NestWatch Trouble-shooting guide for nest box landlords What you might find: What may be the cause: What you could do: Eggs or nestlings Snake, rodent, House Sparrow, Install predator guards or baffles on missing, nest intact House Wren 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 Raccoon, Install predator guards or baffles on missing or on ground under cat, the box pole box. squirrel, Install boxes high enough so cats Nest disturbed, partially human can’t leap from the ground to the box pulled out of hole, or on vandalism roof ground under box. Place box away from trees or fences Adult feathers scattered to prevent raccoons and cats from on ground below box. climbing or jumping to the box NORRIS Securely close box with screws or nails Eggs on ground under House Wren, House Sparrow Move boxes away from areas where nest, nest intact and tiny House Sparrows are prevalent holes pecked in eggs. Note: Dead adults and nestlings Place House Sparrow deterrent or Nestlings dead in box more likely due to House excluders on the nest box. and with signs of trauma, Sparrows Move boxes away from prime especially around the head. House Wren habitat Adult dead in nest, signs of trauma, especially around the head. Eggs fail to hatch. Infertile eggs, runt eggs, female Don’t use lawn, garden, and insect Nestlings or adults dead disappeared, bad weather, chemical products in box, no signs of foul play chemical poisoning, nestlings Discuss possible chemical or adults could not climb out application problems with neighbors, of box 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 www.nestwatch.org.