Bluebird Abandoned Babies

by Cherish Yount
(Morton MS)

I have had several nest of blue birds that were successful in my blue bird house. I monitor them and keep their environment clean.

My question is the other day the babies had peach fuzz on them and there was a huge chicken snake on top of the bird house.

I killed the snake and watched as the mom and dad slowly went back to their babies. However, a few days later I checked the nest and the babies were dead and parents no where around.

Can you tell me what may have happened.The snake was shot off the bird house w/gun. Then we cleaned some shrubs near the house so maybe another snake wouldn't have easy access.