AboutBluebird Bob Walshaw Expertise Questions about setting up and monitoring Eastern Bluebird houses. This includes where and how to put up houses, trouble shooting, fighting predators, etc.
Experience 10 years with an 80 box Bluebird trail which has been accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail. Talks on Bluebirds to many organizations.
Organizations North American Bluebird Society, Audubon Society
Publications Bluebird Magazine, Birds and Blooms, Oklahoma Today, etc.
Education/Credentials BS, MBA, Cornell University Bird Biology course
Awards and Honors Blue Cross Ageless Hero, Red Cross Everyday Hero
Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw Date: 6/11/2008 Subject: Bluebird hatchlings abandoned?
Question Just this morning I noticed a large chunk of dead grass gathered below our bluebird box. I check our box everyday and watch it from our kitchen window (It is situated only about 5 yards from the house) Our bluebird box has been housing a mother bluebird and four eggs...two of which were beginning to crack. As I opened the box I noticed the beginnings of a new nest on top of the old one. The male bluebird was near by. I scraped through the new nest to check the eggs....one was hatched and another baby was pecking a hole! I read that house sparrows will build their nest on top of a bluebird's nest and the bluebirds will leave. I cleaned out the new nest, however, the male and female bluebirds have yet to return. The hatchling is strong as is moving around. Have the parents abandoned the nest? Is it because I touched the nest/eggs or because of the new nest built on top?
Answer Your touching the eggs/babies was not the problem. We are even able to take babies out of the nest to show children until the young are 12 days old. The sparrow nest on top was the Shock and the parents may not come back. Send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net and I will send you a free 20 page bluebird book that will make you an expert.
