Judy, I would observe the box for a couple hours at a time and make sure you know if anyone is showing up. Also, you can place an obstruction like a blade of grass in the hole, and if it's gone you may have activity. Make sure the wind can't also remove it.

It's hard to say exactly what happened to the mother. Hawks, owls, pesticides, car accidents, etc. All possibilities. Unless you find a body, you might never know.

I've had several parents go disappearing and I know the sad feeling and thought about what may have happened. I've lost several female bluebirds, and just this year, my first couple male bluebirds. It's a tough world they endure.

If they're truly abandoned, try to find the number of a local wildlife rehabber and give them a call. You should look into this BEFORE an emergency occurs. Its good that you're feeding, but don't force feed them!

~Tim~

Here is a link that might be useful: Bluebird Widows, Widowers and Orphans

Judy, did the mom ever show up? The blade of grass trick that Tim mentioned is the best way to be certain whether the mom is around or not. She can sneak in really quickly.

What would cause bluebirds to abandoned 5 eggs in the nest box ? It's been over a week now have seen no signs of mom or dad, they have been hanging around for weeks now, so I decided to look in today, very sad. Should I clean out eggs and nest or just eggs? Never had this happen in this box. No bee hive in box. Thanks

birdldy...they wouldn't unless something happened to the female or something happened to the eggs. Are the eggs intact, there are no holes poked in them are there? If they look fine (don't touch them) I would put a dot with a marker on one of the eggs today. Check tomorrow to see if the dot is in the same place or if it has moved. The female turns the eggs during incubation and sometimes they can be rather scarce during this incubation period. The female does not sit on those eggs 24/7 so hopefully you just aren't seeing her. If your dot is moved the day after you mark the egg, then she has been in there. If not then maybe something did happen to the female and the male left as he cannot incubate the eggs. Hopefully you just aren't seeing them but they are still there!

donna

Thanks Donna, eggs are intact nest is perfect, looks like she never returned. I was seeing them all day long, he did not go far . I have been feeding meal worms here for years. I will put a dot on one just to make sure, and see what happens but I would have seen them by now. The male would chase anythng that got near that nest box, no action out front what so ever for over a week:(

Kelli

Bird lady, that happened to me. I had four eggs. All of a sudden I didn't see the parents for awhile, then I would see a male every once in awhile. I waited to make sure and put a mark on the eggs, Eggs were not turned. Finally a wren got them and pierced them. Eggs were not viable. Then a nest was built in another box. I assumed something must have happened to the female and the male got another mate. Two lived out of four of those.