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Birding/speckled egg in bb nest

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 5/5/2011


Question
I recently had 6 BB eggs and found them on the ground one morning. I now have new eggs,  3 so far, but I looked in the nest today and I have one speckled egg that looks like the one in your book "How and Why of Bluebirding" on page 13. What do I do with the egg and is this bird the one that got my other eggs? Will this keep my BB out of the nest? Thanks for your help. I love my BB>

Answer
It is hard to be sure of what has happened. House Wrens throw eggs out, but they usually punch holes in them. Were they punctured? House sparrows do too, but they usually smash them, often in the nest. House Wrens are most active near brush and woods. If this is the situation I would relocate the box to a more open space later. If two of the three eggs are Bluebird eggs I would throw out the speckled one and see what happens. Unfortunately an attack is often repeated. Good luck. To contact me again use my email walshaw1@cox.net it is easier. 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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