Sorry to hear this... that is very weird. It sounds like it could have been a snake, as some snakes can get around baffles (apparently rat snakes are good at this). I don't think it could be a HOWR because the babies would be too heavy I think. I don't know what type and size of baffle you have.. but if you have a wobbling one, I believe they need to be a large diameter to deter snakes. If it was a snake, chances are he might be back in a few days. Good luck!

I'm starting to get worried for my baby blues now! They are only 4 days old and are my first hatching brood in years.

Ken

This is very scary. I agree with Ken. I can't imagine anything other than a snake doing this. And if it was a snake, it will be back. Is there a space between the pole and the baffle? I have heard of small snakes sneaking through that way. If not, the only thing I can think of to try to thwart it would be some snake netting. I know there are instructions out there for bunching up the netting and attaching it easily. I couldn't find what I was looking for but this site gives you a good idea on how to attach netting to the pole.

Here is a link that might be useful: snake netting

There really isn't much space between the pole and baffle (barrel type) because my homemade sparrow spooker is on a rod which goes inside that hole too, and then there's a clamp that holds it up which further narrows the space. I'm at a loss. I guess it's possible the babies disappeared a few days ago because I try hard not to be intrusive and I don't always count heads if the parents are watching...I don't specifically remember my last few viewings.
Kendra, thanks for that web site---I've never seen it. I'll try to make a snake trap, although I'm not really clear on how this works!
I'll also try to find another baffle today---if I can put it on without disturbing things, that can't hurt.
I don't know what else to do!
Thanks for your input,
Ann

I don't think it's a snake because a snake would have eaten ALL of the babies. I would, just in case, try to protect the box against a snake attack but that is easier said than done. I have a raccoon baffle and even use axle grease on my pole but have been told a rat snake can get by that baffle sometimes. So far, I haven't had that happen but it is always a concern.

For some unknown reasons, babies that age do die and are removed by the adults if they are still small enough to get them out of the box. I doubt that happened but it would not be a first.

Has anyone made the Krueger snake trap? I really do not understand the instructions. I am going to Home Depot to buy the supplies---maybe it'll become clearer when I have the stuff in front of me. But if anyone has any tips, I'd appreciate it!!
Ann

Janie, I don't think a snake would necessarily eat all of the babies. The babies were big and depending on the snake's size, it may have only been able to eat two.

I'm not really sure how those wobbling baffles work but I think if you can get a bigger diameter one, and block the opening very well at the top, the snake will get lured up under the baffle and it will not be able to get past it. Maybe you can put some kind of strong mesh at the top.

Which trap design are you making? The one I'm describing is figure 1 on: http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/nestbox/hksnake.htm
I won't be helping if you are doing a different design

I have never made a Krueger snake trap, but the instructions want you to: 1) wrap the wire into a 16 inch diameter circle with 12 gauge wire. 2) overlap the ends 2 inches and fasten it with 24 gauge wire. 3) Then what you want to do is get the garden net (I would make sure it is small-mesh) and circle the long 108" edge of the net around the circle twice and fasten the net to the circle with the 24 gauge wire (it recommends every 4"). 4) The trap, when held up now, should look like a hoop with a cylinder of net above it. When you put it on the pole pretty close to the box, you should pinch the net, in the middle of the net, around the pole so the pole is centered in the middle of the hoop. Make sure the net is taught, and then tie it tightly to the pole with wire or aluminum fence ties. It should now look like the picture in the drawing.

I feel like I just repeated the instructions, sorry if I did or if you still don't understand. This may not even be the design you chose.

Ken

Thanks Ken...that is the trap I was looking at. The problem (for me) is that the drawing doesn't make sense with the instructions, as I understand them. If I just read the instructions, I can do it. If I look at the drawing, I get lost. I bought the supplies and will make the trap according to the written instructions (unless someone has anything else to suggest with respect to the drawing) and I bought vaseline to grease the pole.
I'm open to any other suggestions...
Thanks everyone for all your help,
Ann

The drawing is just the hoop hanging down with the net fastened to the pole in the center. The excess net hanging over the trap in the drawing is just the upper part of the net that you drape over it (I probably sound like I'm talking Jibberish). If you happen to get a snake tangled in the net, just make sure you take it out asap.

They made it! The babies were peeking out yesterday, and today they are gone. The parents have been back several times this morning for mealworms but I haven't seen the babies!

I cleaned out the house----is it necessary to remove the spooker? They seem so un-bothered by it, I'm tempted to leave it. Does everyone remove them?

Happy bluebird-grandparent,

Ann

Ann, you should always take the spooker down asap after fledging. If you leave it up HOSP can become used to it and not bothered by it either. You don't want them to become accustomed to it so it will help protect the Blues when they have an active nesting.

You probably won't see the babies for a bit but in about a week they should be following the parents back to the mealworm feeder and you will see them. Glad those two made it!! Congrats!

Donna

Still haven't seen the babies at the feeder, but Mama & Papa are clearly feeding them off in the trees.

Is it too late to hope for another nesting? There's no activity back at the house....I was hoping for another clutch....

Ann in 7A (near Annapolis, MD)

Ann, I am wondering the same thing as you. I am also hoping for another nesting but I haven't seen any activity. It has been almost 2 weeks since my babies fledged and I haven't seen them yet either. I had a feeder up, which Daddy Blue was consistently visiting until 3 days after they fledged. That was the last time I've seen any of the blues. I kept the feeder up but they haven't come back... not even the parents. Is there reason for me to worry?

Ken

Here in Central WI, I have two pairs of Blues on their second nesting, they are both incubating at the moment. One nesting should be hatching by this wednesday and the other about five days later, both have four eggs. Not sure if any would just be starting a second nesting this late now though. The one pair started the second nest within days of fledging the first brood. The other pair waited over two weeks! This is only my fourth year hosting/monitoring Bluebirds and I have always had them bring the babies back and keep eating the mealworms I offered until they left in Oct/November. Not sure if they all stay at the feeders though, I think it greatly depends on where you live if the Blues migrate from your area in the Fall or not.

Donna

Ann, most of my trail boxes are located in Frederick and it is not too late for nestings in our area. For some reason, though, my blues seem to be out of sync with previous years. This nesting season they started in late April/early May as opposed to early April--though I'm glad because that meant there were no chicks to be fed during the long rainy spell we had in early spring. Last year I had a nesting fledge on September 9th!
Hope your pair decides on another round.
Kathy

Seems like there's still plenty of summer left...and last year they stayed all winter, so I hope that makes it likely I'll get more activity. I'm not satiated yet! (will I ever be?)

Thanks for the input,

Ann

*THEY'RE BACK AT THE HOUSE!!*** I don't know when I've been so excited!!!!!

: )

Ann