Nesting material gone from houses

[Conrad Baker]

I have three S&K houses up, each with 6 nesting apartments (I opened them to give the Martins more room). I checked the houses today, and found that almost all of the pine needles are gone from the nest cavities. I placed a handful in each nest cavity at the start of the season, and shaped them into a "nest like" shape, then put a little sevin dust under each nest. I was just doing a nest check, and was surprised at the absence of the needles. I put more sevin in each compartment, but don't have any more pine needles. This is the first time this has happened in the last 15 years of putting up the houses.
I'm sure I have some of the same Martins I had last year, so I don't know why this year would be different. Each house is about 75% occupied.
I guess maybe they will bring their own materials and build their nests, but usually they used the pine needles for the main component of their nest over the past years.

[Bird Brain]

I'm guessing bluebirds stole your pine needles. They like them also.

[Conrad Baker]

I'm guessing bluebirds stole your pine needles. They like them also.

Never thought of that. Also thought maybe sparrows cleaned them out, but the sparrows didn't start building their own nest. I haven't seen any sparrows yet, and can't remember ever seeing a bluebird here in my area. Are bluebirds common to South La. ?

[Bird Brain]

Yes. If you've been taking care of your house sparrows, your bluebird population can recover very quickly. If pine needles are scarce in your area, that's even more incentive to steal your martins pine needles before they arrive. I think you're a prime candidate for a bluebird house. My guess is they found your pine needles and transported them to nearby bluebird house, probably one of your neighbors.

[brent]

Yes Bluebirds are in South Louisiana. I had a pair on my Martin perch. Soon I put up a nest box and sure enough they nested. They are building now in fact. Beautiful birds.

Brent

[Conrad Baker]

They are beautiful birds. I can honestly say I don't remember seeing any of those around. I have to look into some houses for them (with plenty of pine needles).

[Sharon - Central TX]

I have noticed titmice stealing nesting material from our gourds. Yet I can’t find where their nest is.
Bluebirds often sit on the top of our martin poles but I think they are keeping an eye out. They are very territorial and will chase away any bird that gets near their nest box. We have three BB houses and there are BB eggs in one of them. Often the parents bring the young ones to our birdbath and the parent sits on top of the martin pole on watch. They’ve never tried to build in any of our gourds and I’ve never seen one interested in going into one. They definitely like their own box. We keep netting on their poles just like for the martins because we have rat snakes that will try to get into the BB boxes too.

[DelmaWhisenhunt]

Noticed today that the small black starlings are cleaning out nesting material that sparrows have taken in the nest. My first time to observe this trick. Captured 4 brown back sparrows which seems to be real warriors . Weather has been cold and raining so my Martin start up has been slow. Hoping for better luck.