- This topic has 9 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 9 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
I have a question for those of you that regularly have to use wren guards. I’ve walked my friend through using a wren guard and her babies fledged. Between now and when they lay again I don’t want the wren to find her box. But we can’t close it up because the bluebirds are still peeking in and will keep checking it out before they start laying eggs again. We don’t want to discourage them. There’s no solution right? We have to keep it open until they start a nest and lay their first egg? It’s the in between time that is hard to figure out. I would choose a HOSP over HOWR anytime!!!
Tammy
Have they started to build a nest? If so they might not mind the wren guard. I have never put up a guard before the eggs were laid but if the bluebirds tolerate it during the nest-building stage you are way ahead of that HOWR.
David
Stafford, VAThat’s a good question, Tammy. My blues normally use a different box on the 2nd & 3rd nestings, so I hadn’t really thought about leaving a guard up before 1st egg was laid because of different location. Possibly, if same pair are interested in building again in same spot, they may be okay. But I have noticed this week that wren & HOSP are not around my boxes (I have been trapping HOSP very successfully) so I believe they are nesting elsewhere.
Tammy, it all depends on the birds and their determination. We have absolutely no way to predict that. ONE time I put the guard back on before the first egg. It was an experienced pair and the nest was almost completed. They didn’t seem to mind but remember it was ONE time. Good luck sweetie.
Gin
Atlanta, GAOK. So the answer is …no one really knows. Thanks guys.
So my next question is…on a Gilwood, the door with the hole sits back. Daughter’s box. To you measure 2 1/2 inches to the door or what? It seems a little weird only doing 2 1/2 inches from the entrance hole because of how the Gilwood is. How many inches do you all do? I think I’ll do about 3. Any thoughts.
No, David, the babies just fledged so no nest or eggs yet.Geesh…I don’t even have wrens, and I was glad about that. But it’s a friend and my daughter that I’m helping now so it’s kind of like I have them!
Tammy
So I looked back at our old forum and Carol (was that you carol?) asked Donna in WI the same question. This is what she said,
“I have used wren guards on Gilwoods with no problems, I made it go out the 2″ from the furthest edge of the front, not the door if that makes sense. Both times were on Chickadee nestings but I don’t see why it would be any different with bluebirds. I had sides on mine too.”
SO I guess I was thinking right. I’ll measure 3 inches from the front sides instead of the front recessed door. Woo Hoo! That old forum has so many great conversations. I miss it.Tammy
Tammy, yes that was probably me when I first put up a Gilwood box. I believe the Gilwood box that my blues have eggs in now (due to hatch today) has the guard 3 inches from the hole, not the sides, BUT I’m sure you are good with that 3 inches from the side which would only be another 1/2″. Mama has plenty of room to swoop in to the hole, which is where they land. But I am thrilled that the general opinion has changed from the old 2 1/2″ space between guard & hole to 3″ – believe this gives parents a little more space to feed.
P.S. Tammy, is that a new family member with you in your profile picture?Three inches is my advice. They need more room than dees.
I always measure 3 inches from the front of a box when I put on a guard.
Gin
Atlanta, GA
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.