If she's not in there most of the day and all night sitting on them, my guess is she's not finished laying. The only time I have had fewer than four was one time when the HOSP broke one and Mama removed it.

They have powerful instincts but also do some strange things. Mine has been sitting on five eggs for nine days but then last night, the coldest night we have had in several weeks (temps in the low 30's), she was out of the nest for at least four or five hours straight. This morning she was back on the nest. Heaven knows where she spent the night but it was not in the nest box. I monitored the nest cam every half hour until 4:00 a.m. Felt like a mother waiting up for a child out on their first date.

Now I wonder if the eggs are still viable. They had to have gotten cold. They were due to hatch on Easter or the day after, so we shall soon see.

Good luck with yours, Renee.

Dave

Renee - It's not too unusual for them to skip a day. I suspect you will have more soon. Keep us posted. :)

Dave - That does seem unusal for your Mama to spend so much time off the nest during night 10. I sure can relate to your staying up late worrying. Glad to hear she's back on the nest now and we'll be keeping our fingers crossed for you.
We've had 2 pretty cold nights here since Missy began incubating, but it hasn't been freezing. We don't have a nestcam but I'm pretty sure she's stayed on the nest overnight every night.

best luck to us all,

Kenn

Still just 2 eggs today. Left this morning @ 6:15 and didn't check until about 4pm. No sign of them this afternoon, but I know they should be more active in the morning when I'm not around. It was 39 last night and 61 today.

Dave- Is she on the nest tonight?

I'll monitor again tomorrow.

Renee

Yes, Renee, she has been on the nest most of the day and was there when I checked just now. I just hope the damage has not already been done.

Dave

My female laid 4 eggs and then started to incubate them the day she laid the 4th one. The next day, much to my surprise, she laid a fifth.

Hope things work out well.

Linda...

Still only 2 eggs. No sign of Mamma or Papa all afternoon. Nest is undisturbed. Low tonight only 55. Tomorrows high 76. I'm afraid maybr something happened to one or both of them.

Tomorrow will be a week since the 2nd egg was laid. No sign of mama or Papa since Ifear the have abandoned this nest tor something has happened to them. Is it time to remove the eggs and the nest??? Maybe some new house hunters will show up.

Hi Renee, I have a similar situation happening here. My female layed her 1 and so far only egg this past Tuesday. Tuesday's overnight temp went down into the 20's. The next day she spent most of the morning on the one egg. After Wed. she has hardly been around. The male would come several times and go in the box and then call and call for her. She'd show up go in the box then leave shortly after the male would. Since then I have only seen the female once or twice. I did see her this morning go into the box but I don't think she stayed in there long enough to lay any other eggs. So like you I'm wondering whats going on. I haven't had anything like this happen before so I'm waiting to see how it will end.

Renee
Rural SW Indiana

She did lay a second egg this morning. Five days after her first one.

Renee

That is so weird. Maybe there is hope. Guess I'll hang in there for a while.

Renee

Sometimes, especially in the first nesting, there is a delay between egg laying and incubation. Weather can be changeable. Later in the year, there is usually very little delay.
Place a long stem of soft field grass in the entrance, and if a bird visits, the grass will likely be removed. If the bluebirds are still "in residence" they will visit, especially in nice weather.
If the nest is truly abandoned, and a new pair arrives, they will begin a brand new nest. Keep monitoring daily, and be patient. If a new nest is started, you can remove the earlier nest without disturbing the new pair.
BlueBars

I tried putting the field grass in the entrance hole. Both times it has been moved. I've still not seen any Bluebirds in my yard or visiting. Whatever is moving the grass is doing it between 7AM and 4PM. The nest is undisturbed.

On a side note, The BHNH nest that was started about a month ago is still uncompleted with no sign of them either. I have 2 Mockingbirds that perch on top of it though.

Mocking birds and Grackles are all I seem to have this year. Its so disappointing.

Renee