. I know they will build several, one as a decoy or to give the female a choice, but I don't see that they've done that unless they are planning to take over the bluebird box. I will be keeping a watch on that....

My best guess would be that the tree swallows built a nest somewhere else and it was taken over. I've seen a bird lay an egg in an empty box once before. Tree Swallows are limited in their time to lay since they are neotropical migrants, and have to get back to South America. I wonder if you could put a fake nest under the egg so the babies have a better chance of survival?