Originally Posted by Pondboy (Post 2330549)

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

Originally Posted by Lillyangel (Post 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.

Originally Posted by Happydaz (Post 2330560)

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.

Originally Posted by Happydaz (Post 2330560)

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.

Originally Posted by Topspinmo (Post 2330747)

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

Originally Posted by Topspinmo (Post 2330473)

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.

Originally Posted by Brasshog (Post 2330567)

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.

Originally Posted by Happydaz (Post 2330300)

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.

Originally Posted by Happydaz (Post 2330306)

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.

Originally Posted by Sherkugawa (Post 2330354)

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.

Originally Posted by Two Bills (Post 2330290)

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.

Originally Posted by wisbad1 (Post 2332018)

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

Originally Posted by simplesimonsaid (Post 2330911)

That has to be very painful.:icon_wink: