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Missing Momma Bluebird?

10 years ago

last modified: 10 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?

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Comments (5)

parkernicole01
10 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
10 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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Hi alicia82, I just found this information, hopefully it will give you some insight. I found the article off of http://www.sialis.org/widows.htm (Great website by the way, this lady is an expert!) She says, "If one of the pair does disappear, it's possible that the remaining parent may find a new mate. That depends on how many unattached bluebirds there are in the area. Sometimes they find a new partner within hours, in a day, sometimes it takes weeks, sometimes it doesn't happen. A lone male may sing forlornly all day long. The new mate may or may not help care for the young. A new male may feed the existing female, or just stuff himself at a mealworm feeder."
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parkernicole01
10 years ago
You're welcome. Hope it all works out!
vamonos99
10 years ago
I'd love to know how it worked out! Tough year for lots of us!
vamonos99
10 years ago
I'd love to know how it worked out! Tough year for lots of us!

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