Nest Abandonment and should I remove the nest?
This happens to me more often than I like, especially when the weather gets hot and it is the second or third nesting of the year. It could be because a predator got one or both of the birds, usually the female. If the male stays around and the female is not seen than this is most likely the cause. Or it could be because the nest boxes are too close to another nest box because bluebirds are territorial and will build a dummy nest to keep it from another pair. Nest boxes should be 100 yards or more apart. One thing for certain! To eliminate predators of the night; a nest box should be mounted on a galvanize pole 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter with predator guards in place. Please read my blog concerning Night Predators. Nest abandonment can still be a mystery. But the question remains, should we remove the nest? And even the used ones? Read on!
Documentary studies at the School of Biological Sciences University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky 40506. Associated with The USA Department of Forestry University of Kentucky showed that Eastern Bluebirds chose boxes containing old nests in 38 of 41 instances in which these boxes were paired with empty ones. Other species nesting in bluebird boxes chose boxes containing old nests in four of five instances. This result conflicts with the prevailing opinion that cavity-nesting birds avoid boxes that contain old nests. This study showed bluebirds prefer re-working old nest material to building a completely new nest.
Being the case one must ponder are we doing the right thing by removing nesting material new (abandonment nest) or a used one from our nest boxes. If to suggest we do it to control nest parasites, then what about natural nest cavities? As for nest parasites, they can be controlled without removing the nest. Read my blog concerning Parasites and Blowflies.
I am left wondering, should I be removing the nest from my nest box if abandon. I usually remove the old nest because it’s so foul inside the nest box by the time the nestling’s fledge and will only attract blowfly infestation.
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I had Northern Bluebirds build a nest. Both male and female were very active, until it seemed obvious that the female was inside laying. The male seemed to be feeding her often. After several weeks, the adult birds disappeared, and we did not see any hatchlings ever.
Months have gone by now, and I decided to remove the old nest and clean things out. There were 5 old little eggs inside! Is nest abandonment common??!! Reasons??
Signed…. Heartsick about it.
Thank you for writing Liz Ganassin,
I, along with many Landlords are left puzzled concerning nest abandonment. There are many possible reasons for this. Predators, Cats and Dogs roaming the nest box area, or nest box competition, (causing them to build a dummy nest) or non fertile eggs and possible immature females at first time laying. Regardless before we landlords remove the nesting material and especially nests that have eggs in them, we must be sure it is abandon. Because they have been known to postponed incubation for several weeks after they have completed their clutch. If more then 6weeks go by and I have not seen a bluebird near or on the nest box then I conclude that it is abandon. For me after 6weeks I am comfortable with my decision to remove the nesting material or just the eggs. I would like to hear from others concerning this subject of Nest Box Abandonment and how you deal with this situation.