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It is really helpful to hear from those who have experience with house wrens, since I have not. I would say these almost ready to fledge nestlings looked savagely attacked. Not a pretty sight.
Cari
Willamette Valley, OregonThank you for your thoughts on this. The fact that I had just discovered the wrens nesting nearby made me first suspect them. But after doing some online reading, etc., I have noted that while they have been known to kill a larger bird, generally it sounds like it is more likely to be eggs or small hatchlings, as Tammy has suggested.
These two were already banded and one had already fledged or perhaps was frightened from the nest and fledged early? . I will never know how one survived and the other did not. It was after the mama headed toward a tree to feed the baby rather than to the box that I checked and found the other one dead.
And so far I have not seen the dummy stick nests.
So I am suspecting more & more that this has the mark of a HOSP. There is a horse barn nearby, although I was not aware of HOSP in the area since Leah was nesting there. I’ve placed a revolving door trap near the attacked boxes. Perhaps I can catch the culprit.
Cari
Willamette Valley, OregonToday’s positive news: Looks like one has fledged and Leah is taking mealworms where it is hiding out in a huge oak tree.
Today’s very bad news: The other almost ready to fledge baby is dead.Yesterday I discovered house wrens nesting nearby. But I figured these two were almost ready to fledge and if they made it this far, they would probably be fine.
But today after discovering the one dead bluebird lying on its back, I also checked the tree swallow nest near it and found two dead nestings. I also wonder if the fledged one went a tad early to escape.
I can’t help wondering if my disturbing the wrens upset them and put them in a territorial mood. And I know they are protected and have a right to life too, but the temptation to discard the nest of wren nestlings is pretty overwhelming.
I have never had to deal with house wrens, but am remembering that the bluebird hatchlings in that box last summer also died mysteriously. In that case I didn’t think it looked like a sparrow attack.
How can I know if this was a wren attack?
Cari
Willamette Valley, OregonOn Sunday afternoon Leah’s two nestlings were banded at 18 days old. Normally they would be banded more like around 10-12 days, but their early slow maturation delayed the occasion. On their banding day they appeared very healthy and will likely fledge this week.
Cari
Willamette Valley, OregonThe babies are growing, gaining tail feathers, chirping. And I will say Leah keeps their nest spit spot clean. But she spends an inordinate amount of time over here in Mr. Handsome’s territory. Mr. Handsome is a wonderful father and has taken very good care of his 4 fledglings since they fledged June 2. They will be 5 weeks old this weekend.
But now I see him frequently out with the empty bluebird box, above it or near it and even have seen him go inside. It is like he is holding onto this property until the right female comes along and is willing to go inside with him. (Our mama BB disappeared soon after the babies fledged.) And sometimes I see Leah with him.
Meanwhile Leah sometimes takes worms from his feeding station and delivers them to her nestlings. He sometimes takes worms from her station and brings them back to his fledglings. And I have even seen the fledglings gather with him at Leah’s station, which is in Jacob’s territory. So much for territorial bluebirds! I guess Leah forgot to read that expectation.
Cari
Willamette Valley, OregonI’ve never seen it. But with all the other strange happenings, I would not discount it!
Cari
Willamette Valley, OregonThat’s what I’ve been thinking, Lisa. I’m glad there are only two nestlings. I sent a photo to my bander and she agrees they no way look 9 days old; she suggested 5-7 days.
I hope Leah knows what she is doing. She reminds me of an unprepared teenage mom. And now I am hoping she doesn’t get distracted with the very handsome blue male that is tending 4 nestlings at our place and forget her babies. His mate disappeared soon after his 4 fledged. And I saw her yesterday sitting on top of our bluebird box. So we are watching our very own bluebird soap opera.
Cari
Willamette Valley, OregonUpdate: When I put the cup in the nest, just to see how it would fit, etc., I concluded it was too risky. I hadn’t considered ants, but I feared the cup would turn over onto a nestling’s head! So I didn’t do it.
The nestlings are now 9 days old and surviving. But definitely not as mature as those I compare them to in the Sialis website photos. Now I see Mama Leah coming over to our property and helping herself to the worms intended for the resident male who is an extremely attentive papa and is currently caring for 4 fledglings. I watch Leah take a beak full and fly the distance to her own box with them. Maybe our Papa Blue is teaching her by example.
Cari
Willamette Valley, OregonUpdate: Two of the three eggs hatched last week. I figure the nestlings are 6 days old tomorrow and considering taking out the unhatched egg. But it is tricky if the two little guys wrap themselves around it as if to protect it from all comers.
Leah still seems to be a single mom and Jacob still comes to steal her mealworms.
My BB bander came today and banded Leah. She took a look at the babies and we both wonder if they are developing as quickly as they should. I am considering putting her share of mealworms right inside the box in a tiny plastic container so no one can steal them. Is that risky? I also read that perhaps I should dust them with calcium to make them more nutritious.
Leah remains so friendly and unafraid even after being banded to day. She is a mystery.
Cari
Willamette Valley, OregonUpdate: Our new female is incubating 3 eggs. (the smallest clutch of eggs I have seen in our area) I wonder if she instinctively knows to limit the number because she is a single mom or if she is just very young or what other reason there may be. One thing about her, she is not fearful of me and allows me to come quite close. That makes me wonder if she is very young.
Meanwhile the female in the far field has 5 eggs that may hatch today. I figure this is day 13 if she began incubating the day after the last egg. I’ll be checking so we can calculate when to band them.
And I have named our new female “Leah”. The couple in the far field are “Jacob” & “Rachel” Can you guess why? LOL
Cari
Willamette Valley, OregonSeveral years ago 4 eggs of our WEBL pair were destroyed. Based on her history, this female would likely have laid 2 more eggs for a total of 6.
Broken eggs do not make for a clean nest so I cleaned it out on April 26. By May 4 she was seriously building another nest and the first egg appeared on May 11.
She laid 6 eggs in the new nest, but here is the strange thing: Only two out of the six hatched. It appeared that only the number that would have completed the first clutch were fertile.
So this experience tells me it is possible bluebirds will rebuild after a raid.
Cari
Willamette Valley, OregonI have continued observing and there is no longer a question in my mind that there is one male with two females. His first mate is incubating 5 eggs and the second female has begun laying eggs in her nest. I have watched the male frequently take mealworms placed in a feeder near the second female’s box and fly away with it to feed his female #1.
Only a couple times I saw him feed female # 2, but most of the time he leaves her alone. Once he appeared to be blocking her path as she attempted to fly down the fenceline nearer the nest of female # 1.
Now I am wondering: 1. will these eggs hatch/are they fertile? 2. Will he give her any attention when she is incubating? 3. Will she have help with feeding nestlings if there are any?
Wish I could find someone who has observed this behavior and compare notes.
Cari
Willamette Valley, OregonThe first evening I noticed Newbie:
Not sure what I am doing wrong. I am trying to show a photo from photobucket. I see I left off “.com”. I’ll try once more before giving up for tonight.Is there a way to delete a post that doesn’t work out?
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Cari
Willamette Valley, Oregon -
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