Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 6/25/2011

Question
Carolina Wrens made a nice nest in one of our bird feeders.  I was thrilled because it seemed to be the safest place in our yard for the nest.  The feeder hangs on a wire stretched between two trees and had a big squirrel dome over it.  The Wrens were protected from snakes, cats and even rain.  The babies hatched a few days ago and all seemed to be going well.  When I got home this afternoon I noticed Yellow Jackets swarming around the nest.  I took the feeder down and saw a dead baby bird lying outside of the nest in the feeder and it was covered with Yellow Jackets.  I peeked into the nest and saw 3 more dead babies.  I then noticed a live baby bird on the ground just under the spot where the nest had been.  The bird was much too young to have jumped out of the nest because he would have had to climb up and over the sides of the plastic bowl shaped feeder.  I don't know why or how he got out.  He fell about 5 feet to the dirt surface below.  He only had a few feathers and his eyes looked very large and closed.  I took him to our local wildlife rehab place.  I didn't want him to suffer any more than he already had.
I have no idea how all of the other baby birds died.  I thought maybe one of them died and the mother couldn't get it totally out of the nest area and then the bees moved in.  Maybe the bees prevented her from feeding the other babies.  This still doesn't explain the one on the ground.
Any ideas?

Answer
Some things we just don't understand. Certainly the yellow jackets ended the nest. They are very dangerous and will eat meat. Also it is a bad place for a nest in or near a feeder. House Wrens and the killer house sparrows will throw babies out of a neat, and that may have happened before the yellow jacket attack. Be careful around those yellow jackets - more people die in this country from insect attacks than snake bites.

If you will send your mailing address to me at walshaw1@cox.net I will send you my free 20 page Bluebird book - I have send out more than 2300. Your address will be used only to mail the book. Good Luck. Bluebird Bob.