Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 7/1/2008

Question
I live in a typical housing subdivision, kind of new not any large trees around with some open undeveloped areas nearby.  Small yards fenced in -houses pretty close together.  I have a bluebird box in my backyard and have had three successful nest. One brood last year with 4 chicks. Two this year 5 chicks each -but all the young once they leave nest seem to disappear.  Three left the other day, two yesterday, saw them briefly then no more even though the parents are still around. I am thinking that I am wrong in having this box in an area that is not really bluebird habitat. I am not sure if any of the young have survived!

Answer
You are doing fine. It is normal for the parents to take the young away from the birthing area, sometimes to thicker cover until they learn more about foraging and evading predators. There is even in the best areas a low survival rate the first year, but this is nature's plan. One Bluebird 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 get the weaker, slower and less smart which helps to keep the species strong - survival of the fittest. There is a reason for hawks, owls, snakes and other predators.

Think about expanding your Bluebird universe - use neighbor's property or along the highway (best areas of all, even high speed, as cars stir up and knock down insects. I have a six mile 100 box trail and most of it is along highways.) Send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you a free 20 page Bluebird book that will make you an expert.