I am seeing more House Wrens using my nesting boxes this year– of course, this is a native cavity-nesting bird and protected by federal laws. One thing I’ve noticed about this egg clutch is the nest cup lined with a larger amount of another species’ feathers. I see a feather or two, tiny ones, in a house wren nest usually — but not this much. Note the feather colors…could this be under-feathers from a dead bluebird which the wren found on the ground? Your thoughts are welcomed always. Another thought I have is it is from a dead bluebird, looks like a possible cat attack on the bluebird perhaps.
Check out the blue-colored feathers in the nestcup here. If it was from a dead bluebird, well, let nature get recycled, right? That’s my thinking!
The House Wrens have taken over our property. Gradually over the years they have driven out the bluebirds. This is the first year in 12 years that we haven’t seen a bluebird. The Tree Swallow population is good and seem to be able to handle the wrens. I think it is because a parent is always on the nest whereas the bluebirds leave the eggs alone at times. Sad times because the Bluebirds are one of my favorite.
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Hi, Barb. That’s too bad. You could try a wren guard on your boxes and hope the bluebirds will find them. House Wrens can be annoying, I admit. Hopefully you do not cluster other nesting boxes nearby. If you do, consider plugging them up or remove them. Also, if your bluebird box is close to brushy or woody habitat, can you move it more out in the open? That’s what I’d do if it were me.
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