Rachel, A quick pull on their neck and they are done for. House Sparrows do not belong here at all and they are not humane at all when they raid the nest box of a pair of Bluebirds. They grab the skull of the female most often as she tries to defend her nest inside the cavity. Then they slowly pinch and pinch until the female Bluebird is dead. I have even see where they have built their nest over the dead body of the female Bluebird and her eggs. Because of this I feel no pity at all for them and no it is not their fault they are here but that is no reason to tolerate them in any fashion. Once you trap and destroy these no good birds for a few seasons you start noticing how many more native American birds are starting to show up at your feeders and that is a wonderful thing. Getting rid of House Sparrows and Starlings helps all native birds not just the bluebird and because of my trapping and killing them native birds of all kinds are very common here...Mike

I'm usually able to tell by the behavior of the parents. They will bring food but not feed them. Land on the box, go to the entrance then back to the top of the box, like they're trying to entice them out. I still don't always catch the fledge as this can happen at any time of day. Sometimes early morning, and even right before nightfall. The parents will also become very aggressive if you get near the box at fledge time. They will dive bomb you to protect their fledglings. I was about 60 feet away during the last fledge I witnessed. I used binoculars to keep a good distance and they still dive bombed me.

2 of the babies from our last clutch are still hanging around. They will beg, but I haven't observed the parents feeding them anymore. Interesting thing happened yesterday. There are 4 new eggs which the female is incubating. I observed one of the fledglings enter the box, and he/she never came out! It was late afternoon...quite warm...Was he snuggling with the female? couldnt guess. I will add that during a very cold spell in the winter, every evening 5 bluebirds would arrive and crowd into the house. In the morning, they would fly out, one by one, wake up a little, then fly off. But every evening, they would arrive, one by one, and go back into their "bedroom " together!

I am on my 3rd nesting I think. First one had four eggs, then the nest was abandoned. Didn't see the blues for awhile,then the eggs were on the ground. Not viable at all. 2nd nesting there were 4 eggs, two fledged, 2 died, one very small one and one normal size. 3rd nesting, 3 eggs, 3 hatched, 17 days old. Saw them at 12 days old. Havent checked since for fear premature fledging. Saw Mama this morning a couple of times at the box, saw her once this evening get an insect but didn't go to the box. Doesn't seem to be any activity around the box. Could be they have fledged. Haven't checked. I will wait a couple of more days to make sure. I don't know if I would know the difference between an adult and baby. Haven't seen any around today but one, I think it was the mother.