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

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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.
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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

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