Four active nests with two having hatched chicks! But a small disaster...

The box I posted a picture of last time (13) on the North side had four eggs a week ago, Now all four eggs are gone. If it is the same pair as last year (or sometimes on of their offspring), they had the same thing happen last year! House sparrows and wrens are suspect. The pair last year tried three times and raised at least two chicks.

On the North side one other box has four bluebird eggs. The nests with swallows active around had very few eggs yet. It tends to be a tight two weeks when they all decide to nest.

On the South side we had a nest with four bluebird eggs:

They all hatched but looked exhausted. I can't even see the bills.

Another pair decided to go with 3 eggs. So we have 5+3 and 8 is actually good for two boxes.

I was there at 8AM. They look exhausted, hatched the day before because the shells are gone. One bill is pointing right. The birds do not mind me opening the box and whatever part of the day, the parents immediately return to feeding as soon as I leave. Other nesting birds may be more particular, so if you have birds in your yard, best to get to a routine checking the nest.

These four pairs are going to be my bluebirds, the disaster nest will probably move to the empty box next door. I fully expect a fifth pair to nest in May.