You are here:
- Home
- Recreation/Outdoors
- Birding/Wild Birds
- Birding
- Bluebird nesting
Birding/Bluebird nesting
Advertisement
Question
We had a bluebird pair arrive in early June and nest in our box. (Actually chickadees had already nested and momma bluebird removed the baby chickadees). The bluebirds hatched 5 babies but last week we noticed the parents were missing and the babies were dead. There were ants in the box. We have cleaned the box. We are in Connecticut and it is July 2nd. Is there a chance they will nest again?
Thank you for your help. I have sent for your Bluebird book.
Pat Nelson
Bluebirds will abandon babies if they are crawling with ants. That is why it is important to open boxes and check regularly. If that happens you can put the babies in a dark bag, remove the nest and spray the box with caged bird spray, make a grass nest and put the babies back. Spray the post too (and repeat after a rain.) A more permanent fix is Tangletrap spray (google the Tanglefoot Co.) Also it is possible that predators got the parents and the ants came after. Good luck, Bluebird Bob Walshaw.
Related Articles
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
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.