Bluebird Baby

by Nancy
(Charlotte, NC)

Baby blue bird, 30 min before fledging

I sent a story about our first successful bluebird family, but am not able to find it so I don't know it I did it properly or if it was printed.

Anyway, my husband and I did watch a male and female bluebird feed and care for their four babies until they fledged. We watched the first one make that first flight.

Everything was marvelous and we did see the family a few times together, but usually the male would come for the meal worms and disappear.

He always came back until the worms were all gone and occasionally, we would add a few more if he stayed and waited very long.

3 wks later, another family used the same, freshly cleaned, house and 4 baby bluebirds hatched.

Everything seemed to be fine until this morning, when we discovered the babies are gone! The nest is perfect, not even disturbed at all. No sign of trouble in any way, just empty.

Is this normal, is there something we can do to prevent this in the future. We do have the bluebird house on a pole about 5 feet from the ground with a guard underneath the house to keep predators away.

I apologize if this is just a repeat, but I could not find my story and am in desperate need of advice.

We so love the bluebirds. Well, all birds actually.

Thank you for any help you might give us.