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Missing Momma Bluebird?

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

A few days ago I discovered a bluebird nesting in my mailbox (the cylinder you place the newspaper in). For three days now I've gone to the mailbox to get my mail, peek in and see her or she will be perched above on a telephone line. I have yet to see the male and truly think he is not around. I came home from work and haven't seen her for hours. How long will a bird scourge and leave her nest? I believe the nestlings are 4 days old... Also, the nestlings do not chirp. I'm worried they maty be malnourished due to only one parent. Any ideas?

Comments (5)

parkernicole01
7 years ago
Hey-

I'll give it my best shot. I'm hoping she's still around. There've been times in my experience where I wouldn't see the parents for awhile & about the time I would start to panick, they would show up. The Dad doesn't typically hang around much during incubation, but does come around once the babies hatch. Maybe they're in a tree somewhere where you can't see them. If the Mom is on her own, she can raise them by herself. If she is a widow per chance, you could help her by providing some mealworms in a feeder nearby (can get online or at local pet store- online would probably take too long at this point). If they are orphaned babies per chance, the only thing you can do is call a local wild bird rehabber to see if they can help raise the babies. You should be able to find that info. online & act quickly because those babies can only go a day without food. Be prepared, though, because the rehabber may not be able to help because the babies need to be trained to survive by their parents, but I would still try. The rehabber may know of another active nest they could be put in to be potentially raised by another bluebird pair (as long as they think they are theirs).

If parent(s) are around, do anything you can do to protect the nestlings from predators & heat since they are lower to ground & it's getting warmer outside. If your paperbox is in direct sun, you could provide some sort of heat shield. You may also be able to make a bucket baffle to put on your mailbox stand to keep climbing predators from getting to them (easy to do & make). You should be able to google info. for both, but I am happy to try to walk you through how to do it if willing. Sorry for the long post, but let me know if there's anything else I can do to help! Good luck!

Nicole
augusta_87
Original Author
7 years ago
Good insight and info! I think she may be back. I placed something in the entrance of the hole and it's gone so fingers crossed. And, I plan on going to petsmart today for some mealworms! Thank you!
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Wow this sounds so much like what went on here. I put a bowl full of mealies out the day they fledge but none after that for awhile. I find they don't come for them much until the babies are ready to come with them. If this is your same female that means Dad was left to raise 5 kids and it may take a little longer with just one parent. My Pop showed up with the kids later than normal. He's always been nearly 2 weeks to the day and this time it was closer to 3. I have learned that NO, Blues do not always mate for life. There is no question this is Hussy Mom and that Pop got ditched with the babies. I have been feeling bad for Pop (but I guess more for myself). I hope I have not lost him, I know hes not too far, I hear him but still have not found his new nest. Pop has been here for 3 years that I know of. Something happened to his first female between first and second nesting last year and that's when he took up with Hussy Mom. I never would have know it was a different female untill she quit feeding the babies.(maybe the fisrt female took off on him too)? There was no question this years first nesting was Pop and Hussy Mom. The thing is I could never be certain I had the same pair each year, there was always a little something different about each nesting except for Pop, he's always been in the same branches and been consistant with his behavior. His red goes down much farther in the front also.I really hope that I will have both Hussy Mom & Joe Daddy AND Pop with his new female next year. I am looking at the bright side, I should have twice the Blues and after all more Blues is what this is all about! I hope your Dad shows up with the babies soon and as stated above, mealies have nothing to do with survival especially at this time of year!
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Hi Mary- the only other possibility that I can think of is if something happened to one of the original mates & the remaining one found a new mate, the new mate will rarely have anything to do with the eggs/babies since they weren't their offspring. In this case, the new mate often steers the original mate away from the eggs/babies so they can try to produce their own (may not even try to produce since it's late in the nesting season). I would think it would be one of those scenarios. Research shows that it's about 10 degrees hotter in the box than it is outside. If it's in 90's, it could be too hot for them. Hatchlings can't regulate their own body temps for first 6 days. Risk would be same if too cold at beginning of season. If lawn pesticides (could be neighbor's if yard is close), babies are usually bloated. Did you notice anything unusual with them? Bloating or markings? Those are my only thoughts. Such a bummer & so sorry!
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parkernicole01
7 years ago
You're welcome. Hope it all works out!
vamonos99
7 years ago
I'd love to know how it worked out! Tough year for lots of us!
vamonos99
7 years ago
I'd love to know how it worked out! Tough year for lots of us!

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