Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 6/21/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a bluedbird house in the backyard, and was delighted to see a couple move in this spring.  Two days ago, the male and female disappeared - gone, vanished.  I opened the box, and the nest is in there with the eggs, which are not damaged in any way.  I am heartbroken - what could have happened to the bluebirds?

ANSWER: This is not unusual in nature. They have a lot of predators, and also sometimes will abandon eggs or even babies to save themselves if food is short. And sometimes we just don't know. Wait two weeks and then take the nest out and destroy the eggs so they can either repeat or another pair may move in. Bear in mind that one pair can raise 15 or more young in a season, and if they all survived we would be up to our hips in Bluebirds. Predators usually get the slower and less smart which keeps the species strong - the survival of the fittest. Send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you a free 20 page Bluebird book that will help you.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What can I do to attract another bluebird couple to the nest?

Answer
By cleaning out the old nest after you are sure that it has been abandoned as per my last message. All you ever need to do is to scrape boxes out well with a putty knife. As you will see on page 19 of the book always put up at least 3 or 4 boxes as you will always lose some. Use neighbors property or along the highway, etc. at least 100 yards apart unless they are separated by your house or some other large barrier.