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Great Week Turned Tragic!

15 years ago

Well my blues had 6 eggs last Thursday and as of Sunday went down to 4 eggs (2 missing)and Mama blue missing as of today Daddy Blue is still hanging around haven't seen the female since Sat. and when I came home from work Daddy was on the house so I went to check the eggs and now only have 2 but one had a hole in it. So my question for everyone is do I empty out the nest remove and clean the house to see if maybe Dad will find another mate, please advise I totally confused and I haven't seen any HOSP or Wrens.

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Comments (5)

bandjzmom
15 years ago
Well, that is exactly what I would do dee. It looks to me as if there is a House Sparrow or Wren at work here, and Mom has either given up and abandoned the nest or else has been seriously injured and flown off to perish. I don't see any hope for this nesting.It is so sad and unfortunate, and I am so sorry that this happened. Even though you have not seen one, there is obviously a predator invading that box. It has to be something that is small enough to get inside. Is there a baffle guard on the pole? I do think that there is a great chance for another nesting as soon as you can get the box ready. Dad is still there, and he seems to want to be successful there at your box. It's a good sign that he has not abandoned the site. Make sure that you place a spooker on the box after the first (next) egg is laid. JMHO~~Angie
deedee1028
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi Bandjzmom I have a baffle, sparrow spooker & wren guard that I put up when she was finished laying the eggs (wren guard), should I remove the spooker and wren guard when I remove the nest? or maybe just the wren guard since Papa Blue seems to except it....thanks for your advice I greatly appreciate all advice I can get I've been doing this now 3 yrs and this is the first time I have ever encountered problems like this.
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lisa11310
15 years ago
Mom has given up and is off looking for a new spot. They normally wont re-nest where a nest has failed. Can you move your box to a new location?
dzyg
15 years ago
Yep, I too would remove the nest, spooker and guard. It sure sounds like a HOSP or wren even if you haven't seen one. I sure hope you just aren't seeing the female and not that something happened to her. If you can, move the box, otherwise face it in a different direction. My sister had a HOSP attack on eggs once, she cleaned out the nest, faced the nestbox in a different direction and they renested. She hadn't had a spooker up the first time but did after that and they had a successful nesting that second time. Good luck!

Donna
bandjzmom
15 years ago
Well deedee, sounds like you did all that you could to deter predation. Sometimes, it just happens in spite of our best efforts. I would remove the nest, spooker and guard. I don't think you have to move the box, but facing it in a different direction is a great idea. Dad will go and find a new Mommy. Happens all the time. :o)

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