skip to main content

Dead baby bluebid out on my deck

9 years ago

I have a lot of land. The chicadees were sucessful and while the chicadees were busy the wren was busy as was the bluebirds all seemed well. Then I noticed some obnoxious sparrows at the wrens house with a small hole as they wer about to fledge. All seemed well, woke up in the morning the wrens were gone seemingly rather suddenly, I saw nothing on the ground or anything. Then we had heavy rains this morning in the east. And there were the sparrows causing havoc with the bluebirds, They would not let the bluebirds in. Eventually they did . I had to leave got home and checked the box as I saw a sparrow fly out of it. Looked all over for eggs or babies nothing. Bluebirds had been there for about 3 weeks. So there was something in the box. Well I started thinking maybe she didn'thave babies but that was not right I have been at this for ages and did fail to check the box but it would have not made much difference. I go to sit on my deck and there I see a dead baby newborn right on the railing. As if the bird was trying to show me??? I do not know who did this perhaps the wren was mad if something happened or is it just these aggressive sparrows??? I am bogled and very mad. I feel like taking all the houses down!!. Will the blues come back or is it just not worth it??

Comments (5)

myblueheaven
9 years ago
The blue birds were harassed and the babies were killed by the English sparrows. I'd suggest you remove all nest boxes until you can control your sparrow problem. Please educate yourself on the destruction house sparrows cause to our native songbirds.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes I know how bad they are but now I found another dead baby from where I do not know. I have alot of wooded area for nesting of all types of birds. This one I just found was well feathered I do not know who it belongs to as the prior baby was naked and perhaps from the now gone bluebirds Someone or something is attacking other nests as I have no control of the deep wooded areas. Could it be the wren also. I am removing the nest boxes at least as I cannot bear to see this anymore??
Related Discussions
baby leaves on pin oak dead from frost...will it die?
Q
Comments (3)
Hi guys...thanks for your answers... I guess it will be hard to predict the outcome because the tree has not been without it's problems The tree was spaded in 6 years ago with 6 other large trees which have all done very well. They were large caliper...maybe 8" +..they used the largest spade they had. The tree started to lose branches after the first year it was spaded in. I read up on it noticed that it looked alot like chlorosis (leaves looked sparse, small, yellow). We have very hard water here and pin oaks are really prone to this. So, we bought some iron injectable capsules from an arborist supply company and have had to drill the tree every 3 years...a PITA but worth it as the leaves get nice and green. We have not lost a branch on 2 years. The tree grows slowly though. It is probably 15 years old. This tree is usually the last to leaf out...man I hate unpredictacle weather :( I guess I will have to wait and see. I would sure hate to lose it though...
...See More
dead babies?
Q
Comments (1)
Hi and welcome! They are very good at playing dead. I gently blow on them or tickle them with a long blade of grass. They will be doing a lot of resting the next few days and so will the parents. If you find a baby to be stiff and cold remove it (but I hope you don't). I assume you have found the sialis.org web site. You have until day 13 to check in on them. Let us know how it goes. Good Luck!
...See More
dead baby birds about 15 ft from birdhouse
Q
Comments (2)
Catherinet is right -- I bet it's house sparrows. They will not only kill baby birds, they will trap adults (bluebirds and tree swallows) in a bird house and kill them before they make a nest. The house sparrow will then build their own nest on top of the dead body. Believe me, I've had it happen in my own yard. When we moved to the country we put up too many bird houses and the sparrows moved in. They are NOT protected, so do your best to kill the adults and eliminate their eggs because they will destroy your songbird population. You can do a google search to learn how to identify their nests and eggs so you can eliminate them. House wrens will fly into a birdhouse that has bluebird or tree sparrow eggs laid and will then use it's beak to pierce the eggs to destroy them. House wrens are a protected species, so you can't kill them but their nests are easy to identify because they fill bird houses with tiny sticks. Clean them out over and over and do your best to discourage them because they, too, will destroy your bluebird and tree sparrow populations.
...See More
dead baby birds ID
Q
Comments (4)
Yeah, I was thinking a species of nest parasite because of the disparity in size. It might have been trying to push its smaller nest mate out of the nest and got carried away with its pushing.
...See More
User
Original Author
9 years ago
also to note. I had wrens which were about to fledge all of a sudden they were gone never heard another peep which you usually do after fledging. I feel someone "may have gotten to their box even with a wren size hole. I found no evidence but my gut tells me otherwise. The Hosp was bothering them but they could not get in hole. So I am baffled.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
I began thinking. The chicadees and the wrens and a hosp box and bluebirds were all doing okay. I did not want to remove the hosp box as it worked as the bluebird took one box and the hosp the other. Everyone was leaving everyone alone. If I took the hosp box down they would have retaliated. Actually they are still there with their babies. What I believe happened was that another Hosp and his girlfriend from another area whether on my street or wherever came looking for a box and thats where the trouble began or perhaps something ruined their nest and they retaliated. They came out of the blue onto my property. Now that is hard to control.
myblueheaven
9 years ago
The fact that you have house sparrows with babies in the vicinity of other songbird nests is worrisome. The male hosp will claim a territory and kill mercilessly.
Because you saw the house sparrow at the BB nest preventing the BB to enter the nest, to me means he is the killer.
This male hosp has claimed your property and he will defend his territory to the death.

Yes, some types of wrens are known to remove BB babies from nests but the male hosp is likely the killer.

A shotgun will solve your problem

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

MOST POPULAR Houzzers Deck the Halls

By Mary Jo Bowling

From traditional to quirky to innovative, readers show their Christmas tree style

HEALTHY HOME How to Babyproof Your Yard

Oh, baby, it’s a wild world. Make it safer for your young one with these strategies from a pro

DECLUTTERING 5 Ways to Jump-Start a Whole-House Decluttering Effort

By Laura Gaskill

If the piles of paperwork and jampacked closets have you feeling like a deer in the headlights, take a deep breath and a baby step

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning

By Alison Hodgson

Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family

GARDENING GUIDES Get on a Composting Kick (Hello, Free Fertilizer!)

By Matt Kilburn

Quit shelling out for pricey substitutes that aren’t even as good. Here’s how to give your soil the best while lightening your trash load

DECORATING GUIDES 15 Ways to Get Your Home in a Summer Mood

By Laura Gaskill

Bask in the easygoing spirit of summer with breezy touches indoors and out

LIFE Houzz Call: Where (and What) Are You Reading This Summer?

By Stacy Briscoe

Whether you favor contemporary, classic or beach reads, do the long and lazy days of summer bring out the lit lover in you?

TINY HOUSES Houzz TV: Step Inside One Woman’s 140-Square-Foot Dream Home

By Mitchell Parker

You may have seen the story on Houzz — now check out the video tour of Vina Lustado’s warm and welcoming tiny house

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Sinks: Granite Composite Offers Superior Durability

By Rachel Grace

It beats out quartz composite for strength and scratch resistance. Could this kitchen sink material be right for you?

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden

Sponsored

Whispering Pine Construction

Franklin County's Top Choice for Reliable Outdoor Construction

More Discussions

Bluebirds never leave North Texas boxes.

0