here we go again &^**(!!!!

17 years ago

I cannot believe it...I managed to make it =almost= through a non-HOWR bluebird brood. Actually, I'm not worried about them, Thelma and Louise are 12 days old and fat and feisty. And Daddy blue is never far away.

What happened this morning is downright spooky...every year it's the 'no extra nest boxes=no wren housing/extra nest boxes=keep them busy'?? This year it was the extra boxes. Every day since the bluebirds started their nest I have been checking 3 out of 4 extra nest boxes. No sticks. I didn't check the 4th because I kept forgetting to get DH to unstick the front door. He did that yesterday because he left this morning for a course out of town (and won't be back till Sat night or Sun morn depending on the weather.

This morning was the first time I was able to check that box and I found 5 tiny and healthy CHKD babies, eyes not opened yet. Probably only a day or 2 old.

So I'm on the phone with my parents as I am every morning between 9am and 10am, this morning telling them about the chickadees (and how there was a lot of fur from our dogs in the nest) and I see a brown bird hanging onto the chickadee nest box with fur in its beak!!!

Thank goodness for cordless phones. I hightailed it out to the box and the wren got out of my way. However, I looked on the ground and saw one of the babies. I searched and search and found 4 out of the 5. I quickly rigged a wren guard.

I went behind a bush to watch and there were tense moments when one of the CHKD parents flew toward the wren guard and the wren tried to chase it away. The parents have figured out how to get into the box. I found 1 chick right away and the other 3 were cold to the touch but still living. I pray that they're being brooded now. I am sad for the 5th baby :( As I've found out the hard way 'nature ain't always pretty.'

I watched the HOWR flutter toward the box but as far as I know, it did not go into the box. It's raining so I'll wait but later in the day I will check to see if the chicks are there and OK. I wish the #$^*^ wren would make a move for the bluebirds because this Daddy Blue is a real aggressive/protective one.

::sigh:: So fortuitous that I was watching when the wren arrived and was deconstructing the nest! This is the first wren sighting of the year for me. I have not been able to look out the window much because I've been doing the bluebird videos and my computer is far away from the window to the boxes.

Now I wish I had a video cam in that box but I can't put one in at this point. I'm going to put up the camcorder to monitor the situation. I see chickadees taking mealworms and I hope its to the chicks.

I guess there's nothing else I can do at this point. As for my bluebirds, when they fledge next week, that's when I'm going to panic. Mama wouldn't accept a wren guard when I tried with this brood but she's going to have to this time. I just hope that the wren doesn't come to the BB box now cause then the wren guard isn't as effective.

Good thing I had my knee replaced. Unfortunately, I've not recovered well enough for these sprints...found that out this morning! :( Ouch, time for the pain meds.

Linda...

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

lcmoore99
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I have to review my camcorder footage later but I'm sure I saw the HOWR flutter up to the nest box but it doesn't seem to be able to figure out how to get in under my quick wren guard ... at least I pray that's so. I've seen the parents go under it numerous times.

I just went back to the box and gently put my fingers into the the nest. I felt warm CHKD chicks very much alive!

Linda...
dzyg
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Oh gosh Linda, not again!! I sure hope and pray those little chickadee babies stay safe!

Donna
Related Discussions
O dear...here we go again, on the road to weevil hell.
Q
Comments (3)
Aw, thank you, Jay. Now, if you like words and are in the mood for reading, can I recommend the most excellent Ken Thompson. Prolific, erudite, witty, a bit iconoclastic with some interesting views on ecology, biodiversity, adaptation. 'Do We Need Pandas' and 'Where Do Camels Belong' , the terrific 'The Sceptical Gardener' and, in his academic role, an ebook, 'Ecology of Seeds'- all very accessible., He has written many papers (a whole series of articles in The Telegraph (Torygraph, smirk), does sporadic newspaper columns, has some involvement in stuff like Future Ecologists- I think you will enjoy his work.
...See More
Here we go again...
Q
Comments (25)
I also got Lakeside Dimpled Darling, Silver Kabitan, Hidden Cove and Ruffed Up from Dave. This is part of the new Frisian collection. I already had Frisian Waving Steel, Frisian Pride and Frisian Elegance and I really liked their looks and how nice they grow and so I decided to add a few more :-) Looking forward so see them grow...
...See More
Here we go again...READY THE TRAPS!
Q
Comments (9)
There is a TNR group here but they are irritating and difficult to work with. Their volunteers or whatever are very condescending and self righteous and i prefer not to speak to them,let alone work with them or ask for any assistance. So I just take them to my vet to have them fixed when I can catch them. Then I release them. They can hang out around my property or move on if they want,their choice. I do think they are feral because they are very skittish and fearful. They wouldn't let me near them even though they saw me put food out for them so they are clearly not used to people.
...See More
Here we go again
Q
Comments (4)
Plant swap this Sunday. Most tomatoes are of Ukrainian origin. I am famous for it 😆 Will be giving away at plant swap most. I will start addressing my garden after. Some real beauties are coming.
...See More
lcmoore99
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I have been seeing the HOWR flutter up to the wren guard and go away.

Problem is I put up the wren guard which is basically a piece of cardboard covered with clear packing tape to make it waterproof. I used packed tape to put it on the box this morning. I watched in HORROR to see the darned thing sliding off while the wren sat on top of the box!

I grabbed some electrical tape and went out into the rain. As luck would have it, I ran out of tape when I had just secured the cardboard. If it rains hard, I don't know if it's going to stay on. And DH is gone to a course for the weekend...

Geez, do my boxes have big 'wrens wanted' signs???

Linda...
bbcathy
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Linda My guards are just cardboard too> I use a cheese it box inside out to make them and mine have sides. I really really believe in the sides cause the little DEVILS are very persistent. I use screws (short screws) to attach them with. I screw them right into the roof and then they don't come off. I tape them too. I will have my daughter post some pics of how I do it. I have never had trouble getting the Blues or Dees to go into them until this year. I had a real dumb Bluebird and had to cut a flap in the front to expose the hole and then taped it back into place and she got it. Usually they flutter in front of the box and when they finally lose altitude they see the hole or they sit on the baffle and finally see it. This one never fluttered. It sometimes take a few attempts but they always figure it out within a couple hours and usually minutes. Except this one dumb Bluebird pair. I would try to get a guard on the Blues house asap. I'm afraid because this wren has already been in that house he will figure it out too. I'll pray for your birds.
Cathy
lisa11310
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Linda you tell those Wrens you have had quite enough of their tossing babies. How many tossed babies have you saved so far? You really need to get yourself a pellet gun or the water gun.....NOT TO SHOOT them but to scare them off without you having to run out there. I have this fear every year that your DH is going to get on the forum to tell us that you are in the hospital with a WREN injury LOL...meaning you fell running to the rescue. The baby birds are precious...but so are you PLEASE be careful!
lcmoore99
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Lisa,

How many??? Can I count the bluebird babies who got tossed out two nights in a row? I don't even want to count.

The chickadees are Ok today. They are between 4 and 5 days old. If you go to my blog, you'll see the photo I took of them.

The HOWRs don't seem to be able to figure out how to go under the wren guard. I made it longer, maybe that's it.

There are 2 of them who are hanging together so I guess that the male and female pair, does that make sense? They are only putting sticks in one of 3 empty boxes...could they just be setting up housekeeping right away?

I will not let down my guard but there is going to come a day (not sure what that is) when I'll have to take the wren guard off the chickadee box so that they can fledge.

Linda...thanks always for your support.

here we go again &^**(!!!!

Comments (6)

lcmoore99
Original Author

dzyg

Related Discussions

lcmoore99
Original Author

bbcathy

lisa11310

lcmoore99
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

here we go again &^**(!!!!

Comments (6)

lcmoore99Original Author

dzyg

Related Discussions

lcmoore99Original Author

bbcathy

lisa11310

lcmoore99Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author

lcmoore99
Original Author