Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 6/4/2009

Question
I have successfully nurtured Eastern Bluebirds for 10 years just north of metro Atlanta; 3 clutches per yr; 4-5 eggs each. This year the mated pair nested in a near by yard but fed from my mealworm feeder and only one fledge ever came to feed.The pr. nested in my yard immediately and all five hatchlings have died in the nest, sometime between days 5 and 8. I have studied the nest and can not decide what might have caused the deaths. The bodies are formed, but they appear small; feathers have fallen off corpses.No blow flies; no known competitors or predators, except this yr. we have chipmunks, but the Nest is completely intact. Pair and the one survivor from the 1st clutch still app. healthy & feed every day. Other nesters were successful: Tufted Titmouse; chickadees; cardinal, red headed woodpecker. Do you have any ideas? genetic defects? and suggestions? Thank you. I am heart broken.

Answer
This is not unusual. It has happened to me twice this spring on my 100+ box trail, and we just don't always know why. In the case of very young birds it is almost always due to the loss of the female as they need brooding and the male has no brood patch. Usually one parent can feed the young, but this does not always happen. Birds have many predators and when they are killed the babies starve. And early in the spring if the weather turns cold and food is short sometimes the parents will abandon the young to save themselves. Scrape out the box with a putty knife and move on. Also please send your mailing address to me at walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you my free 20 page Bluebird book.