What would cause a female Wren to desert her babies?

13 years ago

I have a bird house out in my front yard, not far from my bedroom window, where last year a couple of Wrens had babies, fed them for 3-4 days and then never came back. There were four babies, who ended up starving to death. I was beside myself and wondered why she had done this. I tried to locate a wild life person in my area and it was the weekend, so I didn't have any luck. I chalked it up to something happening to her and she just couldn't make it back.

I hope I'm wrong but it looks as if history may be repeating itself. There are babies in this house once again and the mother was feeding them on a regular schedule up until this evening. I have been listening to them cry consistently with no visits from either mom or dad. I sat out front for a long time watching the box, but still no mom. Does anyone know what could cause this to happen? Why would a mother bird go through all this and then just desert the box. I sure hope I'm wrong. What is the longest they might go without feeding their young? They are only a few days old, in fact could you barely hear them until today. Sorry for going on and on, just wanted to give everyone as much of the story as possible. By the way, I believe they are House Wrens, which I know a lot of people do not like on this board, but I have never had any problems with them. I enjoy their songs and laugh at some of their antics when you get close to their box.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Linda

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Comments (9)

alan_la
13 years ago
My guess is that you have a preditor( local cat) in the neighborhood that is taking the Mother whilst she's getting food for the babies,but I've been wrong before.
Elly_NJ
13 years ago
Mom was killed. Animal moms don't abandon their babies. Sad.
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LindaMA
Original Author
13 years ago
Two years in a row? There aren't any cats in my neighborhood, mostly dogs, including my own. It's far enough from the street that I know a cat couldn't have wandered in the yard but then again, it could have happened somewhere else while she was getting food. I just find it so odd that this happened last year too!

Another question, where is the father? I have read that both parents feed the babies, yet there is no sign of him either. Last year, the same thing, no mother, no father. Just this morning, I was out in the front yard watering some of my shrubs/plants and the wrens were squawking at me in their usual loud chastising voice. I too think that mom was killed, but wouldn't the male take over, or would he just leave the area?

Yes, it is very sad, it's really breaking my heart to hear them chirping for food and there's nothing I can do about it. I tried saving the babies last year to no avail. Right now they are sleeping, I am not looking forward to tomorrow, if the mother doesn't make a miraculous appearance in the morning.

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.

Linda
LindaMA
Original Author
13 years ago
Good news, as of sometime this morning, around 8:00 am, she was back. The babies woke me up around 5:30 am, chirping for mom outside my bedroom window. I could not get back to sleep and was vigilante at my window watching for some signs of the mother wren. She was nowhere to be seen, but around 7:30 am, while I was on my computer, I heard a wren, think it might have been the male, singing for her up on top of my roof. It could have been her but somehow I don't think so. Then not long after, I heard her, she was back and has been steady feeding her young ever since. Big sigh of relief! I sure wish I knew what happened, they were calling for her from 6:00 pm until they finally fell asleep last night. Then again this morning.

Now I have to worry about the 95 plus heatwave that is going to plague my area for the next 3 days. At least the babies won't starve to death.

Linda
alan_la
13 years ago
Great News, Make sure you provide Water.
alan_la
13 years ago
Just a thought! she could have been trapped in someones garage for a while.
Renkosiewicz
13 years ago
Yippee! So glad she came back. Nature can be very cruel and hard to watch sometimes.
eric580
13 years ago
Maybe she flew into an object and was out of sorts for awhile. Yay the babies can live!
LindaMA
Original Author
13 years ago
Wow, trapped in a garage, you know I never thought of that, she very well could have been. Also, Eric, where you said she could have been out of sorts for a while, thinking back to earlier that day when I was out in the backyard, I heard a commotion out in front where the Wren's house is, so maybe she got into a spat with one of the other birds and got hurt temporarily. One thing about Wrens, for little birds, they sure do have a loud voice, and when any bird gets close to that house, the Wrens start this awful squawking....too funny.

I am so thankful that she is back and feeding non-stop now, thank you for all your responses, they are greatly appreciated. It amazes me how attached I become, especially when there are little ones involved.

Linda

What would cause a female Wren to desert her babies?

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What would cause a female Wren to desert her babies?

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