I would try again if you have wrens in your area. Some birds just take longer to figure it out than others. I know it is gut wrenching to watch but it is for their own good. I've had to take it off too and try again so don't feel bad. Does it have sides? No sides does help at first but I recommend adding them. I have seen wrens repeatedly crawling all over a box trying to find a way in. I've done this for 6 or 7 years now and the Blues always find a way in eventually. I had a female last year that was not getting it at all. I had to cut a flap in the guard right in front of the hole and tape it back so she could see the hole and when she got used to that I taped it back down. Is there at least 2 1/2" in front. I leave 3" at least until they get used to it. Good Luck Cathy

Saw the bluebird pair shopping at my HOSP trap house..??!! so I went to investigate their other nest.. TWO eggs are GONE!! I looked around and didn't find any shells. It wasn't a snake because it has an electric fence, plus he probably would have still been in there... I'm guessing a dang wren! (sparrow spooker in place and I'm trapping all the time!) I was hopeing it would just be okay, but murphies law.. My open house never had any sticks in it.. so I hoped they weren't nesting here. What about the other egg? I'm surprised they are shopping and left that one behind! So, If the pair renests, I will work with her to get a guard on there. I'll try a perch and everything suggested. I don't know if it was the guard or the ants last time, so maybe she'll work it out. If she can't figure it out, then I'll just have to let her move on. ok, my plan for possible new nest. Once I find the first egg I'll put on the training guard and add a removeable horizontal perch. When I wake up if there isn't a new egg, I'll remove the guard for a few hours. Once the egg is laid I'll put it all back on. I'll keep this up until she works it out, maybe allowing the guard in place longer each morning. Once all the eggs are laid, the guard will have to stay on. IF she hasn't figured it out by then, she will just have to abandon the nest. No reason to keep trying here, it just won't work.

Donna I just had new wrens start singing and putting sticks in a box today. There are 2 boxes up the road in the neighbors yards with wrens and 1 across the street that already have nests and I thought I was in the clear and then more showed up today. What time did you put it on? Usually I put it on in the morning so they have all day to get used to it and figure it out. (which they do) If it is just a piece of wood or cardboard in the front only I would leave it. That is easier to figure out that with the sides on like I use. I myself would have put the guard on first b/c the hosp have never gotten around the guard yet. Sometimes I don't even use a spooker until fledging is near if I have a guard up. Gees that is a tough call. I don't think you can ever say you are safe from the wrens. Wish I had better advice. Cathy

I had to google to see what you are talking about as I've never used one. According to this link it needs to be 2-1/2 to 3" away from the opening. http://bluebirdnut.com/forums/topic/how-to-make-a-wren-guard-with-photos/