Science question...bluebird nestbox

[Pine Ledge Academy]

I wasn't sure where to put this, and it is school related, so...we have a bluebird nestbox in our yard, and last year we had a successful time with it, This year we had 3-4 eggs and then one day they were gone. We found them not far from the nest, broken. So, do I need to clean out the nest and let them start over? or will they come back and start over again? so far, no new eggs, but I know they lay up to 3 nests a year. thanks!

[PamInMN]

For whatever reason, our nest hasn't been used this year either. When this has happened to us in the past I cleaned out the box and left it propped open for a month.... to air it out and kill whatever small critters may be in there. Most birds have a very poor sense of smell because their mouth cavities are keratinized. (think about what a parrot's tongue and mouth looks like.... hard and dry, not soft and moist). So you don't have to worry about the smell... but I like to air the box out once in awhile to eliminate any lice, etc that may have been living in there.

Can't hurt to try it.

[kortney in AL]

We've had a bluebird box for eight years now and had lots of bluebird babies through the years. Some years I've cleaned the nest out in the fall and sometimes I haven't. Either way, our birds continue to come back and will add onto the nest that's already in there.

[Pine Ledge Academy]

thanks...I checked today and there are 2 eggs, so the birds must have recovered from their loss. hoping that these will last.