That is weird, I've never seen that before either. Keep us posted on what happens. It is crazy how sad we feel when something goes wrong with them. This is the first year I purchased monarch cats since none have shown up the past two summers. I received 16 eggs on a small tropical milkweed plant. All of them hatched an did fine until a few days after I had to move them to containers and switch them to my butterfly weed. They were eating it fine but one day 2 of them died (one was black) and then a day or 2 later another one died. They were much smaller than the others. Then just yesterday one died the day after it molted (late stage instar). It never turned around to eat its skin and eventually was laying on its side. I couldn't figure out what happened. I never had a single one die in the 2 years I collected them from outside, so it was a little hard to see that happen. On the other hand it is very exciting to see the one in a chrysalis and several others getting ready. Can't wait to see them as beautiful butterflies!

This male rarely leaves my small back yard. Most of the time he can be seen sitting in the vitex tree right beside the BB house. He is so funny, though. For some reason, as smart as he seems to be, he hasn't figured out that I am putting the meal worms out especially for them. He seems to be trying to hurry and get them all fed to the female and eaten himself before anyone catches him. He frantically grabs as many as he can at a time and stuffs them into the female's mouth, many times dropping a couple on the ground. If I could write in the "bluebird" language, I'd leave him a note and tell him just to enjoy them and eat a leisurely meal. He knows he's dropping some, as he always goes down to the ground afterward to locate them before they can get away. I've noticed all the BBs eating at my sunflower chips feeder this season, too. It's so interesting to see several different birds eating at that feeder at the same time. I like harmony.

Very odd things happening with my houses this year. I had bluebirds in one house that laid 5 eggs. For the most part I try to stay away so they don't get spooked. In this case the next time I checked there was one fledgling that I saw but he didn't seem ready to fly away yet. But when I checked 2 days later there were no babies or eggs. The nest was empty. This box was protected with the mesh on the opening. I'm hoping time just flew by and the brood hatched and fledged in my absence! Will the parents start a new brood in the same nest or should I clean the box out for them to start over? I had another box that had activity, 5 eggs layed and a week later no eggs or babies. I fear they were killed since it was an old house from last year and it did not have the protective metal mesh at the opening. I have a nest nearby with the mesh protection. I kept checking and there was no activity or eggs. Then suddenly there was one egg!! I assumed the mom would lay more. I checked for 2 days, still only one egg. The third day the egg hatched with a tiny bald with a little fuzz baby bird. I kept watching from a distance and I did not see the male or female going into the house. I skipped looking inside the box today. I wanted to stay totally away. Tomorrow I will check again. I hope the little guy is okay.... Is it unusual for a female to lay only one egg? I'm thinking that perhaps the pair that were in the other box moved to this box when a predator got their other eggs..... Thus only one last egg to lay??? The box with the one egg is about 20 feet from the empty box. Perhaps this is part of that brood? Can the mom or dad move an egg or did she just lay it in a different box?? I have another box about 100 feet from that one protected with the mesh that some sparrows have taken over. They have built a nest and hang out in front of it on the mesh opening and on top of it but no eggs for well over a month. Perhaps they are the culprits that got the 5 bluebird eggs. Very strange that they built a nest and aren't using it. I know they will build several, one as a decoy or to give the female a choice, but I don't see that they've done that unless they are planning to take over the bluebird box. I will be keeping a watch on that....

Kathy...I am so very sorry this little one didn't make it. We all were hoping for a better ending to this situation. I know nothing of hole reducers, so I can't speak to that...anyway, you have always been so compassionate and understanding with many others who might question their actions, so let me be the first to offer the same. With your experience and knowledge, I'd like to believe the hole reducer had nothing to do with her death. Think of all the many, many little blues who have made it because of you! Your hard work, experience and knowledge, along with other bb experts, have made that possible! Hope Mom, Dad and her sibling stay around for you to enjoy! Donna