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Birding/Missing bluebird nestlings

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 5/15/2010


Question
We have a bluebird nest box on a window (the sort with the clear back so you can see--sort of--into the next). There were four eggs and then four hatchlings two weeks ago. Last evening they were all there and both parents were feeding them.  This morning, nothing. The window the box is attached to is on the second floor, but it is over a roof so that the fall from the nest would be only 6 feet.  I don't think there is any way a raccoon or fox or other predator could have climbed up to the box.  We're in a rural location, on the southern end of the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee.

Answer
Snakes can climb houses which if you have counted the days correctly this is probably what happened. Also, from hatching to fledging is only 19 days maximum, and sometimes a bit less, so they may have flown on their own. Send your mailing address to me at walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you my free 20 page Bluebird book which will make you experts. Bluebird Bob Walshaw.

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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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