Bluebird Nestling Dilemma Photo Gallery by Ed Nied Jr. at pbase.com

Bluebird Nestling Dilemma

Because of a fecal sac problem (severe diarrhea) and a reluctance on our part to open the nest box near fledging date, this poor bird really suffered. Its own waste built up around its feet and was unable to climb to the entrance hole to fledge properly. The build-up was literally like cement and could only be removed by soaking in warm water and carefully rubbing it away.

This poor bird had a build-up of its own waste on its feet...	...and obviously was not able to climb out of the nestbox.	My good friend and monitoring partner, Al LaRose...
...would soak the bird's feet in warm water...	...and I would gently rub away the caked material.	It was somewhat of a slow process to avoid further injury...
...but we were able to clean and free its feet.	The right foot was encased in the closed position and doubt this foot will be normal.	Both feet showed some movement and hopefully will strengthen.

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sharon marsh		21-May-2009 01:17
It's not a comment,but a question. I have a pair of bluebird parents that I noticed had not visited the nest for a couple of days. I peeked today to make sure everything was ok and found the baby's had died. They have not been disturbed (by cat's or anything). This is the first year I have had this happen. We have had a unusual spring. Some very warm days, then the threat of frost. could the cold nights have caused this or is this some sort or parasite. I cleaned out the nest and buried the babies but should I have thrown away the nest?

ABuchta		24-Mar-2009 13:00
I live in Texas and on my second batch of bluebirds. The first year, everything seemed to go smoothly. I cleaned out the box and this year we seemed to have a very quick batch. I've been anxiously waiting for these babies to venture off on their own. It was to my horror that at about 6am I heard the birds chirping and my motion light went on. I got up to look out side and a cat was chasing one in the yard. I had my dog chase off the cat and saw 2 babies on the ground. They were both fine. I returned them to the box, which I now think was the wrong thing to do as I think I should have left them by a bush on the ground. Fortunatly, the mom and dad have come back and are feeding them and almost appears to be coaxing them out again. I don't want to interfere anymore than what i had, but couldn't let some neighbor's cat contribute to natural selection. Right now the box is open so that they may try to leave again. The mom and dad are going back and forth with food and cleanup so hopefully they will be fine when i get back from school. Any suggestions? They are a pleasure to watch and have grown attached to them over the past few years.

Dick Luerssen		14-Jul-2008 14:45
We have bluebirds nesting in a nesting box in our back yard. We were told that they love meal worms so we bought them several times, but the birds don't eat them. They just die and dry up. I placed a small dish on top of the bird house, but they didn't eat them. I heard that they like blue feeders so I painted it blue. Then I put it ona pipe in the ground right in front of the box, but they still don't eat them. What is wrong ?

Dick Luerssen		14-Jul-2008 14:43
We have bluebirds nesting in a nesting box in our back yard. We were told that they love meal worms so we bought them several times, but the birds don't eat them. They just die and dry up. I placed a small dish on top of the bird house, but they didn't eat them. I heard that they like blue feeders so I painted it blue. Then I put a pipe in the ground right in front of the box, but the still don't eat them. What is wrong ?

Kelly		14-Apr-2008 20:01
We have a nest box in our back yard where a pair of blue birds raised two batches last year the first group was 6 and the second was 5. We watched all of the babies fledge and enjoyed the process. This year the pair is back and had laid 6 eggs agiain. The eggs hatched last week and the chicks seemed to be doing well but this morning after a light freeze we checked the box to find the chicks dead. They were all turned over and disturbed looking. Should we suspect the cold or the house sparrows for this tragic occurance?

Little Joe		26-May-2007 15:30
Just found the remains of my bluebird eggs in my bird bath.I cleaned out the box and relocated my bird feeders to the other side of the property away from this nest box.Hopefully they will come back! They did hatch 2 times last year but again found dead bluebird young eaten and remanants in the bird bath.Should I relocate bath to other side of property also? Sad,but I won't give up they are sooooo lovely....JM harleysville,Pa.

Randall Mason		02-May-2007 18:15
When the 5 bluebirds in my box were about 6 days old I checked the nest and it was empty. I found three of the babys on the ground and returned them to the nest. While sitting to watch to see if the bluebirds would return to feed the chicks, a house sparrow entered the box and came out with a chick and dropped it in the grass. The bluebirds did'nt return, so I am working my butt off feeding the chicks in my garrage. Boy, can they eat!!!

Pat		05-Sep-2006 01:11
Bluebirds started nesting in the birdhouse just outside my kitchen window about four years ago. Every spring, a couple uses the house for nesting. I love watching them. This year, Mom&Dad Blue started nesting in mid-February. Two weeks ago, the fifth clutch of eggs hatched, and the babies fledged. Now all bluebirds have left the nest, and I must wait until spring again. The bluebirds have provided me with hours of relaxation and joy.

Barbara		13-Jul-2006 21:15
Sometimes you have to help Nature along. Great job! This is our first bluebird experience - they were raising four when we moved in three months ago - they came back to raise another four that left the nest July 9th. Today, the male was checking out both boxes again; we will look tonight to see conditions! What a wonderful experience - telescope not only for stars anymore!

Terry		07-Jul-2006 12:07
Terry We recently moved to the Central Virginia area and being a novice I just hung (totally by accident I assure you) a birdhouse (did not know it was for bluebirds) that my brother-in-law gave me, and to my amazement, and constant awe, I now have three fledglings ready to take flight. I read with interest all of your material and my husband is going to make more boxes for me. We live along a wooded park, so it must be optimal ground for them. I feel like I have a new group of children to care for! Something curious this morning. I have noticed that the male always goes to the box first, looks in, and then leaves and the female immediately goes to the box and feeds or goes in. The babies are now at the stage that they come to the hole with wide open mouths waiting for mama bird. I have counted three that I can see. But this morning, and, I am not sure if it is the dad, a male went to the box and the mama went crazy shooing it away. Will other males try to take over the box, or hurt offspring that are not theirs? Any help/guidance would be welcome. Thanks!

Jean Hall		14-Apr-2006 14:22
I have always loved bluebirds, but have never had any bluebirds nest in my box until this year. We moved to a new home recently and about a week after I put up my bluebird box, we had a pair! I have watched them endlessly for the last week. My biggest concern at the moment is keeping snakes and cats away from the nest. Thank you for sharing the information. It is extremely helpful for a beginner!

Michelle Martin		13-Jan-2005 17:17
Very good thing you did for that baby bluebird! I am so glad that he's allright, and that you updated us! I have been a bluebird landlord and lover for about four years now. I love to photograph them. I've been through about 30 babies now :-) I loved this story!

Gail Morrow		10-Aug-2001 12:59
You all are doing a wonderful job! This is a very uplifting story and it made me laugh out loud with joy! Keep up the caring and sharing! Gail Morrow- Wildlife Biologist

Michele		05-Jul-2001 00:31
My husband and I enjoyed reading your story about helping the baby bluebird!! We love bluebirds too and have 2 houses for them. Thanks for giving nature a helping hand!

Ed Nied Jr.		16-Jun-2001 14:37
UPDATE: Cleaned the nest Wednesday evening (6/13/01) about 7:00 p.m. and the bird was stronger and more boisterous than the day before. The good news was the closed foot was nearly fully open and had better movement although the middle "toe" was still twisted or bent. The "good" foot could grasp my finger pretty well and was able to support it's own weight in a "perched" position. There wasn't much gripping power in the other foot but the bird was able to use it to help balance itself. I even let it go on the ground a couple times and it would fly a couple of feet and land, fly a couple feet and land. It did pretty well but we still wanted this bird to leave the box on its own. Al changed the nest on Thursday about 2:00 p.m. and he let it fly around a bit in the enclosed cap of his pickup truck. He also commented on how much more strength the bird seemed to have. I stopped by Thursday evening about 6:20 p.m. to change the nest and heard what I think was the adult male calling frequently from the hedgerow. I then found the box empty, so the bird must have managed to climb out on its own! There was no activity in the field in front of the box so I will have to assume the male coaxed it over to the shade of the treeline (its been very hot & humid here). I couldn't check out the calling bluebird because of a 7:00 p.m. meeting, but I can tell you by the bites Al & I received, if anything is going to make it in this world it will be this little female bluebird! :o) Ed Nied Jr.

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