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I know the wisdom is to add the sparrow spooked and wren guard after the first egg is laid to confirm acceptance. Would that still apply to the same pair who nested in the same box weeks ago and fledged successfully? I have what looks like a complete nest (fledglings left 12 days ago) and I am really anxious to put that wren guard up!I have tons of them! Or should I wait? Probably will be an egg tomorrow I imagine.
Lisa, if I were in your shoes, I would deploy the wren guard now. An accepted nest box with rampant wren attacks, is no EABL nest box, at all. You need to keep the wrens from identifying the box. If you have the same nesting pair of blues, I believe they have already accepted the box. Run the drill: Put the wren guard on… if the blues accept it, good. If they don’t, take it off, and when they return, or another pair arrive, let the first egg drop before deploying the guard, again.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireRandy, you’re right. When I have an experienced pair, I put the guard on as soon as it looks like the nest is complete. They already know what’s up with a guard and it doesn’t slow them down at all.
Gin
Atlanta, GAEverybody remember that all birds are different but chances are good they will deal with it just fine if they have already dealt with a guard this season.
A spooker is an entirely different thing. The reason to wait for that is so the HOSP don’t get used to it and become unafraid.
Gin
Atlanta, GAGin, thanks for clarifying that – about needing to wait on the spooker so HOSP don’t actually get used to it. That clears things very much.
I have always considered the key step in preventing HOSP tolerance of the spooker to be “removing it as soon as the nestlings fledge”, rather than deciding between deploying it after nest completion or after first egg drop. If the thing has been on for 3+ weeks (egg laying, incubation, nestling, etc.) getting it off the box, for a period, would seem to be an important first step. If it is left in-place after a successful fledge, for another 2-3 weeks, it probably won’t matter when it is officially re-deployed; as the HOSP will certainly be used to it, by then.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireExactly. That is also why a spooker should never be used on a feeder. People have been known to do that.
Gin
Atlanta, GASure didn’t know some people have used spookers on a feeder. I always knew not to put spooker on before 1st egg but was unaware you could put on wren guard if you had an experienced pair that had accepted it in the past. That is really something good to know. I have actually had more problems and destruction by wrens than by HOSP, and I’m assuming one reason is that those spookers work! (and of course we can take care of the HOSP)
Carol, I’m like you. Never seen a HOSP in my yard but lost my first nest to probably HOWR. And even though the wrens know where the house is, it makes me feel like I’ve done all I can now that I’ve deployed the wren guard. I was surprised no egg today. Mom is really perfecting this nest!
I believe the HOWR are nesting in the neighbor’s overgrown bushes. Hope springs eternal that they are too busy with their own brood to bother my blues.Lisa, find that HOWR nest would you? I want to see what that looks like if it’s in bushes.
Gin
Atlanta, GAI’m off tomorrow and I will look Gin! Had to take down the wren guard. Mom’s nest looks completely finished but she stood on it for hours with a mouthful of pine straw and wouldn’t go in. I really hate it because the blues are chasing off wrens so I hate for the blues to be victimized. Guess I need to wait for an egg. Pray tomorrow is the day.
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