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Question
I feel almost foolish with this question but here goes anyway. Cardinals built a nest in my Boston Fern on my deck. I blocked the deck off as well as the yard around it to keep my dogs away till they left the nest. Which would have been soon. This afternoon I found a snake robbing the nest. He spit it out but too late. What will that poor mama bird do now? I'm simply heart broken for her.
Please don't be too upset. Predators get the sick and the dumb and the slow and help to keep the species strong. Bird survival rates are very low and if they all survived we would be up to our hips in birds. For example, one Bluebird pair can raise as many as 15 or more young in a season. This early the birds will probably re-nest and have another family, hopefully in a safer place.
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Answers by Expert:
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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