What goes up can also come down....if the nest is 5 1/2 feet up, it may only be 2 1/2 feet down from an eave or gutterline. A squirrel or a ::ducks low:: racoon could have made an attempt at raiding the nest from above, slipped and wrecked the whole thing on the way down. Once down and wrecked, said vermin coul dhave torn it all to shreds in rage or inquisitiveness.

It could also have been redcaps.