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Wren guard idea...

16 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
16 years ago
You're speaking of the thread I made? Is your reason for staying out, because of something I did?
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bluebars
16 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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Comments (12)
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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How long do you let the BBs try to adapt to the wren guard?
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Comments (5)
They shouldn't of had a problem with the guard if you had it up like an extended roof, do you have sides on the guard or just the front part? That being said I did one year have a pair of Blues not accept a guard. I couldn't watch but I put it up during egg laying and when there wasn't an egg laid the next day I took it off and she laid her egg in the afternoon instead. Figured I couldn't jepordize the eggs and left it off. Somehow we got through that nesting without the wren bothering them. They both wanted to box at first and I was freaking out! I say try again with it just up, if you see them go in (it may take a bit as they will be very wary of it) then put it down but maybe shorten it at first so it isn't as long as it should be, once they accept that then make it longer. If they won't accept it when you have it on but just up then maybe they won't accept it at all. Once she begins incubation though I wouldn't mess with it anymore as she needs to stay on those eggs. Good luck! Donna
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First try with a wren guard!
Q
Comments (4)
DUH !! Sorry Lisa- I looked it up on the internet. Not too bad for a mentally challenged ex- PE teacher, huh? Seven years ago, I had to have an 8 yr old show me how to turn on a computer at the public library!!
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wren guards and other birds
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Comments (3)
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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blue_belle
16 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!
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lisa11310
16 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.
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rebecca57
Original Author
16 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
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trailerparkbirds
16 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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