Wren attack……will bluebirds return

[blue diamonds]

Today was day 10 of brooding. The nest had 5 eggs. All was going well, had a wren guard up and everyone was minding their own business. When I checked the nest today there were only 2 eggs. I found one close to the bluebird box with a rectangular hole, another one 75 feet away broken and the 3rd egg I haven’t found. I’m new at bluebirding, my question is will the Bluebirds continue with the 2 remaining eggs or will they abandon the nest? Also will the wren return to finish off the remaining eggs? Any information will be helpful.
Thank you,
Judy-Michigan

• This topic was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by blue diamonds.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Judy, so sorry this happened so close to hatching. I have only had two wren attacks I believe – found all eggs on the ground broken each time, so I don’t have an answer to your question, but it is a good question. I could find nothing on the great BB website sialis.org about this situation, although there is a ton of info on house wrens and what damage they can do. Maybe someone here has experience with this situation. Good luck.

[blue diamonds]

Thank you Carol……I was very sad and disappointed…….I will keep watching the box. Mr. Bluebird was still sitting on the paired box after I had found only 2 eggs.

The good news is that I’ve had a lot of bluebird action at my other set of paired boxes today. First I saw 2 males and 1 female together. Later in the day I saw 2 females and 1 male together. I thought it was strange……could it be early nesters with their young?

Judy-Michigan

[dogsandbirds]

Judy, most of the time when eggs go missing the nest is abandoned. Notice I said “most of the time”.

I have that situation in my backyard right now. There were 4 eggs and one remains. They have abandoned that box and now have 3 eggs in another box. The backyard box had a wren guard but it wasn’t effective this time. Hoping they will be successful in the front yard box but there are no guarantees even with a guard.

How do I know it’s the same couple? White eggs!

Gin
Atlanta, GA

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Gin, glad you answered her question – it was a really good one. Now we know they USUALLY abandon the nest, but nothing is always a sure thing. What a thrill you have, Gin, to have a white-egg laying female – yes, it should real easy to tell her eggs from others! Hang in there, Judy, and maybe you will have better luck with a new nest.

[blue diamonds]

We have 4 acres of groomed lawn and trees……I can hear the wrens all over the yard. So they are out of their typical type of choice area. Bluebirds are building in the back yard paired box next to a pair of tres, I sure hope this works. I don’t know if it’s the same pair or different.

Mr. Bluebird was still sitting around the front box this morning where the 3 of 5 eggs were ruined by the wren. I looked in the box and the 2 eggs were still in there. Checked this afternoon the 2 remaining eggs were gone. Nest was totally empty. I removed the wren guard, but I left the nest. My new question is…….should I leave the nest in the box or take it out? The nest is clean and in really nice shape, if I take it out I will save it for emergencies.

Gin, thanks for your help……I hope your second nest is successful!!! I hate to hear the wrens, I know they are super sneaky and trouble for the blues.

Thanks to everyone, I love this forum, its very helpful.
Judy-Michigan

[Sassy]

Hi Judy:
Just wanted to say I am sorry you lost all the eggs in the nest. Wish I could supply you with a simple solution, but I don’t have any.
They say take the old nest out as soon as they fledge and I imagine you would do the same with the eggs gone, but that is only a guess. I have only been doing the bluebird boxes for 3 seasons now and I am a fledgling myself.
I am so glad you have a new or the same set of blues building another nest. That is great news. I hope the HOWR leave them alone this time.
Connie (PA)

[dogsandbirds]

I think this white egg laying female has intelligence problems. Her first clutch was killed by a wren and then she laid 4 more in the same box pretty quickly. Wren got those. I hadn’t even removed the old nest!

Now she is in another box and we will see what happens. It took her a long time to get around the guard and she already had two rounds of experience.

All I know is this should be her last clutch of the season. Laying 12 eggs in quick succession takes its toll.

Gin
Atlanta, GA

[tamsea]

Wow…she’s one fertile momma, Gin!
Judy,go ahead and take the nest out. Sorry….those darn wrens. Do you have sides on your Wren guard?

Tammy

[blue diamonds]

Tammy…..my wren guard had sides. Mama blue had no issues with it. I think the new nesters in the back box are a different pair. The nest is much messier. Sure hope it works out. Really enjoying seeing the bluebirds around the yard……so beautiful.

Thanks to everyone,
Judy-Michigan

[Lisa]

I lost my first nest last year and one egg survived. Mom continued to roost and feed him but sadly he died at about 5 days old. They went on to have 4 more broods in that box after I put up the wren guard. It was scary because they were laying into August and I am in South Alabama and I was afraid the heat would get them but all of the subsequent nests did fine.

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