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Bluebirds Fledged-Wrens Moving In-UGH!

11 years ago

My six bluebirds fledged this morning! Yay. A successful brood. I cleaned the nest out.

Already a darned wren pair are trying to take over the nesting box and have sticks in it. I am cleaning it out, but how can I keep them away so Mama Blue can come back and rebuild for her 2nd brood? I don't want wrens to prevent more blues.

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Comments (3)

bluesoblue
11 years ago
I am still new at this whole protecting our bb houses, I have learned the hard way twice and now IM coming here for some great advice, which I am getting and you will also. I thought someone told me that if you clean the bb nest out after fledging to leave it open for awhile. Mama bb will be busy with her baby's. IM not really sure but I do think this was suggested to me? If not someone will set you straight soon. Congrats on the six fledglings, that is huge!! After watching video of wrens and sparrows raiding and killing bb's IM pissed and ready to rip their little heads off. (oh my) LOL good luck.
mlkbskt
Original Author
11 years ago
I do have the door open but just for the rest of the day yesterday and all day today. I plan to close it up again tonighty after it dries out. (I sprayed it yesterday with 10% bleach solution and then clear water.)

I'm fearful that because the wrens know the hole is there that they will come back and do damage if I get a 2nd brood. Last year they killed the babies of my 2nd brood the day after they were born! I was heartsick, believe me.
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and now the wrens are here!
Q
Comments (12)
Thanks Nicknack! Now that I have read up on it, we did check an "empy bluebird house and find a wren nest. It does have the white cocoons in it. We destroyed the nest. That box is located in the front acre of our property near an old barn and shed which is on our neighbors property. Our Blubirds are in the back acre with the tree sparrow nest which has babies. Should we take down the empty boxes in the front or leave them? Like sagrinin, I am worried they will mess with my two other nests.
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Comments (13)
I'm really sorry your babies were taken and the nest destroyed. Is the nestbox on a metal pole with a baffle? If not, that could be the problem. Raccoons are everywhere, even if you haven't seen one. If the box is mounted on a wooden pole or a fence it is easy for a raccoon, a cat or any other climbing animal to get to it. If you haven't already looked at the sialis.org website you should spend some time reading and make sure you have a proper setup. You know, even when you are being really careful sometimes tragedy just happens. I don't put out any feeders at all because I'm afraid of bears coming around for food. I know the birds have plenty of natural food and if they can't make it out there then maybe they shouldn't.
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Q
Comments (14)
Bet, Thanks for the response as the email had some kinda error & was returned. Okay, obviously I've just been lucky so far. If I take down the boxes in the thicket (woods) & put wren guards on the BB houses in the fields, remove "dummy" nests-is there anything else? I didn't actually encourage them in the first place, these boxes used to be in a grassy area but I let it grow up for a more woodland habitat. Also the CA Chickadees use one of the boxes in the thicket & this year sucessfully fledged 5 young!The dees fledged before the HOWR arrived. I would like to return the boxes in the fall for the flying squirrels & sometimes the downy's roost in them. Unlike the Carolina's who will come right up on the porch, the HOWR seems to stay down the hill in the cedar thickets-of course the Carolina's are year round residents & the HOWR aren't so maybe that's the difference. Thanks for everyone's sage advice & hopefully "my" wrens will not take revenge when I remove their boxes. (after they fledge this batch) Susan
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Comments (8)
Glad to hear they are still coming to your feeder. Has your neighbor seen them up by his box at all? Just wondering about them trying to renest or not. Timing is just real iffy right now. Yes, once my pair ran off just the 1st nesting male but he did come back after fledgling of the second nesting. Right now I have three fledglings and one day it took me until 2PM to see if all three were there as they don't always come at the same time. Always makes my day to see that all three are there but mine don't seem to stick together much however they do stick around the area alot. Your other one just may be out hunting more that you aren't seeing it. Hopefully you will see all three of them soon, so you know it is ok though. Donna
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kendra2003
11 years ago
The wrens will more than likely not give up once they know that house is there. Any chance you could put up a second house for the Blues to use? Make sure the entry hole can't be seen from the original house. My Blues never re-nest in the same house. I supply multiple houses for them, and they always choose a new one for their second brood. So I think you'd have a great chance of getting them to re-nest without worrying about the wrens killing their young.

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