Having trouble with your nest box tenants? Use this quick guide to troubleshoot it.
Download the Nest Box Troubleshooting Guide
| What You Might Find | What May Be the Cause | What You Can Do |
|---|
- Eggs or nestlings missing, nest intact
| Snake, rodent, House Sparrow, House Wren | - Install predator guards or baffles on the box pole
- Move boxes away from areas where House Sparrows are prevalent
- Place House Sparrow deterrents or excluders on the nest box
- Move boxes away from prime House Wren habitat
|
- Eggs or nestlings missing or on ground under box
- Nest disturbed, partially pulled out of hole, or on ground under box
- Adult feathers scattered on ground below box
| Raccoon, cat, squirrel, human vandalism | - Install predator guards or baffles on the box pole
- Install boxes high enough so cats can’t leap from the ground to the box roof
- Place box away from trees or fences to prevent raccoons and cats from climbing or jumping to the box
- Securely close box with screws or nails
|
- Eggs on ground under nest, nest intact and tiny holes pecked in eggs
- Nestlings dead in box and with signs of trauma, especially around the head
- Adult dead in nest, signs of trauma, especially around the head
| House Wren, House Sparrow
Note: Dead adults and nestlings more likely due to House Sparrows
| - Move boxes away from areas where House Sparrows are prevalent
- Place House Sparrow deterrent or excluders on the nest box
- Move boxes away from prime House Wren habitat
|
- Eggs fail to hatch
- Nestlings or adults dead in box, no signs of foul play
| Infertile eggs, runt eggs, female disappeared, bad weather, chemical poisoning, nestlings or adults could not climb out
of box | - Don’t use lawn, garden, and insect chemical products
- Discuss possible chemical application problems with neighbors, golf courses, etc.
- Install fledgling ladder or roughen up the inside of the nest box directly under the entrance hole
- Some things are beyond our control
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