Once again, thanks for the responses. The saga continues. A couple of days after the eggs were tossed, I found some sticks inside the house. So I’m assuming the HOWR was the culprit. I tossed the sticks. The day after I found two tiny sticks and a leaf inside. I’m pretty sure I heard the HOWR chirping. I never any sign of the male wren on the box. Yesterday all was quiet. Today a bluebird pair visited the box and the male has been perched on the roof.
I’m fine making a wren guard, but I don’t want to invite catastrophe. What do you people think? I assume the wrens give up after they’ve nested elsewhere.
(As an aside, I’ve had house wrens in the past. Not every year by any means. Actually most years have been wren free. Since I have no TRES this year, can anyone in the northeast tell me whether they’ve fledged already? It’s been my belief that the TRES have kept all but the wicked house sparrows at bay. )