This is excatly what happened to me, as I stated above, although the nest I found the bumble bee in wasn't inhabited by Dees, at least not yet, but there was some nesting material inside, so one of my backyard birds had started getting ready but most likely abandoned it due to the bee. I know how you felt, it was scary, not knowing where the bee was hiding or whether or not it would try to sting me. I'm just glad that you got to the bottom of it and that nobody was hurt in the process. Linda

Hey Cathy, I'm here! :D Yes, I did see an egg that was TWENTY ONE DAYS OLD hatch! Because it was in a box with an in-box cam I KNOW when it was laid and I know when it hatched! There were three eggs laid in that nest and only one was fertile. The female removed one of the three by the 17th day but my friend (it was her box) removed the remaining unhatched egg (infertile, all liquid) on the 23rd day, 2 days after the one egg hatched. We would assume that even though the eggs were laid and she remained in the box she was NOT incubating from the start. It was the first nest of the season and we had a 3 day cold snap right after the eggs were laid. I don't hold out a lot of hope for eggs that don't hatch by at least the 15th day (mine have always hatched by the 14th day when they were fertile) but after that experience I know now that you should hold off removing eggs and a nest longer. I can't say exactly how long but I'd probably candle eggs that remain unhatched in a nest after 21 days. Janie

I would definitely give them 21 full days before deciding they were infertile. I did see that happen one time, through in an in-box nest cam that belongs to my friend. Three eggs laid and the female started incubating, or at least we assumed she was since she was staying in the box. We had a 3 day cold snap soon after the eggs were laid. On the 21st day I WATCHED one egg hatch! I could not believe it. The female removed one of the remaining two and my friend removed the other about 3 days later (it was infertile). That one little baby blue had a big nest all to herself and she fledged safely, right on time. 18 days is unusual but Jane mentioned the incubation thing, when it actually starts, and that can make the difference. Good luck and keep us posted.

Very odd things happening with my houses this year. I had bluebirds in one house that laid 5 eggs. For the most part I try to stay away so they don't get spooked. In this case the next time I checked there was one fledgling that I saw but he didn't seem ready to fly away yet. But when I checked 2 days later there were no babies or eggs. The nest was empty. This box was protected with the mesh on the opening. I'm hoping time just flew by and the brood hatched and fledged in my absence! Will the parents start a new brood in the same nest or should I clean the box out for them to start over? I had another box that had activity, 5 eggs layed and a week later no eggs or babies. I fear they were killed since it was an old house from last year and it did not have the protective metal mesh at the opening. I have a nest nearby with the mesh protection. I kept checking and there was no activity or eggs. Then suddenly there was one egg!! I assumed the mom would lay more. I checked for 2 days, still only one egg. The third day the egg hatched with a tiny bald with a little fuzz baby bird. I kept watching from a distance and I did not see the male or female going into the house. I skipped looking inside the box today. I wanted to stay totally away. Tomorrow I will check again. I hope the little guy is okay.... Is it unusual for a female to lay only one egg? I'm thinking that perhaps the pair that were in the other box moved to this box when a predator got their other eggs..... Thus only one last egg to lay??? The box with the one egg is about 20 feet from the empty box. Perhaps this is part of that brood? Can the mom or dad move an egg or did she just lay it in a different box?? I have another box about 100 feet from that one protected with the mesh that some sparrows have taken over. They have built a nest and hang out in front of it on the mesh opening and on top of it but no eggs for well over a month. Perhaps they are the culprits that got the 5 bluebird eggs. Very strange that they built a nest and aren't using it. I know they will build several, one as a decoy or to give the female a choice, but I don't see that they've done that unless they are planning to take over the bluebird box. I will be keeping a watch on that....