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2/3 Babies Dead

16 years ago

We had three baby blues - I have been keeping an eye on them as always - looked healthy. They looked like they were ready to fledge any day. I noticed yesterday evening that I didn't see mama and papa going to the nest box - but didn't check until this morning.... found two of the three babies in there - but they were dead. I looked them over and they looked perfectly normal - nothing out of the ordinary. Any ideas? Anybody come across this before. Out of all the years having bluebird boxes - this is the first time this has happened. This hasn't been a good year - first nest Wren tossed out all eggs / hatchlings 2/5 fledged. Now two dead birds so only 1 / 3 fledge. I'm not sure if they will build another nest as it still seems early, but I may replace the box in case it is something infected in the box itself..... anyway weird.

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Comments (7)

mulchmamma
16 years ago
Since they were so close to fledging they required more, likely pesticide contaminated insects and grubs. I'm so sorry. It seems like an uphill battle with predators and neighbors who prefer weed free lawns and gardens.

Can you provide mealworms or dig for grubs to help the one that is left?
ken3592
16 years ago
Are developed neighborhoods usually a problem for Bluebirds with pesticides/herbicides? We have 5 baby Blues that are 11 days old, and we live in a neighborhood with lots of lawns that people take care of, so they probably use pesticides or herbicides. Is this normally a problem? I have also been feeding them 50 or more mealworms a day.
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jgarzasr
Original Author
16 years ago
The one must have already fledged - like I said there were only the two dead ones in the box.... your thinking pesticides? I'd be surprised as I'm on 5 acres and the blues primarily hunted in our yard - which is absolutely pesticide free.... our neighbors to one side of us have no yard so no need for pesticides. Now our neighbors to the other side - which is through the woods, may have applied some, and then they are next to a farm - which also may have some applied. Anyway - it just seems weird - so close to them being ready to fledge. Any idea if they will do a third nest? Or are they done for the season here in MI?
lisa11310
16 years ago
Im so sorry to hear about your loss. I had my first loss this year too. I cant think of anything other than pesticides. We had a cold spell but not that cold. Im like you..on 5 acres and the neighbors are through the woods, nobody out here does "lawns". There are farms up the road but out of hunting range for "my" birds. There is a big purple martin colony on an Amish farm that is right next to a dairy farm so I don't think they use anything harmful. Im in the Muskegon area where are you?
jgarzasr
Original Author
16 years ago
lisa11310 - so you also had this same type of thing happen?

We also have been having cold nights - but nothing I would think that would shock them. I guess I'll never find out - but I am going to replace the nest box w/ new today.

We are located in Olivet.... S. of Lansing. Actually just got back from Muskegon - camping @ hoffmaster. Beautiful area.

Thanks for the replies. We're hoping for another nesting... w/ hopefully better outcome.
michelle_4466
16 years ago
We just had one pair of Blues build a nest in our front yard last week.They now have 4 eggs.I don't think it is too late.I am in N.Central OH.I have had a nesting as late as the 3rd week of August.I would replace the nest box.
michelle
jgarzasr
Original Author
16 years ago
So they did build another nest - Momma blue had four eggs - I went and checked yesterday to see if there was going to be a fifth - no eggs in the box. Immediately checked the ground, and there they were. Stinkin Wrens got ahold of them. Will they abandon the box? Or should I remove the nest, and let them rebuild, or will she try and lay more eggs?.... has not been a good year for them.

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