Bluebird nest destroyed by Black Bear

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I live in Asheville, NC, and have had successful bluebird nests for a number of years. Our pair of nesting bluebirds had its second brood, which was a week old this past Wednesday. I had switched from a standard Wild Birds Unlimited wooden house with a cotter-pinned door to a Gilbertson PVC house for easier monitoring.

Last week a black bear raided the bluebird house, and ate the five 1 week old babies. I must confess to feeding birds on my second floor deck, which does attract bears. I had no idea that bears would be bluebird predators. But I guess that they are opportunistic, and the new style house was easy pickings, and somewhat reminiscent of a bird feeder.

I take my feeders in at night, but am now in the process of bear-proofing my deck to discourage them from the property. I believe there might be time for another brood, and would like to put the old wooden style house out. I think it would be much harder for a bear to get into that, than the Gilbertson style house.

The bluebirds saw the bear attack their nest. He was still in the meadow when I noticed the damage. I chased him away, and looked up and saw the mom and dad bluebird in their favorite perching tree, looking down on the scene.

So, here's my question: Do I put the nesting box in the old location, or should I look for a new one? Will they go back to a location that has been raided? Also, how quickly are they able to establish a nest after a failure such as this?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Featured Answer

parkernicole01

10 years ago

Hey Lissa-

So glad they're trying again! BTW, they won't usually use another species' nest, but they won't hesitate to build over it. Thank goodness the Dees had already fledged! Love those little cute birds! Is it to where you could take a spatula & safely remove the Chickadee nest & eggs that are underneath the bluebird nest? It shouldn't deter them. It will just keep the nest lower, which will make it harder for predators to get to parents, eggs, or babies.

Secondly, any box that you use should be at least 15 feet from any structure (tree, fence, house) so that predators can't jump to pole or box. That's great that you have a slick pole, but it should have a wobbly baffle on it to keep raccoons, cats, squirrels, etc., from getting to house. I'll see if I can find a picture of mine & post it (got my big baffle at WBU). Hopefully, vamonos99 can send you a picture of her Krueger guard on her pole so you can have an idea of how to deter snakes if they're a problem where you live.

Thirdly, do you have HOSP or HOWR? Those that have problems with those put sparrow spookers and,or wren guards up. I have lots of HOSP in my area, so I always put up a sparrow spooker after the 1st egg is laid. I imagine it would be hard to keep a big bear from attacking, which is just one of those things unfortunately! Did the bear tear up your Gilbertson box?

Lastly, what are your average temps right now? I imagine it shouldn't be too hot there. Shockingly, my bb pair have almost completed their third nest after 2 successful broods fledging & I fear it's too hot here in central AL. Ugh!

BTW, please forgive me if you already knew this info. I'm just trying to help! Keep us posted on how it goes!

PS- I'm thinking of moving to Asheville some time in the next 18-24 months. Do you like it there? I just love the town & the mountains!

Nicole

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (29)

parkernicole01
10 years ago
Oh man, Lissa, so sorry to hear that! It seems any wild animal is looking for a free meal. They all operate on survival mechanisms. Bless their hearts! Even though I don't know anything about bear invasions, I would do just what you suggested. Change the box to the original one & move it to a new location. They'll always try again. Could be somewhere else, but would certainly give it a try. Anything you can do to deter those bears would help. Don't know if it would help with a bear, but make sure you have a baffle on your pole. So sorry!

Nicole
vamonos99
10 years ago
Ooooohhhh no! I am so sorry! I can't imagine a baffle big enough for a bear :(

I can't even imagine.
Related Discussions
black insect eggs on Carmen Jewel cherry
Q
Comments (6)
I hadn't gotten back to check the bush cherry until this morning. They weren't lady bugs. Appear to be little black aphids in large numbers now, and they have chewed the newest leaves all up. I took the bird cage off the bush in the hopes that the bluebirds that are nesting about 15' away might eat the aphids. When the rain stops, I'll have to try blasting the aphids with the hose. If that doesn't help, I'll have to use some soap spray and put the bird cage back over it, so the bluebirds don't eat the soapy bugs. The final weapon would be insecticide with the cage over them to protect the bluebirds, since the bush is too small to produce cherries yet, anyway.
...See More
Bears and feral hogs
Q
Comments (40)
Ww have wild or feral hogs here in southwest Washington County Arkansas also. The first showed up about 12 years ago. Sow had a litter between the rows of hay stored outside. In 12 years they have over-run the territory. Biggest issue is the destruction of pastures and hay medows. We have trapped and either sold or butchered dozens each year for the past several years. Hunters usually bring the numbers down during deer season. But with no real natural preadators, their numbers continue to climb. For our area, the true Razorback has been extinct for a very long time. What we are seeing are domistic animals turned feral. They have migrated here or been hauled in. I live 1 mile from the national forest. Nothing between me and Fort Smith but Lee Creek. Hogs will turn feral quicker than any other animal. About 3 generations is all it takes, or less than 5 years. Had the same issue with the armidilo many years back. We would go out on a sunny warm winter day and have killed up to 30 in an afternoon. They would come out on days like that and were easy to spot in the sun shine as they dug around in the pastures. It took several years to get their numbers down enough that a man didn't have to spend a couple weeks filling holes in his hay medows. Bears arn't that big a problem here. Had a teenager tear into our Church/community building a couple of times. Game and Fish asked us to wait until spring to see if the youngster would move on, if not they would trap him. And move on he did. I still see one or two a year. Supposed to be cats here as will. I've never seen one, but others have. All in all, those hogs are the worst all the way around. More dangerous, more destructive and by far more difficult to control. Good Luck folks.....
...See More
Eggs found outside of nest box?
Q
Comments (7)
The three eggs are still there, and mom and dad have been busy at work. They're eating up the dried mealworms, too. I haven't seen any house wrens, but I'm not great at picking them out, either. I just went to my Sibley book, and it says that they are at edges of woods and overgrown gardens, we really don't fit that bill. No woods, and not much of a garden. This neighborhood was corn fields until 2006 and they scraped off all of the good soil and left the clay. Two neighborhoods side by side, same outcome. Any trees here are under 7 years old. I've put in bushes in the last 2 years, all are still quite small. I do have a carolina wren that nests every year in the propane tank, about 15 feet from the bluebird feeder. I've left that nest alone, but found it on the ground after the propane guy came about a month ago. I don't know if the wren will rebuild or not, I hope so. That's a funny bird, when we sit on the back porch it'll jump around the porch just out of eyesight and peek over to look at us as it goes around. Like it thinks we don't see it!! Would a carolina wren disturb it? My daughter just started taking lessons at that horse farm, I was actually shocked when I heard and then saw those HOSP. They were only there that one time, but they were there. We are quite rural, and close to the bay with a lot of swamp around. I never feed birdseed beyond the winter time and it is always BOSS or safflower seeds, never millet and that filler crap that those HOSP seem to love. I really hope I never see one of those here!! I have a killdeer nesting somewhere way in the backyard, I haven't gotten too close, I got a warning last time I walked back there, and my purple martins are back, too :) Each of the plots in the neighborhood are an acre, and it is only about 40% built, the builders left after the market crashed. The empty plots are regularly mowed, lots of empty fields around here. Christy
...See More
Help -- Parents aren't leaving the nesting box after fledging
Q
Comments (11)
We checked the box and the nest was flattened completely. We had gone out to purchase and prepare a new bluebird box and a new post as the old one was warping. We removed the old nest and took out the pool and house to dig a deeper hole for the new house. The parent stood by the entire time we did this. There were no babies left in the box, however, at the very bottom of the nest we did find one egg that did not hatch. We don't think this is why the parents kept coming back. We do think they just wanted to keep a claim on the box. Well, within two minutes (before we even got back to our house) the male flew back to the new house and both parents have been flying back and forth for the last four days. The male keeps looking inside the box and if any other bird attempts to come near, they are quickly chased away by the male. We are anxiously awaiting for them to start building their new nest. They may be still feeding their babies who should be pretty well on their own by now. It was interesting how they watched us as we installed their "new house" and immediately returned to it. I'll keep you posted and hopefully building will begin soon. We saw them do this before they built their last nest. It took days for them to actually start building. We checked and checked and finally started to see the female bringing in nesting material. Hope it happens soon. It has been very hot here - temperatures around 90 and above. Lots of baby cardinals, bluejayss, etc. coming around our feeders near our house. Everyone is quite busy! And the babies are quite insistent on being fed even though some are a large as their parents.
...See More
vamonos99
10 years ago
At least with snakes you can dispose of them. It seems like with their big paws the old wooden style box is best. My sides are super hard to open.
parkernicole01
10 years ago
Can't imagine any size baffle deterring a bear either! That's just a bummer!
vamonos99
10 years ago
Mine started rebuilding in about a week. I moved the same house about 20 feet away from the snake attack after adding a snake trap.
Lissa Mosley
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for that information. We just saw the pair taking baths; it's nice to know that they're still in the neighborhood. We don't have a snake baffle on the house. It's on a waxed metal pole, set in a meadow. What was your mounting system like when it was attacked?
Lissa Mosley
Original Author
10 years ago
I just found their new nest. They built it on top of an old Carolina Chickadee nest that was in another standard wood bluebird house on the property. There were two chickadee eggs, buried in the bedding, that were left over after the brood fledged. I was planning on emptying it out after I was sure it wasn't a new brood starting. I procrastinated for a few weeks, and the bluebirds beat me to it! I'm amazed, I had always read that they would not re-use a nest from another species. The whole process is amazing, heart warming, and heart breaking ... all at the same time.
parkernicole01
10 years ago
Best pic I could find with baffle on pole & sparrow spooker on top of box. It's not as close to bushes as it looks in pic. Have since cut those back that are closer to pole.
parkernicole01
10 years ago
One further away from side.
parkernicole01
10 years ago
Took that last pic around Easter because there's a bunny on ground on right. That little guy has been living in my yard ever since! Saw him yesterday out back. He's pretty used to us being around now.
Lissa Mosley
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you, everyone for your advice. Unfortunately, the birdhouse they've chosen to use is a bit close to a low hanging tree limb; I might be able to lop it off. The house that they have previously used is in a meadow, so no worries about predators jumping from anywhere. I will pick up a couple baffles and put them on both houses.

We live at 3000 feet (about 800' higher than Asheville), so it's not too hot, although we have been going though a hot, humid spell, where it's been getting into the high 80s up here. I've never seen a house sparrow or house wren nearby. We have Carolina Wrens, but they don't seem to be a problem.

The Gilbertson house wasn't destroyed. The bear bent the pole it was mounted on, and separated the pvc section from the wooden top.

I can certainly remove the chickadee nest that is below the new nest they have built; hopefully they won't be unhappy with my meddling.

Finally, Asheville is a lovely place to be. It's gotten very popular, which makes for more traffic and a shortage of affordable housing. With so many transplants, people are very welcoming, and making friends is easy. We have nice restaurants, lots happening, and lovely mountains. Hard to complain!
parkernicole01
10 years ago
Love Carolina Wrens! They coexist well with EABL. Those baffles should help & try to cut that tree limb if you can. Weather sounds great for nesting & living! Sounds beautiful where you live! Hope it all goes well this time around!

Nicole
vamonos99
10 years ago
Praying for your pair Alissa!

My two losses were due to total ignorance on my part. I had a decorative birdhouse with a tin roof I put up years ago hanging from a tree in front of my front porch and they came for years and always got two or three nestings with no losses. This year I caught a five foot snake in the tree in broad daylight in the act of getting the eggs.

Well dummy me got a proper wooden box and screwed it 8 feet up a tree and used TONS of snake repellent around the base. Two days before fledge they were gone. The stupid snake that did this one was dumb enough to come back the next day to the house so sorry he was relocated to heaven like the first one.

So I finally got a clue and went to Sialis.org and got educated and made this.
vamonos99
10 years ago
Finally had success but it was a super late nesting for here and I am thrilled they made it out safely. I just wish I knew what to do about bears! My sister in CT has a resident bear and a chicken she found in the road. Need to find out how she keeps Roadie the chicken safe!
vamonos99
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I have no idea why I have these huge snakes all of a sudden. They certainly don't help keep the moles away.
vamonos99
10 years ago
Luckily I don't have house wrens or HOSP. Just mean mockingbirds.
parkernicole01
10 years ago
Ditto on the Mockingbirds!!
vamonos99
10 years ago
Nicole, they seem meaner by the day! They keep trying to chase my blues from the cage feeder! I guess hoping a worm will fall out? Ugh! I'm over them!
vamonos99
10 years ago
vamonos99
10 years ago
vamonos99
10 years ago
Two sweet gifts I got this week!
parkernicole01
10 years ago
Ok. Where did the slippers come from? I want some!!
parkernicole01
10 years ago
Very sweet gifts, BTW!
vamonos99
10 years ago
Nicole, my mom's best friend found them her hospital's gift shop! I will see if they have more! You've been my hugest support through the bluesy bluebird year! I think I am going to display them and never wear them though!

The other present was from my nurse practitioner's 10 year old daughter who I let have a peek at the babies before fledge. We don't have robins here but it was such a sweet sentiment!
parkernicole01
10 years ago
Those slippers are so cute! If you find any more, I wear a size 6 & will send you the $ plus postage. Let me know & I can email you my address & send you a check. I love them!

Such thoughtful gifts!

Better yet, tell me which hospital gift shop & I can call myself! That should be a lot easier for you & not a problem for me. Thanks for sharing!
vamonos99
10 years ago
I'm I'm going to find them for you Nicole! You have held my hand through the worst year ever! But it's Providence Hospital in Mobile AL!
parkernicole01
10 years ago
Thx Lisa. I will call them tomorrow. So cute!
parkernicole01
10 years ago
BTW, you have held my hand as well (more than you know). Thank you!!

Bluebird nest destroyed by Black Bear

parkernicole01

Comments (29)

parkernicole01

vamonos99

Related Discussions

vamonos99

parkernicole01

vamonos99

Lissa Mosley
Original Author

Lissa Mosley
Original Author

parkernicole01

parkernicole01

parkernicole01

Lissa Mosley
Original Author

parkernicole01

vamonos99

vamonos99

vamonos99

vamonos99

parkernicole01

vamonos99

vamonos99

vamonos99

vamonos99

parkernicole01

parkernicole01

vamonos99

parkernicole01

vamonos99

parkernicole01

parkernicole01

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Bluebird nest destroyed by Black Bear

Comments (29)

Related Discussions

Lissa MosleyOriginal Author

Lissa MosleyOriginal Author

Lissa MosleyOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Lissa Mosley
Original Author

Lissa Mosley
Original Author

Lissa Mosley
Original Author