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Birding/will a mockingbird reuse a nest where it's dead baby remains?

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Expert: Julia Booth - 7/17/2009


Question
i found a nest with 3 baby mockingbirds 7 days ago.. the
mother and father had been actively feeding them.. but i
just checked on them and found 1 baby dead inside the nest
and the other 2, along with the parents missing.. my
question is, what do i do with the dead baby inside the
nest? if the dead baby remains inside the nest, will the
mother reuse this nest again in the future?

Answer
I have seen Mockingbirds have trouble accepting the death of an offspring. But I've never seen one reuse a nest with the baby's remains still in it. And it's also late in the season. So it's unlikely they're going to have anymore babies this year.

I would dispose of it, just in case it might become a health hazard.


Let me know if that doesn't fully answer your question,

Julia

Birding

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Julia Booth

Expertise

I can answer questions about bird identification (by sight or sound), behavior, distribution, population, conservation, mating, nesting, fledging and feeding. I do have some practical knowledge about foreign species, but identification skills are limited in that arena. Bear in mind that as much as I know, it's possible that at least some of you will ask a question that I am unable to answer. At which point I would direct you to wherever or whomever I thought could provide you with that information.

Experience

I have 15 years birding experience in Southern California.

Organizations
Audubon Society

Education/Credentials
My education is in art and photography -but I have a substantial portfolio of nature related work.

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