I am from Rhode Island Trail is in northern RI Bluebirds are not hardy there flocks crash will high snow levels. And cold. Mild seasons they expand there local numbers. When there found dead in spring means there food supply was low and they expired. You will also see some dead threw out spring after a late cold snap the birds will just end up missing but we know it was the late cold snap. Many are weaken from the trip north once they show up and winter returns large numbers perish. It weeds out the old and sick. Ray

Cathy, I agree. Incubating eggs and then being able to feed new born chicks would be tricky to say the least. You stand the change of causing aspiration, crop burn, etc. I do have pet lovebirds and there have been times that members on my lovebird forum have had to foster eggs to an incubator WITH success but you're talking about a bird that can be hand fed from the beginning and you are also talking about round the clock feeding, at least with lovebirds. Again, my local licensed songbird rehabber told me that bluebirds, specifically, must have their "gut" inoculated in the first 24 hour of life and they haven't found a "human" formula that can replace what a mother bluebird can give their hatchlings. A nesting pair on the same or a close schedule would be the best answer in the future if that is a possibility.

Meant to tell you that I love Fairhope- such a charming little town. I would think that if the female isn't going in to lay anymore eggs or to incubate them, that they're not going to move forward at that location for right now. Are you sure she's not going in there? It could be that the Chickadees are hesitant to move forward wondering if the bluebirds are going to come back. If you know that the bluebirds aren't entering the box, my sense would be to remove the eggs & nest. If you don't have any continued activity or new activity, I would definitely get the box out of the tree & on that pole you purchased. I guess you could wait until your pole & baffle arrive- & if no changes, remove material & put the box on the pole with baffle at least 15 feet from tree, but close to it since it's a location they seem to like. I would put any houses that you have on a pole. You could actually move the baffle around according to where you have activity. The golf course side could be another desired location, since it sounds like it may be more open, which is what bluebirds seem to like. How awesome would that be if you had Chickadees in one location & bluebirds in another! As far as the snake repellant, maybe it is ok if it's herbal (& powder at that). I thought that what I sprayed last year should be harmless, but 2 of the fledgelings couldn't yet fly, so they were hopping around in my courtyard for 2-3 days until they died. They were so adorable! I actually took the last one to a rehabber when I realized that it seemed stressed & wasn't accepting food from the parents. As soon as we pulled up to the location, the baby died. It took me about a month to get over losing them. One died in the box, too. Again, wondered if was due to the spray that I used. My neighbor saw the one that flew out into my front yard a few days after it fledged & it seemed fine. Just not going to chance using that spray again during nesting season. You're right though- it's so hard to know exactly what to do because all we want to do is help them, not harm them. If you get a chance, would love to hear what happens. Again, great experts on bluebird nut.com. Nicole

Hi Anita- so so sad! I truly hate to hear that news! The males are such beauties! The only thing I can think is pesticides. Maybe the males were hunting in a yard/ area where pesticides had been used & the babies were being fed from that same hunting area? If it didn't look like any foul play took place, that's the only thing I can imagine. Some babies are affected by heat this time of year, but it's usually when they're younger. You know what? There are lots of bluebird experts on bluebirdnutcafe.com. You may want to inquire there to see if anyone else has any ideas. So glad the TRES nest was successful! So very sorry to hear about your bluebirds! Nicole