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Emergency help needed

14 years ago

I was checking my house today and opened it to find 3 bluebird eggs and one that's either a cowbird or house sparrow egg. In addition there were several ants and larve. I removed the nest, cleaned out the house using water mixed with a small amount of bleach. The bluebirds have been back. I still have the nest with the eggs in a bag. Will I be able to save the bluebird eggs for them? Should I put the nest back and hope all the parasites are gone? Please help suggest what to do.

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Comments (7)

bridget_bb
14 years ago
I would put it back asap -- how long has it been out and how long since they visited?? It's worth a shot to me....
bbwatcher
Original Author
14 years ago
I got impatient. I found a lot of dry material that was falling out of the trees and used it to create a new nest for them. I put back the BB eggs and not the other. The nest was only disturbed for about 3 hours, and it's now been less than an hour and I have seen mom and dad around the yard, so keep your fingers crossed for me. I have been lucky for the past few years, I have been the proud parent of 3 families each year. I'll keep you posted. Keep your fingers crossed for us.
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bbcathy
14 years ago
The birds and eggs will be just fine. I don't think she has started incubation yet anyway. You did the exact thing I would have done. I would have made the new nest right away but the birds are very forgiving. She will probably lay another egg tomorrow. You need to grease the pole with axle grease so the ants can't get back up in there. Even vaseline will do in a pinch. It's best to just put a ring of it on the pole up under the baffle so the birds feathers don't get fouled with it.
Cathy
bridget_bb
14 years ago
My fingers are crossed bbwatcher.... Hope everything works out. Sounds like you acted pretty fast.
lisa11310
14 years ago
If there was a cow bird egg in there your hole is too big. Get a hole guard on there ASAP. Good Luck!
yesdear67
14 years ago
My bluebird house was on the ground when we woke up on saturday. There is a nest and eggs in there. We made a sturdy wooden perch nailed it to the tree and secured the house on it in the same place it was before. We have been watching since then and have seen no sign of the bluebirds, what should we do????
bbcathy
14 years ago
Do nothing until you're sure it has been abandoned. It's easy to miss them. Wedge a stiff a piece of grass in the hole so you are sure no one is going in and out and let us know what happens. A house on a tree or fence is a very dangerous place. It should be on a slick metal pole with a raccoon baffle.
Cathy

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