Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 5/11/2011

Question
QUESTION: I discovered (with horror) that all four of the blue bird nestlings in a nest are dead   What should I do?   should I clean out the box?   This is an Audubon-approved nesting box that saw three clutches of eggs hatch and fledge last year and the years before.   What could have happened to these babies?   they don't look like they have been pecked..   They are just cold and lifeless -- no evidence of any respiratory effort   Thanki you in advance for any advice.

ANSWER: Sorry about that. That is not unusual. They have many predators which is why they raise so many young. What has usually happened in a case like this is that a hawk or some other predator has gotten the parents, and if the babies are small all it takes is for the female to be lost as the male does not have a brood patch to keep them warm. The babies just starve to death, and if it has been cold this happens quickly. Yes, remove the babies and the nest. Also please send your mailing address to me at walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you my free 20 page Bluebird book. I have sent out more than 2300 and your address will be used only to mail the book. If this concerns you google Bluebird Bob Walshaw to see the work that I do. See page 19 for why you should have at least 3 or 4 boxes. Good luck! Bluebird Bob.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Bob-- Thank you for your prompt response.    I do, in fact, have three blue bird boxes approximately 100 yards apart, as is recommended.   I have seen a turkey buzzard around lately -- I'm wondering if that was the fate of the mother blue bird ....   
I will clean out the nest and the dead hatchlings and hope for better luck next time.

Answer
The buzzards eat carrion and don't kill things. Hawks would be the most common suspects. They have to kill every day to feed their familes, although it could be cats or other predators. Bear in mind that predators are part of the balance of nature. They mostly get the sick, the slow and the dumb, thus helping to keep the species strong. Think of the 15 or so Bluebirds that fledged from that box last year. If all Bluebird young survived we would be up to our hips in Bluebirds and they would quickly outgrow their food supply. Good luck. Bluebird Bob.