There is a birdhouse right outside our patio door, and every year there are house sparrows nesting in it. This year, suddenly, the baby birds are all dying. A few days ago, there were two dead baby birds on the patio, and this morning I found three more. What the heck??

I wonder if one of the broods from the winter, which is now half-grown, is pushing them out of the nest? This has not happened before to my knowledge, so I don't know what is gonig on. Ideas?

I know it's the circle of life and all, and I'm not too worried about it, mostly curious and, well, it's kinda gross to think my one-year-old might be out there picking up dead birds--ew.

Morning Heather, I remember watching a tv program some years back which described a particular bird called a brown thrasher (I think). It's actually a parasite, not raising its own chicks.The adult bird lays her egg in someone else's nest, and when that egg hatches, the chick literally throws the other chicks out. That might be the problem. You'd need to get up and peek into the nest (if possible). Love, Jackie

Here in Michigan (and other states I have heard) we have a problem with West Nile Virus. If we find a bird dead we are asked to call our department of natural resources and they will check it out. It might be something to let someone know about.

Jason

Yes, we do too.
Any dead bird just lying oddly about with no visible cause of death is a big red flag for us. When they're tested it's just about always West Nile, it's a huge problem.
I found a sparrow just dead on a sidewalk last year and it was indeed West Nile.

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