I would take all the boxes down and encourage the Blues to nest somewhere safer. Boxes need to be mounted properly, preditor baffled, sparrow spookered and Wren guarded where needed. Nearly all of those deaths could have been prevented (except the Hawk). You said you have had 8 years of success, thats wonderful but after the first loss I would have been scrambling to make sure nothing else happened. I know you can't do much about neighbors except educate them. Here is a great site to help. www.sialis.org

Thanks.

All but one of mine was 'properly' mounted, etc. And 12 hours after the latest tragedy that one remaining one was 'protected'.

I have already talked to one neighbhor.

FYI - The parents, as of tonight, are still hunting their lost babies from Thursday night.

I know thats heartbreaking. There must still be something wrong if the last two nests have been killed. A cat should not be able to get to babies in a properly mounted protected box. How can we help you figure out what has kiled them all. What did you find?

This made me sick 2 read. Do the poor bluebirds a favor and take those boxes down Gezzzz!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a cat can not reach into a nest box, correct? Would it be killing them after they have fledged?

I have a nesting question of my own. The bluebirds have done fairly well in my yard. I put up nest boxes last year and had one successful hatching of 3 babies and one unsuccessful hatching - the eggs were tossed out onto the ground. This year I had one nest formed with all 3 eggs tossed onto the ground. I suspected house sparrows and have since "tamed" them. The second nest was successful with 2 hatchlings fledged and flew away (I got to see it!). Now I have a 3rd nest with 4 eggs in it, but the mom and dad are nowhere to be found. The same thing happened with the second nest - for whatever reason the mom or dad do not sit on the nest or really spend much time at all around the nest until the eggs hatch, then they are very attentive. With the current nest, they have completely disappeared since the last egg was laid. I found one eggshell on the other side of my yard, but 4 are still in there. I believe they will hatch on their own because the weather is quite warm and the previous nest's eggs hatched with almost no roosting by the mom or dad. Is this behavior normal? I always thought the mom would sit on the eggs until they hatched? It has been about 2 weeks since the last egg was laid so they are probably going to hatch soon but if the parents don't show up is there anything I can do for the babies?

hbey. They dont need to do much sitting in the warm weather but she does need to turn them, this can be done in the blink of an eye. The eggs will not hatch without proper care. Put a blade of grass over the hole, if it has been moved you know they are coming and going. You can also put a VERY GENTLE x or a . with a crayon on the eggs to see if they have been moved but this takes a very light hand. A cat CAN get into a box if it is not properly mounted and baffled.

Cats CAN reach into a nest box.They can also open a box and get the babies.My neighbour had this happen.Please make sure that the nest boxes are put up away from fences,decks and other surfaces from which cts can jump.It is our responsibility to protect the birds if we offer them nest boxes and invite them into our yards,
michelle

Thanks. I will try the blade of grass. I still have not seen mom or dad since the eggs were laid. I checked today and there are still 4 eggs in the nest box. I have the boxes on a fence but I have not lost a bird to a cat (at least I don't believe so). So far, they either fledge or the eggs never hatch (they get thrown out of the nest). In 5 nests over 2 years, I have had 2 where all the eggs where thrown out, 2 successful hatchings (3 and 2 fledglings), and the current nest with 4 eggs. I just hope these make it, too. I'll keep posting.

hbey.....did you read the original post?? Your box is not safe. Even though you haven't lost one yet you will if you leave it on the fence. Maybe that is why your adults seem to be gone, something may have gotten the mom! You need to move the boxes to a slick metal pole (electrical conduit works great) preferrabley with a predator baffle (stovepipe) to protect the birds you have nesting. If you won't or can't do this then you should take the boxes down. I hope when you put in the blade of grass that you find the adults are still around but they may not be if something got the female.

Donna

Well I know we get called "cold" here all the time but if your not going to do it right don't do it. You have a responsibility as a nestbox landlord. Blues are better off in a natural cavity than one that is not properly protected. Get your boxes off the fence. We do understand...most folks dont know any better. Now you do. Let us know if you get hatchlings. We can help.