Woke up to a beautiful and sunny morning but when I looked out of the window I saw all kinds of stuff hanging out of the bird house and my first thought was that a blackbird had tried to go in there again. So I asked my husband to make sure the little ones were safe. but no. I persuaded him to get the ladder climb up there and open up the house to see what has happend. when he got to the post the bird house is on he saw a demolished nest on the gorund. the babies were gone. cruel act of nature. first picture mom feeding her 2 offsprings . nest on the ground. hubby opening up the house to have a look and poor mom looking for her offsprings. all morning long the sparrows are now flying around and around looking and calling their babies. I'm hoping they will have another try to have babies.
If not a bird than maybe squirrel or a cat fetching the bird with their paw. we have lots of those around here too.
Competition for nest sites is fierce, sparrows are notorious for doing this to other birds including bluebirds. Since the babies were gone it was likely a predatory act rather than competition, not sure what could get at them through the hole. Looks too small for a crow but a shrike or mockingbird might be able to get to them. They will try again I'm sure. Great documentation of a sad event.
The circle of life - they lost their eggs, so another can live