I feel your sadness! So, so sad to lose a nest of babies. Mine were killed by a wren last Wednesday.

I may be asking a stupid question, but what is predator owned teboc?

Hahaha. Spell check on the iPad likes to make up words sometimes. A predator opened the box and made off with the babies. Haven't seen mom or dad in days. I am hoping they are lying low what with the 100 degree heat we are having. I put out lots of water for yhe birds. I see evidence of raccoons in my yard so I am thinking king that is what got them. I have set traps for the raccoons and will relocate them very far away. Over 10 miles to be safe.

The answer to your question is no. They will not reuse the old nest. Save it if you can, in case you need it for a nest replacement sometime in the future. Sorry about the loss. It just stinks when these things happen.

What are my chances they will rebuild in the same box even though I have moved it about 15 feet from where it used to be?

So sorry for the loss of your Blue babies! Raccoons don't open nestboxes to get what is inside, they hold onto the pole with their back feet, the top of the box with one front foot and stick their paw in through the hole and pull the contents out. How did the box that the babies were in open up?

My sister had eggs smashed by HOSP once, she removed the nest and eggs, turned the box to face a different way and the Blues came back and renested. So being that you moved the box they very well could come back and renest depending on if there is time whereever you are from. Here in WI it would be too late probably for another nesting. I would not leave the nest in there though. I would save it in case you ever need it in the future.

Donna

Sad to hear, and Lorna, I learned the hard way! When I first mounted my boxes they were on 2X4's with no predator guards. I had at least one loss every year and even this year. I just now "Upgraded" my boxes. They are strapped to 1" EMT conduit pipe and have the PVC wobbling baffle. My quick solution was putting un-wobbling PVC over the 2X4 posts. No clue if it stopped them but before I used that as a guard I had several (in, 7 in one nest) Tree Swallows fledge undisturbed.

It may not happen often, but just once is enough to ruin your season. Also note, make sure what ever door you have on your box is screwed shut! They can and WILL open a door and are strong and smart enough to open it by removing a lose screw or nail that holds it shut. Raccoons are intelligent and resourceful creatures! They got into our garage recently, I chased one out. The other I shut the door and got my brother who promptly put a .22 to it's head! They got into our trash. They used to raid my bird feeders. There is almost NOTHING they can't or won't destroy for food. But the baffle should certainly stop them as that PVC is slick and very difficult for predators to climb!

Also, In my experience, bluebirds WILL use the SAME nest box in the SAME place after failure as long as it is still usable (No House Sparrows, House Wrens, etc.) The thing Donna mentioned is the issue...in the north they don't often start nests late in the season like late July and early August. However, I did have one case where the nesting went INTO August. Just keep your box well mounted and hope they will try again! If not, look forward to seeing them possibly next nesting season!
-Tim-

Thank you Tim for your encouraging words. I am in northern Indiana so not sure if there will be time for another nest this year. This same pair fledged 3 babies last year in the second nest. The first was destroyed during incubation. Like you the box had been placed on a fence post. I then placed it on a conduit pipe but it was unbaffled. Now the box is on the conduit baffled with a 24 in long 4inch in diameter wobbling baffle, complete with sparrow spooked. It is a good 3 feet from any fence or tree so hoping it will be good next year. I continue to put out meal worms and food but haven't seen any blues for about a week. I hope it is just the heat keeping them away and that nothing has happened to them. I will keep my eyes open for them and let you know the outcome.

I just reread your post, if the babies were only two days old the mom would have been in the box with them at night yet. If it were a raccoon that got into the box, the mom would have been the first thing taken and eaten. Raccoons feed at night. You didn't say how your box opens, is it front opening or side opening? Like I said a raccoon would reach in the hole of the nestbox not try to open it however it opens, by nail or swivel. Yes they are smart animals but they would do it the easy way first and if mom was in there when a raccoon reached in she would have been eaten. You said you saw the male and the female after the babies dissappeared right? Just wondering since you said they are gone now. Normally when being fed mealworms they will still stay in the area after a failed nesting, that has been my experience anyway. Being in northern Indiana it may be too late for another nesting, but it is hard to say.

Glad you have your setup changed for the better. Hope next years season is a successful one for you!

Donna

I'm north of you up in MA, and last year the Bluebirds laid a third clutch with the first egg laid on 8-1. So there is still time for them to renest. It's sounds like your set up is safe and ready to go, so hopefully they'll be back.

Thanks all for your words. I did see the pair after the box was opened. It opens in front with a swivel latch. The box door was right opened all the way. The nest wasn't really disturbed or messed up just the babies gone. I think oly a raccoon could have opened the box. The mom may have gone out early to hunt bugs as I didn't notice it until after 7 am. Raccoons are out here until after dawn. I have other evidence of them in my yard and have set live traps for them. They have trashed all my feeders this week. Time to end their predetation of my yard.