How does any eyas survive living in that disgusting nest??

[Dot_Forrester]

This might be in the wrong place, but I wonder how on earth the eyases manage to survive the germs and diseases that must accumulate in a nest box that filthy with poop and rotten prey parts. In their natural cliff habitat, I suppose the wind would blow away most of the body parts, but that isn't happening in this box.  Ick and double ick

Dot in PA

[Bobbie Ireland]

This might be in the wrong place, but I wonder how on earth the eyases manage to survive the germs and diseases that must accumulate in a nest box that filthy with poop and rotten prey parts. In their natural cliff habitat, I suppose the wind would blow away most of the body parts, but that isn't happening in this box.  Ick and double ick

Dot in PA

Good point, Dot. Still... it seems loads of raptors have no probs, esp when the nestboxes get cleaned every year... don't they??

[Donna]

If need be, they check them and dust them for lice. It is gross but ---- Happens! Normal in the birds world. I have yet to see a clean nest!

[Dumpsterkitty]

And eagle nests-they never get cleaned-parents just pile more sticks on top & bury the nestovers.

I suppose we could get into a discussion about exposure to germs conferring immunity rather than causing disease...

[valhalla]

And eagle nests-they never get cleaned-parents just pile more sticks on top & bury the nestovers.

I suppose we could get into a discussion about exposure to germs conferring immunity rather than causing disease...

At least the birds aren't being vaccinated, Thank God!

[Bonnie]

I have chicks in a nestbox right now and they are getting bigger and bigger every day.  The parents push all the gunk to the corners.  When they were little I think the adults took out the poop.  I suspect, though, that the poop acts as moisturizer for my clutch.  It gets hot in the box and the moisture tends to make it a bit cooler.  I clean the box every day now, but the adults get very mad at me.  There doesn't seem to be anything that's harmful to the chicks/eyases.

Some natural scrapes are back under ledges where they would probably be cleaned after fledging by other hawks or vultures.