Donna I am SO sorry. Are you sure it was the cat or could the boys have fought to their death? Or even a window strike if one was trying to escape a fight? There is nothing at all here that is your fault....not your cat. Lets hope Mom takes up with the new guy quickly.

Lisa, I was thinking window strike too. Anyway, that is so sad and I am so sorry!!! If it was the cat, and it were me, well never mind. I am soooooooooo sorry!!!

Karen

Thanks Lisa and Karen. No way it was a window strike. His middle/stomach was too mutilated, many feathers gone, but most (not all) of the head was still intact. Sorry for being so blunt. I don't think the other male could have done that much damage, and they were not wrestling anywhere close to the patio, but about 1 or 2 ft. from the box. I've seen a few dead chipmunks in the yard, one on the patio and months ago, the remnants of a dead titmouse...that's why I'm pretty sure it was the cat.

The "new" male is guarding the box like crazy and going in and out and Mama Blue just showed up again. This new male looks immature to me. His upper neck has "fledgling" like coloration, but his back and wings look mature.

My heart is breaking for Daddy Blue...may sound crazy but I miss him. I'm glad I can share that with the forum as my DH probably wouldn't understand!!! Though loveable and sensitive, he thinks I go over the edge sometimes when it comes to "my" birds!!!!

Donna

I promise you, this is not my cat. She appeared back in Jan. I think, and I'm pretty sure she was feral. Several other cats have been seen around the neighborhood, but no one claims ownership. Unlike the neighbors on either side of me, my privacy fence is flat on top, and this cat likes to nap and sun on the fence from time to time. I just don't know what options are left.

Donna

Donna, there are no easy answers, just hard choices. You have to decide between the cat(s) or your birds. It's not fair to invite birds to nest in your yard when you know the environment is not safe. Cats belong indoors, period. I know there are many cat lovers who feel it is cruel not to allow a cat outside, but in reality it makes for a safer world both for the cat and for unsuspecting wildlife. I agree that if you do not take care of the situation with the cat then you should take your nestbox down.

I also realize that, for you, it isn't simply removing the cat but what will happen to the cat if you do remove it. Unfortunately, that decision isn't really yours but lies with the person who abandoned the cat in the first place. It sounds as though even if you do nothing and allow it to spend time in your yard, birds, chipmunks and probably other animals will continue to be killed. Remember that some of those animals are probably raising young and they too will perish with the loss of their parent.
Tough choice, but there it is. Please know that we are here to support you.
Kathy

Oh Donna, our hearts go out to you.

I don't know if you read our blog concerning our Mr.B's beak injury earlier this season. Two rehabbers told us he would have to be euthanized... We were so sore afraid we would lose him, so I think we can understand your pain. He did recover thankfully but the worry we felt was intense.

My only question in your situation would be: Are you certain this dead male was your Father bird and that it's really the other male he was fighting with that you are now seeing? I ask because you said he was mutilated and I must wonder if you might have mistaken the identity in your grief.

We're very sorry you've had to go thru this.

Kenn & Temple

Here is a link that might be useful: Lifting the stone from my heart

I am very sorry for your Papa Blue. I lost mine to a cat 3 years ago and vowed never to allow that to happen again. The box was on a slick pole and baffled. The cat got it on the ground. Last year I lost a Mama Dee and 6 babies to a cat. It pulled them right out of a natural cavity in my pear tree during the night which is now blocked up. All 7 of them were laying at the base of the tree dead. A coon would have eaten them. I have trapped cats here and had the animal control pick them up. Whatever happened happened. I told the neighbors I didn't want their cats in my yard and they have been doing a better job of keeping them in. The ones I sent away were drop offs. People do it all the time around here. Next time I catch the neighbors cat in the trap it's going too and I told them so. After the loss of the Dees I have had it. If one or the other has to die it will not be my native birds. Again sorry for your pain
Cathy

Donna I am sooo sorry about the loss of your Daddy Blue, how heartbreaking. I sure hope the new male will maybe take up with your female and use the nest she just built. I agree with Bluebirdbabe, if that cat were in my yard...well it wouldn't be anymore.

Donna

hey Donna, I know your hurting. As Ken suggested I hope maybe somehow this was the other male and not the pop....but none the less it is a BB loss and always hard. I wont get any popularity votes here for my next statement BUT. This is NOT the cats fault, I understand 100% why you dont want to send it to a kill animal shelter. I had 2 drop off stray last fall killing some birds around my feeders...I took care of that alright...they will never kill my birds again! They will just sit in my lap and purr for the rest of their lives and never step foot outside again. I know not everybody can do that. Sometimes as hard as it seems a ferill cat is better being put down than suffering from disease, attacks from the wild Coyotes and such and cars. That cat could be responsible for many more bird killing cats soon. There are many places that will capture spay/neture and release these cats. i have heard non breeing cats are less likley to hunt for sport than in tact cats, not sure if thats true. Anyway thanks for caring about the cat too. Let me know if I can help get that cat to a shelter or foster home. Good luck on another nesting!

This is a really good video and very informative. I know it's 9 minutes long but worth it.

Here is a link that might be useful: spay and release bad for birds

Donna, you can borrow a trap to transport the cat safely. Your humane society probably can lend you one and teach you how to use it to easily trap the cat. What you do with the cat then becomes another problem. You can have it euthanized or you can dump it somewhere that becomes someone else's problem. The TNR programs usually return the cats to where they were trapped, and ask that you feed them. It's a real dilemma. I know it's a terrible decision to make. If it's not a feral cat you may be able to get someone in a TNR or private rescue program to take it and find a home for it. YOu can find the TNR and private rescue programs online if you look. It's not an easy decision to take one animal's life to save another, just like some of us have a terrible time with killing HOSP. They are all just innocent animals that are trying to survive. Good luck, I know you are heartbroken about the bird.

Great info Anita...many thanks! Please read my new message.