I have baby wrens!

[shivvy]

I am so excited! I have a wrens nest in my shed and this morning I spotted 4 (maybe 5) little mouths!
I have read that wrens eat spiders and insects but is there anything that I can leave out to help the mum and dad wren in feeding the little ones?

[Clanad]

Please understand, this is not a criticism, but one of the characteristics that make us human is the desire to help nature out... which, in your case, is probably the least helpful thing you can do... rather, like I tell Mrs. C when she asks what she can do to help while I'm grilling 2 inch thick ribeye steaks, I respond... "Stand back!"... Just enjoy your bounty and watch the going's on at a respectuful distance...

[shivvy]

Em thankyou for your answer I think.
However by using your reasoning should I also stop putting peanuts and seed into my bird feeders ie stop feeding the birds altogether?

[Clanad]

As I said originally, there was no crticism intended and I fully understand your inherent need to try to help out... but feeding birds, generally, isn't the same as trying to help out parent birds in their feeding of young. I feed birds as well, but to try an locate "spiders and insects", which is the only typw of food used by wrens...would most likely be futile, while the parent wrens instinctive ability to find sufficient supplies will do very well...

By the way, here's interesting reading on the return of wrens:
http://www.birdwatching.com/stories/house_wren .html
Enjoy!

[burnhal]

Nice! Great to have an active nest in your garden! Like most birds, you probably are not going to help them feeding their young. What you can do is help them feed themselves do that they have more time to search for food for the chicks. However- wrens are not generally attracted to standard feeder fare- they will eat mealworms so if you can locate a source of those (most bird food suppliers do them) they will help. As the chicks get big enough they may well feed the young with them. Not a cheap game as all and sundry in the bird world will be delighted with a supply of mealworms!
Incidentally- regarding other birds- they do differntiate between foods- the adults will take your seed for themselves but will not feed it to the chicks. They will seek out the right food for them

[shivvy]

Thanks burnhal - I'll get some mealworms.
Although I love any birds, since I was a child I have always had a real soft spot for wrens. Last year was the first time I had any in the garden so I am so delighted that I now have a little family!

[wildwood]

While I sympathise with clanad's theory on our misplaced heartfelt need to help nature out, it must also be recognised that we as humans have taken over much of the habitat of wild birds and replaced it with houses and gardens not akin to providing bird food, thus feeding birds in our garden is the least we can do to keep enjoying the song and company of our feathered friends who we have displaced.

I can not think of one single thing small birds do that is an annoyance or irritant to us so as far as I am concerned, the more birds the merrier. Most small birds turn insectivorous specially when they have chicks so in fact they help to keep the creepy crawlies population down in our gardens and homes.

[terambulan]

The more you disturb the wrens.....even by entering their territory...the quicker they will neglect their chicks. You could cause the death of the chicks by interfering.....Keep away!

These are wild birds and have chosen your shed for the shelter, plenty of spiders and peace. You probably never went into the shed in winter when the wrens were 'house-hunting'. Respect their home and keep the shed shut. If you need tools then borrow from neighbours....they'll all understand.

[shivvy]

Sorry terambulan but you couldn't be more wrong. The shed is a type of lean-to/garage and is attached to the kitchen. The washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge-freezer and gardening equipment is kept there and it is used frequently throughout the day and evening. In fact we have a ping-pong table out there and it is used in the evenings as the games/smoking area and would have been used as much in the winter as it is now.

I believe male wrens make a number of nests and then the female chooses the one she prefers. Is it possible that (despite all my disturbances when I didn't know that they were nesting) she reckons that this is a safe nest site?

I would love to hear anyones thoughts on this.

[LoftyLottie]

A lot of birds will happily nest where there is a lost of human activity, so I agree with you shivvy. It's actually a myth too that the parents will abandon a nest where fallen chicks have been replaced etc.

If you have been watching Spring Watch you will know that the 'barn ' which forms Bill and Kate's base has a nest in it and the birds are happy coming too and fro even when all the camera team etc. are in there.

My swallows come back every year over our front door and don't care about the postman, electricity meter reader, etc. etc. all banging on the door.

[LoftyLottie]

'a lot of human activity'!

Birds also get to know their human friends very well. Mr and Mrs Robin don't mind me peeping in their nest at all and actually come to my feet for the food I put out in my quest to give them a helping hand.

[LoftyLottie]

p.s. Shivvy. This is not just my opinion, I actually am quite well informed about birds and their habits. I still have loads to learn but I actively help out on a reserve.

[whiffey]

There are birds nests on one of the rifle ranges I use !

The parents come and go despite the crackle of rifles, and the deafening boom of black powder guns.

[whiffey]

Ah LoftyLottie, talking of robins, I have a couple that fly up and pirouette outside my upstairs bedroom window as soon as I draw the curtains in the morning - the message is: Oi where is our food. I put out raspberry bird food for them just outside (and sometimes inside) the conservatory door. I now also have bluetits and blackbirds regularly hopping inside.

The robins are amazing. Last week I was in the loo when one of them came into the house, flew upstairs, sat on the side of the bath for a moment looking at me, then disappeared out of the window. Same message of course !

[shivvy]

Thanks for your posts LoftyLottie and whiffey.
I just love this time of year. I am sitting in my kitchen and through one door I can hear the little wren chicks shouting for more grub, and out the window I can see little sparrows on the ground batting their wings and being fed by their parents.
Nature is a wonderful thing indeed.

[LoftyLottie]

That's absolutely lovely Whiffey. Birds are really so intelligent. I never know why the term 'bird brained' came about (well perhaps a pheasant might have been involved!)

Yes, shivvy, nature is absolutely wonderful and I just love this time of the year too.

We now have a regular jay in residence. He is just so beautiful. I know they take eggs and small birds, but he has to survive too. I feel so priviledged when birds choose to live in my garden.

[bigmamma]

Hello shivvy , my sister rang the other evening and was tlling me she has a nest of little wrens in her shed too :-) xxx

[bigmamma]

telling*

[LoftyLottie]

A lot of squawking last week and a fierce banging on our window. Mr LL looked up to see an irate woodpecker with a beak full of nuts from our feeder trying to feed his own reflection in our window! Gosh, was that bird getting mad that his food was being refused!!

[LoftyLottie]

Hello Bigmamma x

[yogasun]

Hi LoftyLottie!

shivvy, Lofty Lottie is so right. In a local wood baby birds are regularly ringed. They are individually taken out the nest and then put back again. The adults carry on as normal and no nest is ever deserted. It's when there are eggs and the mother is sitting on the nest it's dodgy.