It's scary out there! But it's lonely in here, where did everybody go? Decisions, decisions..... OK, I'm outta here (gulp).... Interesting that at least one parent seems to be cleaning up the nest but also at least one parent is still bringing food and looking for the babies. Did you see them feeding the fledglings out in the yard? Claire

I also have a supposed squirrel-proof feeder, but a few squirrels figured out a way to hang by their back legs and nibble away. They didn't empty the feeder, but they did cause a lot to spill--which they then ate from the ground. The bigger problem that I had was rats. They were light enough that they didn't trigger the mechanism that shuts off the feeder. They came out at night and were really pests. I finally solved the problem with a baffle. The squirrels and rats cannot get up the pole to the feeder. Usually squirrels, who are very persistent, can find a way around most defenses. Not this one. It has been 100 % effective since I installed it about six months ago. The one that I linked above is, I believe, recommended by the Audubon society and is very easy to install.

I just had wrens kill chickadees in all three of my chickadees boxes.two with wren guards On them it’s been a frustrating year with the wrens for me.And I’m an experienced box landlord.Wrens killed chickadees that where 2days from fledging in both boxes.Have You heard the wren singing On your property? its warm out now there’s a lot of bugs for them to feed with when it’s cold outside then I would say maybe take it off.

Let them sort it out. A bluebird will almost always win out against a chickadee. Besides, as a native bird, a chickadee is protected.