house wrens
Has anyone ever had house wrens throw out martin eggs. I have observed in two different years house wrens throwing eggs out of the nests in my gourds. I had 7 gourds with eggs in them about 3 weeks ago. A wren was observed entering the gourds and I actually observed, this year and a previous year, the wren come out of the gourd, sit on the porch, and then throw the eggs on the ground. When I checked, he had thrown every egg out of every gourd! I had noticed in previous years that sometimes I would find some eggs on the ground with a hole poked in them. I checked some of the eggs that had not broken when they landed in the grass. They all had a hole poked in them!
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DebA
- Posts: 1941
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
- Location: Pratt County/Kansas
- Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.
I have been doing reading yesterday and today on House Wrens. I have several nesting pairs at my place. I call them "the bitchers of the farm". They are sure animated when you are near their nest or fledged babies.
What I have read is they will poke holes in eggs that nest near them. Is there a provided bird house or a tree with woodpecker holes near your martin colony?
Deb
What I have read is they will poke holes in eggs that nest near them. Is there a provided bird house or a tree with woodpecker holes near your martin colony?
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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~Ray~Gingerich
- Posts: 2122
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
- Location: Delaware/Dover
We were doing nest checks at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge this spring, all the racks were up and we were ready to leave when we noticed a house wren flying from one rack to another and entering multiple gourds. We tryed to chase her away but in 5 minutes time she had thrown out and broke 6 eggs.
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
The Sialis Bluebird web page also cites that Wrens will destroy Bluebird nest in a matter of a few minutes.
I like to listen to them sing. But, they can present a problem. I have two different species of Wrens at my location, but, only one time have I wondered if they were the culprits removing Bluebird eggs this year.
It was early in the season when many species were hunting nesting sites, including the Wrens and Blubirds. The Bluebirds started first, in the boxes I had installed for the first time this year. Next year, I am TRIPLING the amount of cavity space, but, I doubt this will help because the Wrens don't want another species nesting to close.
I suppose it's also competition for food as well.
I like to listen to them sing. But, they can present a problem. I have two different species of Wrens at my location, but, only one time have I wondered if they were the culprits removing Bluebird eggs this year.
It was early in the season when many species were hunting nesting sites, including the Wrens and Blubirds. The Bluebirds started first, in the boxes I had installed for the first time this year. Next year, I am TRIPLING the amount of cavity space, but, I doubt this will help because the Wrens don't want another species nesting to close.
I suppose it's also competition for food as well.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
We had a wren nest near a cardinal nest, and something threw out the 2 day old baby cardinals. I suspect it was the wren.
The wrens try to keep other birds away from their nest. I think that wrens are bad news.
The wrens try to keep other birds away from their nest. I think that wrens are bad news.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
I agree with Emil. I do everything that I can to discourage house wrens. Carolina wrens are fine.They are incompatible with any other nesting birds in the vicinity. They do not limit their aggressive behavior to cavity nesting birds. If you want martins, blue birds and other desirable native birds in your area, do not tolerate them. Wrens cannot help it, that is their nature. A male just showed up the other day and dumped a nest of 4 blue bird eggs.
Ed
Ed
I have an ornithologist who is a neighbor who was somewhat doubtful when i told him about the wrens. I told him I would put it on the forum to see if anyone else had observed this behavior. From responses, it clearly does happen. The wrens do not easily scare, as someone mentioned. At one time i had wren houses a few years ago, but when I suspected that wrens were the culprits, I removed the houses. However, living in town I can hear wrens on both sides of me only a few houses away and know some nest there.
the wrens can be very destructive I make sure I had a section of house for them and they leave my martins alone
2015 69 pairs 418 eggs 396 fledged
2019 I have 148 openings now
2016 100 pairs 600 babies fledged added another t-14 and have 126 openings now
2015 Jun 24 360 babies and 58 eggs also found one that had died
2017 632 babies 11died and 20 were killed by hawks
2015 74 pairs and 9 eggs 5/14
2010 3pairss
]JOINED PMCA JUNE 6,2018
2018 651 babies 5 hawk kills 11 floater kills 25 died in houses and 610 fledged
2014 80 pairs 283 babies 282 fledged one died
2019 I have 148 openings now
2016 100 pairs 600 babies fledged added another t-14 and have 126 openings now
2015 Jun 24 360 babies and 58 eggs also found one that had died
2017 632 babies 11died and 20 were killed by hawks
2015 74 pairs and 9 eggs 5/14
2010 3pairss
]JOINED PMCA JUNE 6,2018
2018 651 babies 5 hawk kills 11 floater kills 25 died in houses and 610 fledged
2014 80 pairs 283 babies 282 fledged one died
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
I imagine that the personality of house wrens varies from individual to individual but I (knock on wood) have had a thriving martin colony, on a small property, for years along with nesting house wrens. One side of my property is very shrubby and has several fair sized trees and the other side is quite open. It is a 1/4 acre lot in a neighborhood. On the wrens' side of the property I have 6 small birdhouses of various designs. The male wren returns each April, around the 15th, and starts to haul twigs into the houses. As soon as he gets a house pretty well full of twigs I will go through and remove about half of them. I keep this up for awhile occupying him and keeping him very busy. After a few weeks I allow the wren pair to nest and usually they will have several nests in that area during the season. I have been very lucky that, as far as I know, no martin eggs have ever been harmed by the wrens. I have had as many as 36 pairs of martins nest during a season. Maybe I am just lucky but I would recommend this technique to others that have house wrens and martins. It is worth a try. This property is in DE by the way and not in FL.