OH man what to do??? I wouldn't plug the hole cause that for sure would make them go to the bluebird box. Adding a wren guard now to the blues box would be a bit risky unless you could really watch closely after up put it up to make sure mom and dad accepted it. A really easy gaurd is using a shoebox, cut one side off and attach to the roof so the other side is covering the hole, this way it has sides too. You could try it anway as long as you could watch closely, I think that is what I would do. Chances are though with the boxes that close the wren may have already seen the hole in the blues box. I sure hope it doesn't go over there. Like I said those nestlings aren't safe until day 7. Donna

Lol Donna. Unfortunately I don't have the time and dedication to feed the blues mealworms. However, one year the male lost his mate and had 4 nestlings to take care of, and I fed waxworms that were in a small cup on top of the box. Mr. Blue would grab one or two, then immediately go in to feed. When they ran out, he was chit chit chitting, as if to say "more worms, please!" I would think, however, that one or two days old would be too young for them to eat mealworms/waxworms. I'd think they'd only need a little food. I think I'm more concerned for the parents being able to feed themselves, but I've seen them dive for insects in 30-40 degree weather! Thanks for the feedback!

Hi Suzanne. I am in Southern NH and had 3 bluebird nestings this year from the same parents - 11 babies total. Please don't feel too bad about your babies. Its ok to be sad for a while, but don't blame yourself. Hopefully the mom and dad will be back next spring to make more! I keep my boxes up because I have a lot of woodpeckers that roost in the boxes at night; also I had 7 blues winter here (in Bedford) last season and I wouldn't be surprised if they used a box to roost, too! I was new to all this last year and I know so much more from this site and the sialis.org site. I have 3 babies about to fledge in less than a week and you are right, the rains have been awful. I have saved a couple of the previous nests just in case this one gets wet (or gets too many blowflies)... I have read here you can do a nest change and this will help the babies survive. There is so much to learn; stick around. Even when you think you did all you can do to make things safe, you can still have things go wrong. I had a bad thing happen last week. My papa blue got caught up in blueberry netting and didn't make it. I cried almost all last week about it, it was devastating for me to think that mom lost her mate and now has 3 babies to raise by herself, and how could I be using that net... I tearfully buried him in one of my gardens in blueberry fabric and a box... it was so sad. I learned that this awful plastic net is a killer and I am buying tobacco net for next year. I am hoping mom finds a new mate, now, and that my yard will be safer than ever so there can be more blues born. I am also careful not to use pesticides on my lawn and all organic everything... I read here that is bad for all birds... not to mention groundwater. Birds are mostly instinctual and probably don't dwell on bad stuff that happens to them, like we humans do. I thought I was doing all the right things Nabs box, baffle, 50' away from trees, feeding mealworms but not too many so they get lazy, feeding suet, no pesticides on lawn, feeding waxworms occasionally, providing vitamin supplements, birdbath, etc. Sometimes crap happens and we learn from it and improve their conditions because of it. You are doing more to help the blues and learn about their needs, than most people, so that, you can be proud of. Jenn

Last year a pair of bluebirds nestled into the new nesting box. I didn't really pay attention to the babies but I think they did fine. This year we have a pair of white breasted nuthatches in it. The mother is always pushing dried grass out of it doing house keeping. The father brings seeds from the bird feeder to the mother. I hope their family fares well.