I have a nest box with camera. We had 5 chicks hatch 5 days ago. Parents have not been back for the last two days and sadly all 5 babies have died. Do I clean out the box now?
How sad for you to witness this, parents usually take the bodies away so this might indicate that one or both predated ... wildlife laws say to leave nests til end of season, September time, before clearing out and cleaning box! There seem to have been many failed nests this year, maybe the bad weather and lack of natural food and, of course, predation!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr