Strange nest material.

Home Forums Bluebird Chatter Strange nest material.

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #2435
    Hawkbait
    Participant

      I have a nest box where hosp destroyed bb eggs in a grass nest that was created.
      Two days later several inches of a jumble of twigs were placed on top of the grass nest.
      The twigs are 1/8″ in diameter and all mixed up, not resembling a nest.
      Is this the work of a blue bird, or some other bird trying to lay claim?
      I have seen this twig mess in two houses now.

      #2436

      Sounds like the HOSP. A House Wren builds a trashy nest also but not with that big of a twig.

      David
      Stafford, VA

      #2437
      Carol – Mid-Mo.
      Participant

        Sounds more like a house wren to me – have you seen or heard a wren around? I have watched house wrens go in & out with their twigs & sometimes they (twigs) are so long they cannot get them in the hole without going in at an angle. Have never seen (or heard) about HOSP bringing in twigs – only junk, feathers, & coarse grass & weeds. BUT different areas may be different?? Here is a link from the Sialis website showing a dummy wren nest. http://www.sialis.org/wrens.htm

        #2438
        Hawkbait
        Participant

          I believe you nailed it. House wren.
          The Sialis piece described what I have to a “T”.
          Controlling nature seems like an impossible task.

          • This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Hawkbait.
          #2451
          dogsandbirds
          Moderator

            House Wrens build dummy nests exclusively with small diameter twigs. When a male is trying to attract a mate he fills all the cavities he can find with twigs. If a female accepts one of them, he’s a lucky guy. The acquisition of a mate doesn’t mean the end of his attacks on all the other nests in his territory. He continues with this behavior in an effort to protect the food supply. I never, ever let them succeed here because that would just mean more wrens.

            And, no, you can’t control nature. All you can do is offer your best protection.

            Gin
            Atlanta, GA

          Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
          • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.