Donna, thanks for letting her finish with her babies. How big is the entrance hole, if it is a very small one (less than 1&1/2") it is a Wren of some sort. You can go to www.whatbird.com to get an ID. It's hard to tell how long she will take unless you have a good idea of what day they hatch. You will notice a lot more coming and going while she is feeding them. As they get older and are nearing time to leave you will really hear them chirping when Mom comes with food. They should not take longer than 14 days once they hatch (not really sure of Wren timetable). Are your screens removable? if they are it may be a good time to take them down for a good cleaning. I think it will be a challenge for the babies to find the hole, is there any other opening for them to get out? Mom will eventually guide them out but it would be much easier on them if there was a bigger traget.

Hmmm, I wouldn't think it is too late yet for nesting since they only nest once per season. I have a pair hanging around a paired box with a Blues nest by the park, I am thinking they are wanting to nest but I am not sure if Daddy Blue will let them. The TRES divebomb me when I go near the paired boxes but they don't have a nest yet. I am thinking it may be the pair that nested there last year after we had a failed nesting of Blues (I think a wren or HOSP). Also last week I had taken out a dummy wren nest and the very next day (Thursday) the TRES started nest building. You are in MI, right. I am in central WI, we should be pretty close to the same timelines I would think. It has been a cool spring so far so birds could be behind a bit, we had frost yesterday morning! Wonder why they don't like your cam box? It would't hurt to try and put up another nestbix, you never know. We now have seven pairs of TRES nesting on our property. I cannot imagine how it will look around here when they all fledge as last year they hung around for a long time after fledging! Donna

Thanks Lisa, that is what I was thinking too but I wanted to make sure. I will just keep the wrens busy pulling sticks. LOL! I was thinking of taking the hole reducer off that box too since I know the chickadees won't be back this year. Maybe then I could put it back up in Fall when nesting is done. There is a male HOSP hanging around lately too but like you said the TRES don't leave their nests unattended so I am hoping they will be ok. We have three boxes with eggs now. The HOSP keeps going into the empty box however seems to not have any female takers as of yet. Of course this is the only box I cannot put a trap inside, found out this year as it is top opening and the sides that come down into the box makes it a bit too narrow for the trap. I keep hoping I can get him at the feeder with the BB gun but so far no go. I may have dh put a house on a movable metal fencepost just to try to get rid of that little bugger. I had one other permanent trap box but a Robin built a nest near it and won't let any bird near that nestbox. Donna

Hi Michelle, I responded on the other thread that you posted on. If the wrens have already found the nestbox it may be too late to do anything about it this year. You need to make a wren guard and use it before the wrens find the opening to your bluebird nestbox. Go to www.sialis.org to learn how to make and use a wren guard. For this year I'm afraid I would tell you to give up and either take down the nestboxes or open the doors so that they can't be used. I'm sorry you are having a problem but you can try again next year.