Orphaned Bluebirds

17 years ago

Monday afternoon I found the mother bluebird dead on the ground near the nestbox. Three babies had hatched on Sunday. I put extra mealworms out to help the male in feeding them while I tried to locate a rehabilitator. I was unable to get anyone to take them so I brought them into my house that evening, knowing the male would not brood. I have been feeding them canned dog food while still searching for somewhere I can take them. I know the best chance for their survival is being with a brood of similar age. I live in Northwest Louisiana. Can anyone help?

Thanks so much.

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Comments (8)

april_birdylover
17 years ago
did you try seeing if the facilitator from sialas may have a contact?? she's very nice and got back with me within minutes of sending her an email...
LindaMA
17 years ago
Oh, I'm so sorry about your mother bluebird, those poor babies, I sure hope that you can find somebody who can take them.

Good luck!
Linda
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Today is the first day I've had a chance to check on the orphaned egg. The house that I put the orphaned egg in had two eggs at that time. When I checked that house today, there were a total of 5 eggs, and as I approached the house I could see a male & female sitting on top of the house. It looks like they have accepted the orphaned egg and have 4 of their own. Every thing looked good. I took down the house that was infested with wasps on 4/12/09. I cleaned it up, rubbed the inside with Ivory soap and put it back up today. Within 5 minutes there was a pair of bluebirds checking out that house. That was so amazing to me. Hopefully they will accept the house and start their family soon. Yesterday my grandson discovered another old house that my Mother-in-law had put up about 25 years ago. It had 5 bluebird eggs in it. All together, that makes about 65 bluebird eggs or babies on our farm (that I am aware of). I hate the loss of the one female, but I could not be more pleased with the success of the other nest boxes.
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Ummm, no I don't think you made the right decision. Robins eat worms along with other bugs, however Bluebirds do not have the digestive system to deal with worms. Plus they feed totally differently and "if" they possibly would make it to fledging would not be taught the proper way to hunt for bugs. Hopefully I never have to deal with what you did, loosing the adults and having newly hatched babies but I would never put them in another bird species nest. I do know someone that had the same dilema though as you with loosing the adults at hatching time, her babies did die but she was in contact with a rehabber who didn't hold out much hope for the little ones. Sorry about the loss of your male and then female. How did the male die? Was he pecked at all because if he was in the nest it does sound like a House Sparrow may have gotten him. Have you read sialis.org it has all kinds of great info on properly offering nestboxes and ways to prevent nest failures like sparrow spookers, wren guards, baffles etc. Donna
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janie_may
17 years ago
Martha, I saw your post on another form and am so sorry to hear this. I'm not sure what even a rehabber can do with babies that young but that is their only hope..... a licensed song bird rehabber. They need to have their momma brooding them for 6 days before dad can take over.

Good luck and again, I am sorry. Nature can be harsh sometimes.
crcst
17 years ago
I think you should have left them in the box and wait to see if Daddy fed them.I had this happen many years ago and Dad took right over and they fledged successfully....Jane
janie_may
17 years ago
Jane, I lost a male one day after five babies hatched and they did fine and all fledged successfully but babies have to have their mothers for the first 6 days to survive. Either a mother or a rehabber who has the means to "brood" them. Unfortunately daddy blue doesn't have the ability to brood the nestlings.
april_birdylover
17 years ago
i posted another thread showing the rehab's available in LA.. check it out.. hope the babys are doing good. keep us posted..
fairychick
17 years ago
I am so sorry. I talked to a birdwatcher friend today and she lost all 4 of the bluebird eggs she had, and now the Mom is gone as well. She has no idea what happened.

I think this has been a bad year for the winged ones. This cold, rainy, and windy weather has made things difficult.

Hope you find help soon.

tara
janie_may
17 years ago
FYI, these babies all died. It's very hard to save them when they are that young. Even for a rehabber.

Orphaned Bluebirds

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