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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 6/20/2008


Question
Our bluebird nest now has 4 eggs lain within the last week.  Sadly we found the mother dead today and wonder what we can do to "hatch/incubate"these eggs.  I've also dashed off a note to a song bird rehabber in our area for help.  Are these darlings doomed?

Answer
Please don't do anything except to take the nest out and destroy the eggs. The male may find another mate or some other pair may use the nestbox. This is a normal part of nature as predators or accidents usually get the slow and the less smart. This keeps the species strong - the survival of the fittest.  One pair of Bluebirds can raise 15 or more young every year and if they all survived we would be up to our hips in Bluebirds.

Also it is cruel to try to incubate and reise babies or even to try to feed a baby that you find. If you feed a baby bird or animal it bonds to you and also does not get the training to forage and avoid predators and can never go back to the wild. Send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you a free 20 page Bluebird book that will help you.

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Bluebird Bob Walshaw

Expertise

I can answer almost any question on Eastern Bluebirds and small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, etc. Also general questions on other songbirds. No pet bird questions please.

Experience

I have had a 100+ nestbox trail for more than 20 years, I do a lot of writing, public speaking and educational work in this field. My hands-on Bluebird talks include more than 1000 people each year.

Organizations
Oklahoma Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society, National Audubon Society, Oklahoma Audubon Society, Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance

Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Oklahoma Today, Fur-Fish-Game, Birds & Blooms, Nature Society News,Back Woodsman Magazine, Tulsa World, Broken Arrow ledger, Teaching Tolerance magazine,Trappers World, OK Hole Story, Birders World

Education/Credentials
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, Graduate of the Home Study Course in Bird Biology from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Oklahoma Master Naturalist. I am also a pofessional speaker and writer.

Awards and Honors
Chosen as a public speaker for the North American Bluebird Society, Bluebird trail accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, Chosen as a panel speaker at the 2006 NABS Convention.

Past/Present Clients
Many

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