[Snowgoose]

We have a nestng pair of mountain bluebirds w/ 4 babies. Something has killed the babies as they are still in the nest but dead. It did get quite cold the past few days, not frost, but into upper 30's F overnight, 50's during the day. No bad weather. Dry. No signs of nest torn up, cats, etc. But there is a small (about quarter sized) bee's (paper) nest started just above the eaves where the nest is. Could bees have kiled them? I don't know. But the question I am looking for answer to is, how many times a year will mountain bluebirds lay eggs? Should we do anything to clean out the old nest? Will they reuse the same site or not? Will they clean out the old nest? The father bluebird is hovering frantic about. The mother comes and goes. We were quite interested in watching them and wish for them to stay around our place. Thanks.

[simoneaugie]

I don't know about Mountain Bluebirds' nesting habits. You could Google it.

My parrots are okay with removal of their eggs (when they are looking the other way.) Dead babies should be the same. Birds have a very poorly developed sense of smell, so shouldn't mind the smell of your hand. The sooner you clean out the nest, the sooner they will lay more eggs. Birds are sensitive to light, the length of the day. That is what stimulates them to nest and raise babies.