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Wren guard idea...

18 years ago

Hello everyone! It is Rebecca from North Georgia. We finally have a pretty day, so I have been outside thinking about my bluebirds..

Has anyone tried or heard of someone using a car liscense tag as a wren gaurd? I would think it would bend to the proper formation, and make a great addition to our creative juices to irritate the neighbors! Ha, just kidding...

Well, what does anyone think about this idea? I was going to add a comment about a recent 52 post on wren gaurds, but will stay out of it! My goodness what a joke..

Now I will probably get the same number of responses!

Please let me know any ideas..

Thanks! Rebecca

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Comments (6)

bluebirdman12
18 years ago
You're speaking of the thread I made? Is your reason for staying out, because of something I did?
bluebars
18 years ago
I think wren guards are a relatively new idea. So hey, give it a try, and see what works. As long as the bluebirds can get around it. But house wrens can be a real challenge, and there are so many variable situations.
BlueBars
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did you use duct tape to attach? COOL!!! will add one right now! I'll get the dimensions of where it needs to be.. BIG SIGH! Yes, here is the quote from sialis.. "Try a modified Noel guard: Suggestion from Bernie Daniel: When a Chickadee or bluebird is established (i.e., a nest or eggs) build a "vanity front porch" on the box for them. Cut an old 2 quart milk carton in half. Cut a 1.5' hole in the bottom. Trim back the sides to about 4" in depth (now you have created a 4" bowl with a hole the bottom.) Center the hole in the bottom of the former milk carton over the nestbox hole and tack it onto the door. You can cut the bottom of the "porch" off so it is easier to attach and so that the Chickadee has access to the wooden door -- but keep the sides and top in place. (Basically this is a just a plastic "Noel guard" with no bottom). This creates a vestibule that prevents the wren for seeing the chickadee fly into the hole. Thus, the wren has less interest in what the chickadee is doing. Daniel has never lost a nest to wrens since using this method. " on this page: http://www.sialis.org/wrens.htm about a third of the way down.
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Hey Anita, I thought that too until one day I watched my momma Bluebird go up under the wren guard on the Chickadee nestbox. She was getting a bug on the ground before that and must have seen the hole when she was on the ground. So while it may take a bird longer to find a nestbox with a wren guard I don't think it is fullproof to stop HOSP as they could easily find the hole too if on the ground or by observing another bird going in and out of the nestbox with a wren guard. Just my opinion really but that it how it seems anyway. Donna
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I have no idea when they would be "positively" safe but I'd wait at least 7 to 8 days with bluebirds and 12 to 13 will smaller species like Chickadees or Nuthatches. Linda had a thread here regarding a titmouse baby, 13 to 15 days old, still being harassed by HOWR entering the box. It was a single baby, the HOWR had already gotten rid of the others when they were younger, but the HOWR didn't seem to mind that it was close to fledging age and too large to physically remove. Thankfully that little TITU did fledge safely. In my last nesting of BHNU I left the wren guard on till they were 14 days old.
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A lot of people ask me about wren guards, so I put up some information and photos about what they do and how to make one: http://www.pbase.com/gymell/wren_guard
...See More
blue_belle
18 years ago
Rebecca, Good idea! It would be very durable and quick to install. My cardboard ones have sides, so if you figure out a way to do that with a tag I would be very interested in your result. With cardboard, I always put the "decorative" side toward the box so as not to possibly spook the birds. I think I would also do that with a tag and leave a 2.5-3 inch gap between the guard and the box. Please let me know how it turns out if you give it a try!

I'm glad you started a new thread on this subject. The other one had gotten sooo absurd. That's partly why I resorted to Latin in that one. But Latin strains my brain and I am so glad to be typing in English again!
lisa11310
18 years ago
Rebecca, my concern with the license plate is that it may heat up too much in the sun. When we get to the part of the season that everybody is trying to keep the box cool I would worry it would generate heat into the box.
rebecca57
Original Author
18 years ago
That was my main concern too, the heat it might generate. I will keep thinking about a different idea... Maybe I could put something over the liscense tag to withdraw the heat away.. Hmmm. Good weekend to think!
Rebecca
trailerparkbirds
18 years ago
Hey Rebecca
Maybe you can get a few of those used Tennessee Bluebird license plates to make your wren guards. Now maybe my Bluebirds won't just be licensed to Tennessee but maybe in the future will be protect by the license.
{{!gwi}}

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