House Wren Question

16 years ago

Yesterday I emptied a nestbox with a dummy nest in it, it was half full of sticks. Today I went to look in the box to see if the wren would have started to add to it again and there was a TRES hanging on looking in the hole. I opened the box and there inside is a half finished TRES nest! I have never seen them build a nest so quickly! Anyway what are the chances these TRES have in this box with the wren having used it as a dummy box?? Anyone have any successful nestings after having a dummy nest in the box? There is another box about 100 ft east from this one that another pair of TRES have a nest in, I have seen the Wren looking in it, but not going in. Then the old chickadee house which is one the wren wants to use is about 50ft south from this second box, I have been taking sticks out of this one too. So far there have only been sticks in the bottom. I have been thinking of just plugging it or leaving it open but then wonder if they will try to take a TRES box. Any ideas?? These are the only three boxes I have seen the wrens near but that doesn't mean they haven't checked out all of the boxes. We have seven nestboxes now with TRES nests in them and three empty boxes. I don't want any wrens nesting here but then I don't want them to go after the TRES boxes if I open the empty ones up so no one nests. I am so hoping for a second nesting of Blues again this year since we didn't get a first nesting.

Donna

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Comments (3)

lisa11310
16 years ago
Donna, the best I can tell you is that if ANYBODY has a good chance against the WRENS it's the TRES. Mom and Dad TRES here rarely leave the hole of the box unattended, Mom wont slip out until Dad slips in. I would leave the other boxes for the Wrens to play with. I had a Wren putting sticks in a box about 20 feet from a TRES box. I kept pulling all but a few out each day to keep them busy. The Wren never had a chance to get IN to the TRES box and the babies fledged just fine. I am sure others will have more to add.
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dzyg
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Lisa, that is what I was thinking too but I wanted to make sure. I will just keep the wrens busy pulling sticks. LOL! I was thinking of taking the hole reducer off that box too since I know the chickadees won't be back this year. Maybe then I could put it back up in Fall when nesting is done. There is a male HOSP hanging around lately too but like you said the TRES don't leave their nests unattended so I am hoping they will be ok. We have three boxes with eggs now. The HOSP keeps going into the empty box however seems to not have any female takers as of yet. Of course this is the only box I cannot put a trap inside, found out this year as it is top opening and the sides that come down into the box makes it a bit too narrow for the trap. I keep hoping I can get him at the feeder with the BB gun but so far no go. I may have dh put a house on a movable metal fencepost just to try to get rid of that little bugger. I had one other permanent trap box but a Robin built a nest near it and won't let any bird near that nestbox.

Donna
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Donna is right the guard may not work since the Wren knows it's there. One other thought is (when the first egg is laid) to turn the box 1/4 turn, you will have to watch to be sure mom finds the hole and not the Wren. As soon as Mom finds it put the guard up making sure there are sides on the guard so the hole can not be seen from the top of the box. Again make sure Mom finds it. Last ditch effort would be to move the box entirley in plain view of the Blues. If none of this is successful the worst that will happen is you will lose the eggs and the Blues will nest again. Also get a high powered water gun and attack the Wren whenever you see it near the box. Good Luck!
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lisa11310
16 years ago
Donna,,,the hole reducer will make it harder for the Wrens to get the sticks in. Let them spend as much time as they can on that box, making it harder will take more time. A busy Wren is a less distructive Wren! ;)
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House Wren Question

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lisa11310

dzyg
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House Wren Question

Comments (3)

lisa11310

dzygOriginal Author

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dzyg
Original Author