Need bluebird help

[Michael N]

Put up a BB box for the first time this year. Had a pair take the house and lay 5 eggs. I've kept the sparrows away for the most part, but was out of town this weekend. Just got back - the male is calling constantly while going in and out of the house...female is keeping a distance. Checked inside, and one of the eggs is gone while another has a dent that appears to be pecked in it. The remaining eggs have some dried yoke on them.

Haven't seen any sparrows harassing them, but no way to tell having been gone since Friday.

Not sure what to do next and could use some advice.

Thanks.

[jasalva]

There is a small bird that makes continual bubbling noises called a house wren. They also will puncture eggs and we have had eggs taken out of boxes and discarded around the box. If not the sparrow, then perhaps a house wren. The eggs are done. You might think about taking the remaining eggs out, leaving the nest and see if the female will come back. House wrens are a protected species, there is nothing that you can do about them. I hope that you find the answer. Don't give up, the BB need you!

[Zach]

I agree with jassalva, I would say its a house wren and I would take the rest of the eggs out including the nest. The female should rebuild a new nest and lay new eggs. My BB pair just finished laying their 5th egg today. I wouldn't lose hope or give up they are amazing to watch.

[Michael N]

Thanks for your help. The odd thing is that I rarely see house wrens in my yard, and never once saw one on the BB box. I have, however, had sparrows land on it. They even tried to nest in it prior to me shooting the male which allowed the BB's to move in.

Upon closer inspection, 1 egg is gone and two have dents in them. The remaining 2 are unharmed and the nest looks to be in good shape.

[Matt@atx]

Hi Michael,

I'd take the two remaining damaged ones out and leave the two undamaged ones in place. Maybe she will lay some more. If not, they can raise two which is still something nice.


Do you have a Sparrow Spooker erected over the top of your Blue Bird house? I don't believe I read whether you mentioned that or not. The Spooker will pretty much scare all birds from approaching the box, even Blue birds but when they have eggs in, they will come anyway.

It works well against all other nest competitor song birds like Wrens as well as Sparrows which is the BB killer you are really looking out for. Its not a 100% guaranteed preventive measure but I would say approximately 90%. I'll take those numbers!

[Jose Rodriguez]

Michael, do you have a picture of your BB house setup? I almost think something is reaching in there and pulling an egg out or attempting therefor crushing the others. I'm no expert, but I have heard this happen which is one of the reasons I installed a tunnel in ours.

[DannyM]

I have three bluebird boxes on my property. I have fledged birds from two of them last year and this year both. I did have a house wren build a nest twice in one of the boxes and laid eggs. I just left it alone but it just suddenly disappeared one day and hasn't been back. I actually moved that box a bit to a new location with nothing yet but the bluebirds know it's there because they frequently lite on it. I enjoy watching the bluebirds. They like to sit atop the martin gourds and look out for insects. I hope you have success with your bluebirds.

[diane vB]

Michael, your female may have met her demise? As others have said, leave the two good eggs and wait. Theres nothing you can do. Get the pmca double sparrow trap. I have three and set it up with seed or feathers inside. I had a mother BB killed and dead on top of her babies. I ordered 10,000 mealy worms and fed the dad that fed the babies! We fledged 5 babies. Dad and the babies and friends came back one day to the bird bath! Amazing, like 8 BB in the bath, what a site! Sparrows are nasty!