Today I got home from my 16 day vacation. I was so worried about the bluebirds almost the entire trip: I haven't had a successful fledging of BBs for atleast 10 years due to sparrows in the early years and wrens in recent times. I wasn't able to put up a wren guard before we left because I didn't see the bluebirds go in when I had it on, so I decided to take it down. I also had a box of TRES with eggs before we left. I have a sparrow spooker on both boxes. When I came home the first thing I did was think like the pessimist that I am... I thought for sure the eggs/babies would have been gone from a HOWR. I walked up to the bluebird house and hear nothing. I then tap on the box and hear hungry babies chirping. I am ecstatic! The babies are only about 3 days old.

Then I had to check out the TRES box. I walk up to the box and don't see Mom or Dad dive-bombing me.. bad news, I thought. Then I tap the box... nothing... I smell a rotting animal. I look in.. thinking all the babies would be dead and rotting, however they are alive and well... except for one. There is a dead and rotting one under the other four. They're going to be fledging soon... should I leave the dead baby in there? or will the adults take out the dead one? I'm afraid it may become infested with maggots or something, if it already isn't (I didn't see any).

The really unfortunate part is that I won't be able to see the blues fledge, unless they fledge about 5 days prematurely (or 3-4 days late). I am going on a trip to the beach for a week... I just hope they don't get attacked then...

I want to buy some mealies for them while they are preparing to fledge. Are there any very fast shippers on the East Coast that will ship 500 or 1000 mealies? Thanks!!

Also: Should I try hanging up the wren guard now, even after the babies have already hatched? I could then take it off before I go to the beach.