Confused about what happened to 3rd bluebird nest ….

[Meredith]

Hi all,
I’m wondering if you can tell me what went wrong with a nest. The bluebird couple in my yard just built their 3rd nest, and, on Sunday, I saw the mother had laid her first egg. I didn’t get a chance to check the nest yesterday, but the bluebird couple and their latest brood of children were all over the yard eating from our mealworm feeder.

So I was very surprised this afternoon to see a wren going in and out of the house. When I looked inside, there were no eggs and no evidence an egg had ever been there. I saw nothing on the ground either.

The bluebird couple and the babies were sitting on the house, but the bluebirds are no longer going inside.

I have a racoon baffle up but no wren guard, as I really hadn’t seen wrens in the backyard.

Do you have any ideas what might have gone wrong?

I do not want wrens moving in so I’ve just opened up the box to make it unattractive to the wrens. Is that OK?? This is our 3rd year hosting bluebirds, and we are hoping they’ll continue to come back despite this failure …..

Thanks so much for reading!

[tamsea]

Hi Meredith. It was most likely the House Wren. It’s just what they do, even if you have empty boxes nearby.
You can make a Wren guard. That will help once you have bluebird eggs in that box. You put it on after this first egg is laid. I’ll give you some links and photos. But it will take me a few minutes.

Tammy

[Meredith]

I’d really appreciate the info! Do you think it was a good idea to make the box uninhabitable for the wrens? I’m inclined to just close down the house for the year ….

[tamsea]

Honestly, house wrens scare me more than House Sparrows and I haven’t quite figured them out. Since they have found that box they probably will try again. And now that the bluebirds know the wren has found it they probably will not nest in that box again this season. Do you have a second box up in your backyard? You could see if the bluebirds will take a second box and put the wren guard up as soon as you see the first egg and let that house wren build his dummy nest. Technically you don’t know if it’s a dummy nest but I just assume it is and then take out the sticks later.

Tammy

[tamsea]

You can make a wren guard out of a shoe box.
https://imgflip.com/i-page/8vpwcs
https://imgflip.com/i-page/8vpw5n

Tammy

[tamsea]

Or you can make one out of a sign that’s easy to remove. Add velcro. When you bend the sign it cracks but I just reinforced it with duct tape. It makes a waterproof sign. You put each of them up with tacks or small screws. Remove from bluebirds babies nestbox after 10 or 12 days.
https://imgflip.com/i-page/8vpvjd
https://imgflip.com/i-page/8vpv6z

Tammy

[tamsea]

Info about depth of guard etc and general info about wrens is here. https://www.sialis.org/wrens/

Tammy

[Meredith]

Really appreciate the info — this makes it much easier to make a wren guard than I thought!!! I do have a 2nd box and will give it a go! Out of curiosity, how late in the year do the bluebirds build the 3rd next?

I’m assuming I should discard the failed bluebirds’ nest at this point ???

And is it a no-no to remove the wren nest if I do open up the first box up again to distract the wrens?

Thanks SO much!!!

[tamsea]

I’m not sure what to tell you. You’ll have to make that call. I don’t think the bluebirds will keep laying in a nest that’s experienced predation. But what if she is ready to lay another egg? Did it seems like they were done? Maybe just keep that nest in there and see what they do. I hope they choose the second box that the wren hasn’t tried to get into. If they haven’t laid another egg by tomorrow??? You can just take the nest out and let them start over. It’s a guessing game.
If you end up making a Wren Guard. Put it on after the first egg is laid and make sure you watch to make sure she will go in the box. They always do but if you see her struggling and you made the one with velcro you can leave up a side.

“Distance from front to guard should be 2.5″ for bluebirds. 2.0 to 2.25″ is okay for smaller birds like chickadees. I usually put them a bit further out (3-4″)”

Tammy

[tamsea]

I’ve had a 3rd nest that started in August once but most start in July. Depends probably on where you are. I’m in NW corner of Ohio.

Tammy

[tamsea]

I’ll post these photos here for others. Now that I remembered which app to use.

Tammy

[Author]

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