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Odd that if he set the trap off it did not capture him…… I just got back in from setting a trap in one of my boxes which had a full nest & 1 egg of HOSP. They can build and lay SO fast it is hard to keep up. Oh, by the way, WELCOME back to this new forum. I have missed some of the old group but we have new people here which are great, also.
If you want the Dees to stay & produce, Yes you can make a hole reducer out of old plastic milk jug or something else. I’m not sure if you need a 1 1/4″ or 1 1/8″ though. Cardboard I guess would work but won’t hold up getting wet like plastic.
Lisa, had you removed the BB’s nest? Did you not get him trapped, by “narrowly escaped, I guess you mean No. I have trapped several HOSP this season with my VanErt (also a starling believe it or not). If there is too much nesting material around the trap arm, it will prevent it from springing closed & the bird will escape. My suggestion, since the blues have fledged, is to clean out the old nest, let the HOSP begin to build their own nest, wait until there is a male & female at the box and committed to it, and them set it some time when you can watch it. Don’t let them get too much nest material in, only about a couple of inches or less. Many times I have caught one in less than 10 minutes, in the early morning or just before dusk I find are the best times. Go get him!!
P.S. It is also VERY handy to have two boxes, one to keep HOSP busy and trap them, and the other one for the blues to have.Gee, Tammy, sounds like you have some changes in your life at home. I really love retirement, because I am probably more busy now than when I just went to one place – work – each day and this way I can say “Sorry I am going fishing this week” etc. and not have to worry about work. I did realize I would not be happy just sitting at home, so I am involved in about 4 or 5 different volunteer jobs, as well as keeping a VERY part-time position at my old job. In response to your question, No, I never really noticed this and would not want to be notified, as I check on the forum a couple times a day anyway.
Wow, Linda, what a predicament you are in – sounds like no easy solution, but this will be very sad. Do you have any idea if those females (or at least one) of them went sailing with the boat and nest last weekend so she could incubate? Whatever happens, you probably have no control over.
If this is not one of her offspring (could be from nest somewhere else or from last year) and is truly another adult female, they will chase them from “their” territory, like most birds. Even offspring from a previous nesting will be chased off by parents during nesting season to protect the food territory. This is their way of saying “grow up and leave home.”
This is not a sparrow spooker – looks like a version of a Noel predator guard. Just Google “Noel bird guard” and it will come up, mainly used for climbing predators I guess. I really have not seen one or heard if they work. The sparrow spooker looks like Brad’s post on this forum of May 8 under “Behavior Questions” on page 5. They do work, but nothing is 100% guard safe.
Dene, could it be a young female from a previous nesting at this box? Sometimes they actually help feed their siblings!
Yeah, Dana! Do you have a wren guard and spooker up? After the 1st egg is the time to do this. Several here have house wren problems, as well as HOSP. Isn’t it fun watching the group from last fledging come with parents to the feeder! Of course, means buying more mealworms, huh? They will soon eat on their own.
Unfortunately, we all live and learn! I have a HOWR which has been around for quite some time and drives me crazy with his song when I go outside. I have eggs being incubated right now, due to hatch this coming weekend and I’m just hoping & praying that wren does not find them. I did put a guard on immediately after the 1st egg, and then the spooker. That’s about all I can do. I do not keep my seed feeders up during nesting season, just have my caged worm feeder.
Brad, don’t see any remnants of egg shell, so parents have removed/eaten it and they are around, waiting I imagine for the others to hatch. They usually hatch the same day, but not always! Spooker stays on until after fledging when you clean out box, but wren guard needs to be on AT least 4 or 5 days, and many wait until 7 or 8 (wrens are very sneaky!). It must be off before peeking/fledging or it will interfere with their leaving the nest, and parents can feed them more easily when the guard is off. Congrats on hatch and good luck.
That’s good that they are being rotated – you are just missing seeing her go in and out like the others said.
I don’t believe you are being ignored – the parents are just feeding the natural wild food that the babies need. Also, I believe the babies are not fed much the day they hatch, and then usually the parents don’t bring worms until the 2nd or 3rd day I find. Our feeding mealworms does help them out, especially in cold or rainy weather or for a single parent, but they are meant to be fed as a treat only. They know what is best. as far as them not liking the live mealworms, that is a 1st – it does take them a little while to get used to them, but I don’t believe there is any bluebird anywhere that would not love the worms once they taste them!!!!!! P.S. You said you believe the babies have hatched – have you looked in the box so you will know the date?
Dana, it usually takes them a few days to complete a nest & lay first egg, but of course, all are different. Congrats on them being there.
Meg, welcome!. I would imagine you need to move your box because you are right, once they know about the box and hole, a wren guard does not help much. Try to move it away from any brush/shrubs. Are you removing the dummy nest sticks? Others here will join in with opinions. Of course, we are talking about house wrens, not other types of wrens, which usually are not a problem.
