Hi Diane- It could be a # of things, but if you have HOSP in your area, that could be your big problem. It is not uncommon for them to decapitate one of the bluebird parents if it wants that box! They're smaller, but if they get into the box with one of the bluebird parents, their beaks are fiercely pointed & that's what they often do! Before going into all these other things that you could do, look to see if you have those hanging around or if they are building their messy nests in any of your other boxes. The male HOSP is usually the culprit & will often stand on top of box chirping away claiming victory. Just awful little birds!

If HOSP are the problem, go to Sialis.org, & read about how you can handle the problem. A sparrow spooker after bluebird lays 1st egg is a must! I have to use one & have had good success so far. You can also trap HOSP & dispose of them as a law because they have badly invaded many of our cavity-nesting native species of birds. If I'm barking up the wrong tree here, the Sialis site can give you every idea of how to deter predators, whether they're the climbing or flying type. If you have any more info to provide, I will offer anything I can to you, but the Sialis site is excellent. Also, there is another bluebird posting site called bluebird nut cafe & there are tons of very experienced bluebird experts on that site. I have learned so much from those people!

I am so very sorry that this has happened! Just hate it for you & your blues! Please don't give up because they will always try again, even if it's next season. Just keep trying to find them solutions as you are doing now. Wish you the best!

Nicole

Nicole, are you referring to House Sparrows? They sound awful! Thank goodness we don't have them here! I live in a rural area of Kentucky, back in a holler (hollow, valley). I have never seen a House Sparrow out here. But, I am amazed to discover that birds will do this to each other! It does make sense when I think of how the wound looked. It was very clean, just like someone took a pair of scissors and cut the head off. No other predator I can think of would have done such a clean job and then left the body without eating it. I can't really think of any other cavity nesting bird out here that would want to take the nest box. We have wrens, but they are so tiny. We have the cowbirds that will toss the eggs and lay their own. I have set up a trail camera to see if I can get a picture of the culprit, if it comes back looking for more. I will let you know if I get anything. Thank you so much for the post. I will go to the web site listed and see what all I can do. I love my little bluebirds and don't want to give up on them. Do you know if anyone has ever tried to just put a cage around the bluebird house, fully enclosed, to keep out cats, raccoons and other larger predators? I know it won't help if it's other birds, though. Thanks again!

I am so sorry for your loss Diane! The pain is just awful and something so many of us understand. I had to quickly educate myself after two senseless losses this year and it was worth it in the end. I think there's a solution for just about any problem you may be having.

I miss my 10 years of bliss when nothing went wrong except for the rare unhatched egg. Heck, I think I cried over them too :(

Thank you so much both of you for your ideas and encouragement. These are some things I hadn't thought of. I know now that I need to educate myself more on this. I guess I went for so many years without any problems, I didn't even know anything like this could happen. Once the predators find you, that's it though! I did get pictures of our house cat checking the bluebird box. I can't be positive she is the one that bit the females head off, but I do know she's a threat. I think if it were the cat, she would have taken the whole bird and eaten it. I also think I know one problem I have. I have my houses mounted on top of fence posts, making it easy for the cats to climb up to the boxes and no baffles. But, like I said, I had years and I mean 25 years without a problem! Then a couple of years ago, the bad luck started. I will definitely educate myself better. Thanks again for all the help!

Well at least you know part of the problem anyway. We all learn from tough experiences. Yes, your cat can just reach in there & grab what's there. It could be that your cat couldn't reach what was left. Definitely get the boxes off of the fences & on slick poles with wobbly baffles on them. As long as your cat can't jump to the box from anything, that should take care of your cat problem. The only other thing you could do is contain your kitty during nesting season. Probably easier said than done....

Also, by moving your boxes, I think your bluebirds will be more prone to return because they won't equate a new location to predation failure. Hope the daddy finds a new mate soon! So sorry!

If you go to post labeled "bluebird nest destroyed by black bear", you can see my pole & baffle. I got them at Wild Birds Unlimited here in town. I also had to cut those bushes back (& a tree limb) that are close to box in pictures. Wish you all the best!

Nicole

My next project...move the bluebird houses to poles with baffles. Thanks!

Good luck, Diane!

Cats are funny. I actually let the local spay neuter and release group put a feeder in my front yard so there are 3-4 feral cats there. I've never once had them bother a bird that I know of. I put food on the driveway for the doves and cardinals and the cats are too lazy and well fed to bother with them.

The lady explained to me that only 20% of cats hunt. Thank goodness all of mine are strictly indoors now but I've had some that just won't stay in and run out every chance they get. A good wobbling baffle should take care of that problem.

Oh, one last thing, Diane. Can't tell by the pic, but a predator guard over the hole will help make it deeper where it's harder for cats & raccoons to reach anything. On the pic I posted, you may be able to zoom in & see mine. Otherwise, Sialis talks about this too.

Lisa, I was cracking up over your cats! Too funny!

I like cats, but if it was up to me, I wouldn't have them, or only have an indoor one. But, we have livestock and chickens, which means livestock and chicken feed, which means mice and rats. I tell you, if you don't have a at least one cat those varmints will take you out. We lost our last cat to old age, and within two weeks the rats were back tunneling under the barn. I couldn't believe that one cat kept them out that well. So, my mom found 2 little kittens under her building and I said I needed more cats and I took them. They are great mousers, but they also kill everything else. We feed them well, so they are not hungry. They are just hunters. So I'm just going to try and make my bluebird boxes better set up and hope for better luck next year.

DIanne, I hope you don't think I meant your cats aren't fed well!!!! This lady who lives her whole life around cats told me it makes no difference at all! Some cats just won't hunt!

I just have the world's laziest feral cats who lay on the lawn right on top of the million moles I have and won't eat a think that doesn't come out of a bag or a can!

I wish mine would at least keep snakes away!

good luck with your new set-up! ! Praying for your babies!

I feel awful. It's bad enough losing your blues without someone implying you don't feed your cat. Please forgive my insensitive moment. I'm really not like that.

Ive shed so many tears over my birds this year it's ridiculous.

I have a cocker spaniel & he used to love to get hold of a bird. He's nearly blind now, so they coexist quite well now. I love all animals (not much for rats & snakes), so it's hard when anything happens to any of them. It sounds like you're in a tough predicament, Diane. I'm with you, though. I'll take the cats over the rats any day! Actually, I love cats. I think you'll be fine with pole, baffle, predator guard over entrance, & keeping boxes 15 ft. + away from structures. With your kitty, I would definitely do all of the above. Lots of bluebird boxes these days come with predator guards already on them. I don't think you have to do the Noel guard. Good luck to you & your blues!

Nicole

BTW, Lisa, I didn't think you were suggesting that Diane didn't keep her cats well fed. Truly didn't read it that way for all it's worth...

Whew! I felt bad!

i have a Yorkie who lives to chase birds and squirrels and it's a constant battle. He has succeeded when one got in my screened in pool.

i have a blind dog too and he's so much easier to deal with LOL.

Vamonos99, sorry I just saw this. No, I didn't think you meant that at all! :)

Thanks Dianne! I sure didn't mean to make a hurtful and unhelpful comment when you least needed it! Sending you hugs!