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Second Bluebird House being claimed by Wrens - HELP!

13 years ago

I know this subject has been beaten to death but I can't read anymore and feel this is the best forum as you all have such great advice. The Wren has once again begun building furiously this morning in our new bluebird house (we've taken out her sticks two nights in a row and she is one determined lady). Should I block the hole completely on the new box and hope that the blues will start building in their original box again? If anyone saw my last post, the female blue finally returned yesterday morning. Please note: The male went to the second house and looked in the day we installed it (secured with cement unfortunately); at that time, there were no sticks. When we picked the location, it seemed perfect according to all we've read; didn't even think about wrens trying to occupy the house.

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Comments (5)

mlkbskt
13 years ago
I have a neighbor who has removed wren sticks and an egg EVERY day for 25 days straight this summer. She got tired of it and finally plugged the entrance hole. I am not telling you to do that, just reporting a similar happening here in WI. I personally would not give up. GOOD LUCK to you!
kendra2003
13 years ago
I had a similar situation. I decided not to plug up the house the wren was using, fearing it would look for another house and destroy the Tree Swallow or Bluebirds nests. So I just kept them busy. They (Wrens) don't ever give up. I waited until the Baby Blues and Baby Tree Swallows were no longer in danger from the Wrens and then plugged it. Since your Blues have not started building yet, you may have to remove sticks twice a day for quite a while. I wish you the best of luck. It is a tricky situation.
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Carolina Wrens are not destructive like House Wrens. CAWR are cheerful and welcome guests at my home any time! CAWR will nest in many odd places; a nestbox or shelf, a flowerpot, a fallen tree stump, an old boot, a clay pot, a bush, a motorcycle helmet, a hole in a stone wall or mudbank, nooks & crannies, mailboxes, an old hat, a coat pocket, ... surely I've missed a few? Our local garden center had a decorative nestbox on a shelf over the cash register. A pair of Carolina Wrens popped in and out as needed to feed their young surprising many customers, including me! BlueBars Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.sialis.org/nestscarolinawren.htm
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Leslie, I'm sorry that happened but as many others have replied, we've all made mistakes. Fortunately I had bluebirds nesting for at least two years before a chickadee showed up and claimed another box. Because of this forum, and the helpful members here, I knew that I could protect the dees FROM the bluebirds by adding a hole reducer (to keep the bluebirds out). I've talked to several people over the years (people I know personally and not from this forum) who have removed chickadee, titmouse and brown headed nuthatch nests because they wanted bluebirds. When I listened to their stories I took a deep breath and then explained how much these other species NEED our help. Bluebirds have been getting our help (YEA!) for the last 40 years and sometimes it's easy to forget or not even think about the other species who also need a safe nesting spot. I think that when we put up that first bluebird nest box we only have one thought in mind...... getting bluebirds to nest in our box! I waited FIVE YEARS to get my first bluebird couple! LOL! What I've experienced in hosting three nest boxes is that the Dees and the brown headed nuthatches are just as much fun and such nice little birds! I've never been lucky enough to host titmice but maybe one day.... Anyway, I know you are sorry and won't do it again and that really is the point. Janie
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I just did this too! They will abandon the nest if you don't take care of it, ASAP!! tonight if you can!. You need to do a nest change. There is good info on the sialis site about nest changes and how to do it. I got as much dried grass as I could and put it in an empty butter container. I tried to line it with pine needles, but I don't know where my female got hers?!! It took a few days, but then the second egg arrived along with a third! She was incubating a few days until a wren, I think, got two of them. Now they built another nest in my other box.. after all that work!! then you have to take care of the ants. They say grease the pole.. I put the liquid ant killer at the base on a plastic lid covered with a larger lid.. I hoped it would distract them from the nest, but I can't tell for sure if it worked since they moved.. but I didn't see any more ants in there. Good luck and keep us posted!
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Oh my, what a quandary! Our bluebirds have been battling HOWR too. But they have defended their territory and protected their 4 eggs. So far so good. The wren was removing nest material before the bluebird eggs were laid, so there was only a minimal amount of pine needles left in there. All the soft grasses had been removed by the #$@% wren. So the bluebird eggs are being incubated, but are nearly touching the wood floor. I've wondered if I should add some soft grasses, but then, I think, Mama knows best. Sometimes it is difficult to know what to do. Surely a wren guard would not help you at this point. Sorry, I'm no help at all. BlueBars
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judicolors
Original Author
13 years ago
My husband thinks if we plug up the hole, the wrens will go to the other bluebird box so we'll just keep taking out the twigs. She builds a perfect circle of twigs morning and night. As I walk back from destroying her work if just look over and say, "Sorry little bird." I know it's for the best. I've figured out a way to stop feeling guilty about it; I just have my husband do it! Plus I keep picturing the destroyed bluebird eggs I've seen from what the Wren's can do. Thank you all for your advice. Now we just need our Blue's to start building!
Connie Kru
13 years ago
Provide another box for them. I have a large yard and I put up my hanging gourds and refuse to let them nest in the b.b box. As soon as they find the gourds, I wait 2-3 days and hang another gourd close to the first. Next week I add another and keep them busy near the nest they actually use making false nests. I have been doing this at least for 5 years and it has solved my wren problem.
judicolors
Original Author
13 years ago
How far from your Bluebird boxes do you place the gourds. I don't quite understand what you mean by "false nests." I've heard that term used so many times. I like your idea and will look into getting gourds and the proper way to hand them. Any pointers?

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