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Thank God they are persistant birds.......

18 years ago

I added a wren guard yesterday but couldn't monitor closely to make sure it was accepted. I watched as much as I could and the male and female were always there but I never once saw them try to go into the box. I had to leave in the evening and then it was raining when I got back so I left the guard on. This morning I kept watching and I saw the male but no female so I wasn't sure if she figured it out and was in there or not. She had laid three eggs so I didn't want to go look in the morning if she was indeed in there as she would be laying another egg. So I waited with my guts just a twisting all morning until 11:00 to see if she laid another egg. Went down to look and nope no new egg. I took the guard off and said a prayer on the way back to the house that I didn't run them off by putting the wren guard on. I got back in the house grabbed the binocs and there was mom on a tree near the box, flew to the box, poked her head in and out a few times and went in. I watched for a full five minutes and she stayed in there so I am assuming she is laying her fourth egg. I guess this pair will not accept a wren guard. I thought it odd that I never saw them even fliting around the box trying to figure it out, they just sat in a tree and looked at the box. I won't be putting it back on either just praying we don't get any wrens back. I was so thankful to see her go in there, I was sure they were gone!

Donna

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Comments (6)

bet_from_ct
18 years ago
I heard one other report recently of the same thing - the female just refused to go in. This is why it's so important to make changes like this DURING egg laying - so they have time to get used to it, and you know the next day whether they tolerated it or not. I have a nestcam on a backyard box. After the first egg, the female was in and out. I put a wren guard up (vulnerable area they chose), and didn't see her in the box for the rest of the day. But the next morning she was back in there laying. I don't think she LIKES it (I hear a bit of scrambling when she enters) but it's better than pecked eggs.

Individual birds vary in tolerance, brains, etc.

Personally, I am not taking any chances for the rest of the season tho - two full bluebird clutches lost, 5 titmouse nestlings in one nest, 2 sets of titmouse eggs in two other nests, and a number of Tree Swallow eggs, all to House Wrens....

Here is a link that might be useful: wren guards.
dzyg
Original Author
18 years ago
I would rather be safe than sorry too but if she won't even try to go in with the guard on there really isn't anything I can do. I felt sooo bad about keeping her from her nest this morning when I realized she didn't go in. I kept thinking I should of waited until incubation but then I realized that would be worse if she started incubating and then wouldn't go in because of the guard, then we could of lost the clutch of eggs.

Wow, you really have lost alot this season! So sorry about that!! I am lucky at the park where I monitor the houses as there are wrens in the woods, I hear them all the time but the natural cavities must keep them busy enough in there as they don't bother the boxes down there. We have TRES with eggs yet down there but the two boxes with bluebirds nestlings are all past day 5 already! Whew! Now I am just praying that no wrens come back to our yard and bother the Blues nesting here!

Donna
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dzyg
Original Author
18 years ago
Whew!!!! Just saw momma Blue outside the nestbox, went and looked and we have four eggs now!

Donna
bet_from_ct
18 years ago
Definitely better IMHO to try it during egg LAYING - much more time to accept. Sometimes you gotta take a chance.... it's always a tough call.

Wrote a new webpage on the differences between individual birds after reading your post - see below

Here is a link that might be useful: Birdality
bonnieblueyes
18 years ago
Donna so glad you were watching. My male and female blue tried and tried to pull the spooker off when i first attached it. Glad they accepted it tho. Hope things will be ok. Best wishes.
Bonnie
bbcathy
18 years ago
Donna I didn't see this post and answered the other first. The pair I had this year kind of did the same thing. I had a strong feeling they were kind of young and stupid so I watched carefully the first day I tried it and I did take it off b/c there were no attempts to get in. After she went in and laid the next egg (within the hour) I put it back on afterwards and the next day as I watched nervously she did figure out how to get in and laid another. I think it was my male this time who figured it out and showed her. Sometimes they sit on the baffle after fluttering and then see the way in. I would give it another try but only if I could watch to be sure.
Cathy

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