House wrens giving tree swallows a hard time

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  • #27666
    blue diamonds
    Participant

      I have paired bluebird boxes. The blues started their nests first. Tree swallows both started about 3 weeks later. Both TRES nest had 5 eggs then the wren hit. In nest #1 house wren destroyed all but 2 eggs. Mama TRES laid 1 more egg for a total of 3. She is still incubating those, takes a break by staying in the box with her head stuck out. So far so good.

      TRES nest #2 had all their eggs destroyed a day later. They are still hanging out but have not started a rebuild. Have to wait and see what goes on with them. This is why I HATE house wrens………grrrr. Why can’t they stick to the brushy areas……..unfair!

      Judy – Michigan

      #27667
      TimC
      Participant

        I’m with ya Judy. They are little stinkers for sure. I wish they had the same protective status as House Sparrows and Starlings. I wouldn’t hesitate to deal with them. The most we can do is hope they settle down and start their own broods (or not, we don’t need any more of them).

        Tim C. WI/MI border.

        #27680
        blue diamonds
        Participant

          Tim – I got a chuckle out of your comment. You are so right we don’t need any more of them around. The one in my yard has not settled down yet. I’m hoping he flies off soon.

          The second pair of tree swallows have started building a new nest in a different box. Hope it works out for them this time.

          The weird thing is the house wren is all over the yard and the only place he tries to build a nest is in the patio umbrellas and the sticks just fall through. No sticks in any of the nesting boxes. He’s a strange one!

          Judy – Michigan

          #27681
          TimC
          Participant

            … No sticks in any of the nesting boxes. He’s a strange one!

            Judy – Michigan

            Probably bounced off someone’s picture window one too many times!

            Tim C. WI/MI border.

            #27725
            tamsea
            Moderator

              Judy. I hate house wrens too. They are sneaky. I hear people say that they give them their own box and their wrens aren’t an issue. I don’t get that because that isn’t how it is with most of us. I have several empty boxes that the wren can use in my backyard but he destroyed all my bluebird eggs this year. And chickadee eggs last year. My first dee nest ever on my property!!

              Tammy

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