Blood Spackled Clutch of Eggs???

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john e
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 9:20 am
Location: Frisco, TX

Just yesterday, I had a nest with a clutch of 6 eggs. I had nest checked 3 days earlier. This nest had all eggs missing, with one egg in the process of being tossed out - it was on the ledge. As I observed, it looked like 2 or 3 females were competing for the same nest.

Then today, in a completely different nest with a clutch of 6 eggs, one day "over due", has all eggs blood spackled, with one egg looking like a beak had pecked a small hole in it.

What does this mean. I don't have a sparrow or starling issue. The only thing I can think of is SY's are doing this to my almost full colony. My trendsetter 12 has 12 nests but three without eggs. I have two gourds with eggs in them.

Is this the work of SY's or other predators?

Thanks,

John
2011 One Nesting Pair, 4 eggs, 4 Fledged. Heath cedar home with SREH
2012 10 Nesting pair. 53 eggs, 46 babies, 36 Fledged. Trendsetter 12
2013 12 Nesting pair. 72 eggs. 50 babies. 49 Fledged. Trendsetter 12
2014 Trendsetter 12 with 2 Vertical Gourds
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~Ray~Gingerich
Posts: 2122
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
Location: Delaware/Dover

I don't know, but it sounds like a racoon to me. May have taken one or both adults and left blood on the eggs. The other birds may have known something was wrong and curious
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
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tonyg
Posts: 1520
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:16 pm
Location: Olpe, KS
Martin Colony History: 22 year landlord, 14 at current residence..offering 9 racks and a homemade T-8 for 166 total cavities. 160 Pair in 2018 Racks consist of a Deluxe 12, AAA 16, Starburst 16, 2 K-18 Series, Super 24, 2 Gemini, Multi-purpose/two trio’s/4gourds and a T-8..Great hobby to be involved in..

Can't explain blood splattered eggs, unless female had some problems laying them...but sounds like SY's to me...
22 year landlord..9 Rack Systems for 2018 and my home built T-8 for a total of 166 cavities..160 pair in 2018 ..SUPER COLONY!!! Love You Bev... Fan of those St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

Small hole in the one egg could be beginning of hatching process - was hole near midline of egg?
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john e
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2012 9:20 am
Location: Frisco, TX

Thanks for the replies.

Louise was right...

Four of the 5 eggs hatched today. Still one egg left.

Still can't figure out the blood on the eggs?

John
2011 One Nesting Pair, 4 eggs, 4 Fledged. Heath cedar home with SREH
2012 10 Nesting pair. 53 eggs, 46 babies, 36 Fledged. Trendsetter 12
2013 12 Nesting pair. 72 eggs. 50 babies. 49 Fledged. Trendsetter 12
2014 Trendsetter 12 with 2 Vertical Gourds
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