Not sure I'm in the right spot, but who took the eggs!?

[mocnty]

Ok, please accept my apologies if this is not the right category. A google search led me here, and I've never posted on a forum before. So we have had what I think is a house finch for the past 4 years hatch babies on our front porch. We've never removed the nest, she just adds to it every year. It is at the end of our porch, so farther away from daily traffic and hasn't seemed to be bothered by us coming and going. Every morning, she is there chirping away as I leave to get the kids to school. Well, last Tuesday, I knew it was time for the eggs to start hatching, so I did as I do every year. When I see her fly out, I stick my hand with my video on on my phone and look into the deep nest to see how many babies we will have. I am very careful not to come close to the nest or touch it. I have noticed that yesterday and today, she wasn't there in the mornings, and I've been watching for her return. Nothing. I just went out there and did a video again, thinking maybe the babies hatched and died? and the nest is empty...Now, I'm not familiar with birds and bird behaviors, but...I'm not sure she was big enough to move the eggs? There are no shell pieces, and no evidence of anything on the ground. The nest is still in perfect shape...and the mama has not been seen. What on earth happened to the eggs? I've attached pictures to show...please help! We've looked forward to hearing baby birds chirping and seeing little beaks poke up over the edge. My kids are upset that something has happened, and I have no explanation!

 

[nchls school]

Ok, please accept my apologies if this is not the right category. A google search led me here, and I've never posted on a forum before. So we have had what I think is a house finch for the past 4 years hatch babies on our front porch. We've never removed the nest, she just adds to it every year. It is at the end of our porch, so farther away from daily traffic and hasn't seemed to be bothered by us coming and going. Every morning, she is there chirping away as I leave to get the kids to school. Well, last Tuesday, I knew it was time for the eggs to start hatching, so I did as I do every year. When I see her fly out, I stick my hand with my video on on my phone and look into the deep nest to see how many babies we will have. I am very careful not to come close to the nest or touch it. I have noticed that yesterday and today, she wasn't there in the mornings, and I've been watching for her return. Nothing. I just went out there and did a video again, thinking maybe the babies hatched and died? and the nest is empty...Now, I'm not familiar with birds and bird behaviors, but...I'm not sure she was big enough to move the eggs? There are no shell pieces, and no evidence of anything on the ground. The nest is still in perfect shape...and the mama has not been seen. What on earth happened to the eggs? I've attached pictures to show...please help! We've looked forward to hearing baby birds chirping and seeing little beaks poke up over the edge. My kids are upset that something has happened, and I have no explanation!

Ok, please accept my apologies if this is not the right category. A google search led me here, and I've never posted on a forum before. So we have had what I think is a house finch for the past 4 years hatch babies on our front porch. We've never removed the nest, she just adds to it every year. It is at the end of our porch, so farther away from daily traffic and hasn't seemed to be bothered by us coming and going. Every morning, she is there chirping away as I leave to get the kids to school. Well, last Tuesday, I knew it was time for the eggs to start hatching, so I did as I do every year. When I see her fly out, I stick my hand with my video on on my phone and look into the deep nest to see how many babies we will have. I am very careful not to come close to the nest or touch it. I have noticed that yesterday and today, she wasn't there in the mornings, and I've been watching for her return. Nothing. I just went out there and did a video again, thinking maybe the babies hatched and died? and the nest is empty...Now, I'm not familiar with birds and bird behaviors, but...I'm not sure she was big enough to move the eggs? There are no shell pieces, and no evidence of anything on the ground. The nest is still in perfect shape...and the mama has not been seen. What on earth happened to the eggs? I've attached pictures to show...please help! We've looked forward to hearing baby birds chirping and seeing little beaks poke up over the edge. My kids are upset that something has happened, and I have no explanation!

Ok, please accept my apologies if this is not the right category. A google search led me here, and I've never posted on a forum before. So we have had what I think is a house finch for the past 4 years hatch babies on our front porch. We've never removed the nest, she just adds to it every year. It is at the end of our porch, so farther away from daily traffic and hasn't seemed to be bothered by us coming and going. Every morning, she is there chirping away as I leave to get the kids to school. Well, last Tuesday, I knew it was time for the eggs to start hatching, so I did as I do every year. When I see her fly out, I stick my hand with my video on on my phone and look into the deep nest to see how many babies we will have. I am very careful not to come close to the nest or touch it. I have noticed that yesterday and today, she wasn't there in the mornings, and I've been watching for her return. Nothing. I just went out there and did a video again, thinking maybe the babies hatched and died? and the nest is empty...Now, I'm not familiar with birds and bird behaviors, but...I'm not sure she was big enough to move the eggs? There are no shell pieces, and no evidence of anything on the ground. The nest is still in perfect shape...and the mama has not been seen. What on earth happened to the eggs? I've attached pictures to show...please help! We've looked forward to hearing baby birds chirping and seeing little beaks poke up over the edge. My kids are upset that something has happened, and I have no explanation!

Ok, please accept my apologies if this is not the right category. A google search led me here, and I've never posted on a forum before. So we have had what I think is a house finch for the past 4 years hatch babies on our front porch. We've never removed the nest, she just adds to it every year. It is at the end of our porch, so farther away from daily traffic and hasn't seemed to be bothered by us coming and going. Every morning, she is there chirping away as I leave to get the kids to school. Well, last Tuesday, I knew it was time for the eggs to start hatching, so I did as I do every year. When I see her fly out, I stick my hand with my video on on my phone and look into the deep nest to see how many babies we will have. I am very careful not to come close to the nest or touch it. I have noticed that yesterday and today, she wasn't there in the mornings, and I've been watching for her return. Nothing. I just went out there and did a video again, thinking maybe the babies hatched and died? and the nest is empty...Now, I'm not familiar with birds and bird behaviors, but...I'm not sure she was big enough to move the eggs? There are no shell pieces, and no evidence of anything on the ground. The nest is still in perfect shape...and the mama has not been seen. What on earth happened to the eggs? I've attached pictures to show...please help! We've looked forward to hearing baby birds chirping and seeing little beaks poke up over the edge. My kids are upset that something has happened, and I have no explanation!






The top picture shows four eggs. One is larger and spotted. The nest was disturbed by a parasitic bird like a cowbird or other. From there it is guesswork. My guess is that the finch saw the difference and destroyed all the eggs and will start over; again-just a guess. The parasitic bird may have done it too, but that is unlikely. Parasitic birds do not destroy all the host bird's eggs. Usually the parasitic chick does that when they hatch. The eggs could have been taken and eaten by other predators-some bird species, snake, rats, etc.

 

[TalkALittle]

If you didn't find any cracked eggs or sign of broken shells then my bet would be on a raccoon. It could have either climbed the drain pipe or come across the roof and reached down and taken them. An opposum might also climb the drain pipe but I think it would be likely that you'd see at least some evidence of broken eggs if it was a 'possum.

Some large species of birds will steal eggs, literally carrying them off. Crows and ravens do that. That would be my second guess.

Or perhaps it was a snake. Even species that don't live in trees can be agile enough to get up there. It would need to be a pretty large snake to eat a whole clutch of eggs though.

 

[mocnty]

Thank you both so much! We do have racoons around here, so I could see that happening. We did yesterday find 3 eggs with little cracks in them and the insides gone. They were found about 15 feet away in the grass. Do you recommend me to leave her nest there as we have in the past? I think I saw her yesterday singing her little song while we were outside. She did not visit the nest, but sat on top of the feeder that is near the nest. Also, is there anyway to prevent another bird from invading her nest?

 

[nchls school]

Thank you both so much! We do have racoons around here, so I could see that happening. We did yesterday find 3 eggs with little cracks in them and the insides gone. They were found about 15 feet away in the grass. Do you recommend me to leave her nest there as we have in the past? I think I saw her yesterday singing her little song while we were outside. She did not visit the nest, but sat on top of the feeder that is near the nest. Also, is there anyway to prevent another bird from invading her nest?

To me it sounds like the eggs were thrown out of the nest which some species do when the nest has a cowbird/coo coo egg in it. I doubt she would use the same nest again, and sorry to say, I would not encourage them to nest in that location again this year (remove the old nest and let the birds decide). Are you sure the birds are house finches and not this bird? Phoebe-often nest under eves.

The picture of the nest and eggs does not look like a house finch, but pictures can be deceiving.

 

[mocnty]

YES!!! This is her!!!! I have zero experience with birds, so I was googling, and I found this page. I did see her fly out of there this morning...so I think we should remove the nest and see what she does. I really hope she decides to come home! Lol, we love seeing and hearing the babies every year! I was debating between the House Finch and the Tufted Titmouse...but the nest never really matched up. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

 

[mocnty]

Oh, do you have any suggestions on maybe how to entice her to come back? Even if its not in that spot?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Ok, please accept my apologies if this is not the right category. A google search led me here, and I've never posted on a forum before. So we have had what I think is a house finch for the past 4 years hatch babies on our front porch. We've never removed the nest, she just adds to it every year. It is at the end of our porch, so farther away from daily traffic and hasn't seemed to be bothered by us coming and going. Every morning, she is there chirping away as I leave to get the kids to school. Well, last Tuesday, I knew it was time for the eggs to start hatching, so I did as I do every year. When I see her fly out, I stick my hand with my video on on my phone and look into the deep nest to see how many babies we will have. I am very careful not to come close to the nest or touch it. I have noticed that yesterday and today, she wasn't there in the mornings, and I've been watching for her return. Nothing. I just went out there and did a video again, thinking maybe the babies hatched and died? and the nest is empty...Now, I'm not familiar with birds and bird behaviors, but...I'm not sure she was big enough to move the eggs? There are no shell pieces, and no evidence of anything on the ground. The nest is still in perfect shape...and the mama has not been seen. What on earth happened to the eggs? I've attached pictures to show...please help! We've looked forward to hearing baby birds chirping and seeing little beaks poke up over the edge. My kids are upset that something has happened, and I have no explanation!

From the nest location I will say in the following order, a snake or a raccoon.

 

[nchls school]

Oh, do you have any suggestions on maybe how to entice her to come back? Even if its not in that spot?

Phoebes like a spot under an eve or bridge; any spot that has a "roof" over it. If you look the internet will give you designs for a robin. That would work. Phoebes, most birds, will not nest where there is direct sunlight so if you build a nesting "house" place it somewhere that is always shaded. Height doesn't really matter but most phoebe's nest are seven to ten feet off the ground.

 

[mocnty]

Thank you all who are following with me on this! Ok, so we were debating on whether or not we wanted to remove the nest or not. My son spotted a bird in there this morning, so i quickly got my camera and from inside the house, tried snapping some good shots. After she flew away, I went out and did another video and we now have 3 eggs!!! I am so excited!! So, I put one of our security cameras on the nest, so I will know what happens if they disappear again. Well, as I was setting it up, I watched her fly in and sit down, and another bird come along and sit on the gutter next to the nest. I am not sure if its a mate? I am reading about the Phoebe and read that the males will sometimes help feed the babies, but she just has eggs. We are going to pray that she has three successful hatchlings this time!!!



This one is the best I can get of her in her nest. And I ran across a baby picture from last years clutch