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Had 5 Eggs...Now 3 and...

17 years ago

I had 5 Eggs. I checked today and there are only 3 eggs left, and what looks like a really immature baby BB. I'm guessing maybe a HOSP got in and killed a couple of the eggs before mom and dad BB could chase him away. Has anybody had this happen? I have the Uncle Blaines Ground Trap, and a (So Far) successful spooker up.

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Comments (8)

dodgerblue
Original Author
17 years ago
I should have added Lifeless immature baby BB.
ken3592
17 years ago
Sorry to hear this. Did this happen while the spooker was up? Are the bluebirds still active in the nest? Were there any eggshells on the ground? It's hard to guess what it could have been. I have had a few house wren attacks, even after putting up a sparrow spooker and a wren guard. If it was a wren, you often will find eggs on the ground with small peck holes. I would think that if it was a wren or a sparrow, ALL the eggs would have been destroyed.
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dodgerblue
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks Ken. Yeah she's sitting on the 3 remaining eggs. Spooker is up. The eggs are due to be hatching I'd say within the next 2-3 days. I looked for shell but didn't find any. I agree that if it where another bird they would be all broke. Strange. I guess I'll never know. Mabe she knew they where not viable, but why then the little one?
bbcathy
17 years ago
Is it baffled?
fairychick
17 years ago
Sounds almost exactly like what happened to me with the first two clutches. There was no reason that I could find. The babies just didn't make it, and the majority of eggs didn't even hatch.

Lot of bugs in the Atlanta area this summer. I've thought about heavy pesticide use.

Hope you figure it out.
dodgerblue
Original Author
17 years ago
Not baffled but on a slick metal thin pole about 6ft off the ground. Now today there is only one egg there and I found egg remains with a partial baby in it about 40 feet away by our fence. These parents have had only one baby with them from the first clutch. I had 5 that fledged (I think). I'm wondering if this is a different pair as they started a new nest 2-3 days after the first 5 fledged. Confused to say the least. Never had this happen in 4 years of blue birding.
ken3592
17 years ago
It definitely sounds like a predator such as a raccoon, snake, etc. If it was another bird, I'm pretty sure they'd all be gone in a few minutes, not over a few days, and they'd probably be at the base of the pole (don't quote me on that, though). I would get a baffle on it asap.
dodgerblue
Original Author
17 years ago
I know we have had some raccoon's get into our suet in the past. There's no sign of any kind of struggle, but now the female has not been sitting on the lone egg. I have seen the Male, but not Mom. I saw a female but not too sure if it's her. It sounds like a snake to me, I don't think a Raccoon would be able to climb the pole, but I slicked it up with grease until i can get a baffle up. I don't know if I should take the spooker down yet or not. I'll probably wait another day or two and if I don't see any activity then I'll take it down, or set up my other box.

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