Why Do Bluebirds Abandon Their Eggs?
Perhaps you have encountered this situation: one day a pair of lovely bluebirds came to your yard, they were having fun in your backyard and foraging, and they often visited your bird feeders. One month later they began building a nest and appear to be living here for a few days.
But after about a week of staying around the nest full time, they left suddenly and did not return for several days. After you checked out their nests and found a few unhatched eggs inside.
@John Brandauer
Will bluebirds abandon their eggs?
In short, yes, which is a very unexpected answer by bird lovers. Many people in Kingsyard Facebook Group said they’ve picked up the eggs. Sometimes the bluebirds have to abandon their eggs. The main reason includes infertility of the parents, destroyed eggs, or one of the parents was passed away. Certainly, bad weather failed incubation, etc. can also make bluebirds abandon their eggs.
Interested in getting to know all the possible reasons? Read on!
- One of the Parents is Unfertilized
- One or Both of the Parents are Passed Away or Killed
- The Eggs are Destroyed by Humans or Predators
- Failed Incubating
- Overheated or Cold Weather
- Just Gone Temporarily and May Return
Why do Bluebirds Abandon Their Eggs?
1. One of the Parents is Unfertilized
Just like humans, birds can also be unfertilized. Typically, bluebird couples do the same as any other of their kind, building nests, mating, laying eggs, waiting, waiting, endless waiting… Until a long time has passed and nothing has happened. When they realize the eggs will not be born, they will either discard the eggs or start over by building a new nest.
However, birds may have more than one breeding partner, so if there is a chance to be fertilized by another male, some of the eggs may still be hatched.
@ThankChickens
2.One or Both of the Parents are Passed Away or Killed
Eggs are also abandoned when one or both parents passed away or are killed by humans and predators. Whether a male or female bluebird dies, the other is barely able to hatch and raise the young on their own, maybe they will try, but usually, the end result is finding a new mate and restarting breeding.
@Terri Phillips
3.The Eggs are Destroyed by Humans or Predators
An important reason why an egg is discarded is that it is destroyed by nearby humans or predators. There are some animals in nature that target bluebirds, such as cats, snakes, raccoons, or large birds like eagles. In addition, some other birds like house sparrows and wrens destroy some or all of the eggs, at which point the bluebird will abandon some or all of the eggs.
@carnegiemnh
4.Failed Incubating
Eggs need to be treated well while they are being hatched. Hatching usually fails if female bluebirds are inexperienced, or if there is not enough food nearby and they have to leave the nest frequently to forage. If there is a bluebird’s nest in your yard, be careful not to check them too often so as not to disturb the hatching females.
5.Overheated or Cold Weather
Comfortable weather is also crucial for bird hatching. Birds usually breed in spring and early summer, and an important reason is that the temperature is proper to hatch, neither too hot nor too cold. Because too cold or overheated temperatures are not conducive to bird hatching, if the temperature of the nest exceeds 107°F, it is difficult for the eggs and chicks to survive. When the bluebirds realize it, they will start over or look for new nests.
6.Just Gone Temporarily and May Return
Of course, the absence of the parents in the nest does not always mean that the eggs have been abandoned. It’s also possible that parents went out looking for food and haven’t come back yet. Put a leaf or something in the nest or next to the eggs to make a mark, next time you can tell if the parent has come back by whether the mark has been moved.
What to Do When You Find Abandoned Eggs?
- Don’t move the nest in case parents returning from foraging cannot find it
- Don’t destroy the bird’s nest
- Don’t take or throw away the eggs
- Waiting patiently for a few days to make sure the eggs are really abandoned
- Keep your pets like cats and dogs away to scare the bluebirds
- Don’t try to hatch — hatching bluebirds without permission is illegal
How to Help Avoid This Happening?
- Buy a Solid and Beautiful Kingsyard Birdhouse for Birds
- Put the Birdhouse in a Safe Place in case your pets destroyed it
- Make Sure the Nest is Well-ventilated
Final
Now that we know enough about whether bluebirds will abandon eggs or not, and what to do when we find the abandoned eggs, let’s take action and try to help the adorable bluebirds!
So…have you ever found one or several abandoned eggs while birding or feeding birds?
Subscribe for more info>>
2 comments