[Happydaz]

Originally Posted by Pondboy

No, former Park Ranger that appreciates nature in its pure form.

Unfortunately people got starlings and house sparrows from Europe and let them go in the 1800’s in New York and San Francisco. They multiplied rapidly at the expense of our native birds like bluebirds. The effect between 1920 to 1950 was a 90% reduction in the population of bluebirds. Due to thousands of people putting up bluebird boxes the bluebird numbers came back up. The attention to providing bluebird boxes has been critical to their survival due to house finches and other competitors.

[Brasshog]

Originally Posted by Lillyangel

About 3 days before the chicks were ready to leave the nest something pulled them out of the nest, killed them, but did not eat them. Some have told me that it must have been other birds that did this. I believe this is true, but would like some info on how to protect the nesting box since there are many types of aggressive birds in my neighborhood. I am very upset about this because I never even knew that bluebirds were songbirds until the mother sang me the most beautiful song I ever heard a bird sing. After the slaughter she came back and sat on the light post across the street for 2 days. I only saw the father briefly one time after the tragedy. I am thinking that maybe I should take down the nesting box (which it just a birdhouse), since I don't know what I am doing and do not care to be an accessory to any more murders of such wonderful creatures. But then I think about how much I would like to help them expand their population.

You need to build a Bluebird house style named the Petersen. Bluebird houses should be more than a 100 yards from a tree. Wrens are their worst enemy. I recently bought a home in TV and have been building Bluebird nest trails for years. If you would like more help please reach out to me.

[merrymini]

Originally Posted by Happydaz

Unfortunately people got starlings and house sparrows from Europe and let them go in the 1800’s in New York and San Francisco. They multiplied rapidly at the expense of our native birds like bluebirds. The effect between 1920 to 1950 was a 90% reduction in the population of bluebirds. Due to thousands of people putting up bluebird boxes the bluebird numbers came back up. The attention to providing bluebird boxes has been critical to their survival due to house finches and other competitors.

this is right on, thank you.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Happydaz

Unfortunately people got starlings and house sparrows from Europe and let them go in the 1800’s in New York and San Francisco. They multiplied rapidly at the expense of our native birds like bluebirds. The effect between 1920 to 1950 was a 90% reduction in the population of bluebirds. Due to thousands of people putting up bluebird boxes the bluebird numbers came back up. The attention to providing bluebird boxes has been critical to their survival due to house finches and other competitors.

Starlings are also reaching havoc on red headed woodpeckers taking over their cavities. Luckily in may area no house sparrows or starlings.

[simplesimonsaid]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Starlings are also reaching havoc on red headed woodpeckers taking over their cavities.

That has to be very painful.

[Lillyangel]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

NestWatch | Predator Guards Carry Their Weight - NestWatch

I put out over 50 bluebird boxes in 5 states. Got 4 up here in Florida, one in my back yard. You will have to put guard on entry hole if something plucked them out. Unless you seen something doing this they may of died and parents pulled them out? If put wooden guard make it at least 1 inch thick (this will limit reach and head size of anything reaching in) and slightly bigger than entry hole due to thickness of entry once modified.

I also had 60 pairs Martin colony in okieland. I can tell in okieland Purple martins are hard to get colony started and twice as hard to keep it going.

Thank you so much

[Lillyangel]

Originally Posted by Brasshog

You need to build a Bluebird house style named the Petersen. Bluebird houses should be more than a 100 yards from a tree. Wrens are their worst enemy. I recently bought a home in TV and have been building Bluebird nest trails for years. If you would like more help please reach out to me.

Thank you, I think I can do this from some info others have posted on here. Are you in Hawkins?

[Lillyangel]

“ For Eastern Bluebirds, you can use a 1½ inch round hole, a 1⅜ x 2¼ inch vertical oval hole, or 1⅛ inch horizontal slot entrance. Western and Mountain Bluebirds prefer a 1 9/16 inch round opening or 1 3/16 inch slot entrance. Where the ranges of the species overlap, use the larger opening.”
Lots of instructions here:
https://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/PD...box%20Recs.pdf[/QUOTE] Thank you!

[Lillyangel]

“ For Eastern Bluebirds, you can use a 1½ inch round hole, a 1⅜ x 2¼ inch vertical oval hole, or 1⅛ inch horizontal slot entrance. Western and Mountain Bluebirds prefer a 1 9/16 inch round opening or 1 3/16 inch slot entrance. Where the ranges of the species overlap, use the larger opening.”
Lots of instructions here:
https://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/PD...box%20Recs.pdf[/QUOTE] Thank you!!

[Lillyangel]

Originally Posted by Happydaz

Sorry to hear about the death of your bluebird offspring. You can buy various guards that extend the opening or have exposed ends of chicken wire over the opening. This keeps the baby bluebirds safe from raccoons, cats, squirrels , etc. I don’t know about snakes. (The exposed chicken wire ends would do a number on the them, though.) if it was other birds the guards might not help. Check some of the bird house suppliers. For example, Duncraft out of New Hampshire has a number of bluebird houses with different types of guards.

Thank you!

[Lillyangel]

Originally Posted by Happydaz

If it was a bird who killed the bluebird offspring it was probably a house sparrow. There are some ideas on discouraging them, such as cleaning out the birdhouse if they have built a nest after evicting the bluebirds and then move the nesting box to another location. Since these sparrows are not native birds they are not protected, bluebirds are protected. If you have a bird feeder nearby stop using it or relocate it farther away as seed feeders attract house sparrows. You can also purchase wider, slit opening bluebird houses that deter the sparrows who prefer a round hole. You may need a wire mesh guard over the wider opening as animals may have increased access to the babies. If no house sparrow builds a nest after this calamity maybe it was another creature. Usually a house sparrow throws out the bluebirds to build its own nest. Good luck! Keep trying.

Thank you!

[Lillyangel]

Originally Posted by Sherkugawa

My first guess is the bird house hole might be too large. Bluebirds need a specific type of house. As a modification I have seen wire cages built in front of the access that allows bluebirds in but larger birds out. Sorry for your loss!

QUOTE=Lillyangel;2330273]About 3 days before the chicks were ready to leave the nest something pulled them out of the nest, killed them, but did not eat them. Some have told me that it must have been other birds that did this. I believe this is true, but would like some info on how to protect the nesting box since there are many types of aggressive birds in my neighborhood. I am very upset about this because I never even knew that bluebirds were songbirds until the mother sang me the most beautiful song I ever heard a bird sing. After the slaughter she came back and sat on the light post across the street for 2 days. I only saw the father briefly one time after the tragedy. I am thinking that maybe I should take down the nesting box (which it just a birdhouse), since I don't know what I am doing and do not care to be an accessory to any more murders of such wonderful creatures. But then I think about how much I would like to help them expand their population.

[/QUOTE] Thank you!

[wisbad1]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Magpies have taken two nests in my garden here in the UK this year.
A blackbirds eggs were taken, and young eaten from a Finch's nest.
I know where the Magpie nests, and it is hard not to drive them off, but I won't.
Every year, half the fledglings seem to make it, but a lot do not.
Nature is as wonderful, as it is cruel.

You live in the UK ? Why are you on this page?

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by wisbad1

You live in the UK ? Why are you on this page?

I am waiting for a place in a top hotel, so I can become an illegal immigrant.
In the meantime, I learn as much about the American way of life as I can from these pages.
It’s also a public website.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by simplesimonsaid

That has to be very painful.

Not cavity you’re thinking of Yes very painful for native birds, don’t believe me Utube it.