I weeded the flower bed under the bluebird box 2 days ago and found 4 eggs like this in the weed patch that were destroyed by a House Wren. I have done a lot of research and this is not uncommon. The Carolina Wren doesn't try to evict bluebirds but the House Wren does. See this website with a photo just like mine. I was sitting outside yesterday late and a wren flew into the bluebird house and a male bluebird went in after him and chased him out. I was thrilled. Will keep you posted. xo
This video of a house wren removing newborn bluebirds from a nest is one of the most upsetting things I have ever seen. I have removed all of the nesting material from my bluebird box and I will keep monitoring it to see which bird starts building a nest. Nature can be very cruel😢
"I Wish You Bluebirds" Bluebirds are bedazzling creatures.
This website (http://www.sialis.org/index.html) was developed as a resource for people interested in helping bluebirds and other native cavity-nesters survive and thrive.
This website (http://www.sialis.org/index.html) was developed as a resource for people interested in helping bluebirds and other native cavity-nesters survive and thrive.
8 comments:
At a home we had in Ohio, we put up bluebird boxes & had bluebirds each year. But the problem you have is what happened to us several times. The wrens would even build a nest over the bluebird eggs & lay their eggs. But we also had successful bluebirds who hatched little ones. We always had plenty of bluebirds at that property. I do hope the bluebirds in your yard prevail over the wren, who can really build nests anywhere.
...all is grace!
How sad. Yes, please keep us posted.
Wow, life can be hard for bluebirds! I'd never heard of this before.
Anita -- Looking back, I now realize that for the past two or three years the wrens took over my bluebird box but this year the bluebirds came first and there were no wrens in sight. They came after the first clutch fledged and now we have war between the two species. The wrens have their own wren house but they want to take over every cavity they can. I might have to leave the door open on my BB box so they will get the hint. Don't look at the video I added to my post if you are squeamish because it is very upsetting. Thanks for posting your own experience with House Wrens. You are right, they can build nests anywhere and don't have to be so greedy.
xo, Rosemary
Oh, my, very upsetting! I knew that house sparrows are notorious for doing this to bluebirds (and other songbirds, too) but I had no idea that there is a variety of wren that is also an raider.
We used to watch our bird boxes closely and repeatedly tear out the house sparrows' nests and - this sounds cruel - take their eggs if they had laid any. I personally was not able to take baby birds, however, though some do; I could only bring myself to take the eggs, and I always tried to get to the nest and tear it out before any eggs appeared. Here in the South the commons sparrow will take over and run out all the desirable birds. They are very greedy and want to take over everything, even the other variety of sparrows that are fine community birds.
I'm so sorry that happened to your bluebirds!
Nature can be so hard hearted. Several years ago I was sitting on the front porch under the awning and right in front of me just out from the awning on our sidewalk a tiny featherless bird just dropped out of the sky. I saw some bigger birds up high, so I guess they had raided the nest. I brought that little naked bird in the house and fed it smooshed up cat food or dog food by putting it down into its little open beak with a medicine dropper. It peeped for food every time it heard me nearby and I fed it. In fact it peeped most of the time. After a while its feathers came in and it turned out to be a little purple (actually red chested) house finch. It was the tamest sweetest little bird that became a pet. It ate seeds when it was old enough and also meal worms. We called him Peeps and he sang and sang throughout the day. Beautiful warbling songs. He was always so happy when we came into the living room every morning. He lived for several years. One day he sang so beautifully all day, more beautifully than ever. My husband and I commented to each other about his singing so much. That next morning when we woke up and came in to greet him, he had passed away.
My husband mentioned that maybe that was little Peeps' swan song the day before. He never looked or acted sick at all, I cried when little Peeps passed away.
sandy lawrence -- Thankfully, I don't have a house sparrow problem. They are NOT native birds and you are allowed to remove a nest with or without eggs. House wrens ARE native birds and once a nest is built it against the law to remove it.
I have become a much better bluebird landlord because of my house wren problem. All along they have been building dummy nests in my bluebird box and now I know to rip them out right away before the female house wren starts building her nest on top of the dummy pile of sticks. Thank you for sharing your bird story.
xo, Rosemary
susie @ persimmon moon cottage -- Thank you for sharing your story about rescuing Peeps, the little bird that fell from the sky. It is certainly worthy of a children's book.
Yes, nature can be cruel and we must learn the ways of certain selfish birds in order to protect their victims, especially bluebirds.
Thanks for sharing your story.
xo, Rosemary
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