Whatbird.com

Eastern Bluebird

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Mitch Waite

Question about breeding pair in my front yard.

I put up a bird house this year for bluebirds. I thought I put it in a good place but I now know I should have put it on a pole.

They laid 5 eggs the first time. Then built another nest on top of it (the 5 eggs were later found to still be in the nest) and laid 3 eggs. Those 3 eggs disappeared.

I cleaned out the box (and found the first 5 eggs) and they laid 3 more eggs. 1 disappeared. As of this last Sunday, June 3, there were still 2 and the 15th day of when they were to hatch about would have been the 7th or 8th of June.

I was out of town and arrived home and checked the box on the 7th. They have built yet another nest on top of the other one and laid 3 more eggs. As I was out of town, I do not know if there are still eggs in the first one.

What do I need to do? I really want them to be successful, but am at a loss. I know for next year, I will put the nest box on a pole, but for now what?

Thanks,

Michelle in Southeast Tennessee

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Michelle in Southeast Tennessee

Well, 2 of those eggs disappeared. I checked and the nest was empty and it looked like they had built another ontop. I took the nests out and those 3 eggs and gone down to 1, they had built another nest with 5 eggs and then had built another nest ontop of that.

What is going on? What in the world can I do? How can I help them be successful?

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Michelle in Southeast Tennessee

Try not to touch the nest, or eggs, or nest box, just leave them alone, don't check up on them. It's possible that when (if) you check the box they are disturbed and abandon the eggs, and then try to build a new one.