Why dead chicks so far from the nest?

We have found two baby birds like this. They are at least 10 feet from the nest, so I don’t think they are falling. How or why do they come out of the nest and end up so far away? (Dandelion for size)

I can’t definitively answer this question, since there are several reasons that baby birds may be found outside of a nest. Usually, it’s the result of some sort of predation. Non-native House Sparrows often wreak havoc on native nesting birds — especially bluebirds or other cavity nesters. I have personally watched a House Sparrow removing baby chickadees from a nest box on my property and dropping them on the ground outside the box.  I have also found dead adult bluebirds inside a nest box with their heads pecked.  Blue Jays also may raid the nests of other birds for eggs and nestlings. Snakes and raccoons can also cause trouble.

Click here for a troubleshooting chart geared toward bluebirds, which can apply to other nesting birds as well.  It lists potential problems and their culprits, and offers some solutions. I hope this helps.

-Naturalist Linda Gilbert