Canyon wren question

SteveB

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Jun 29, 2009, 7:24:01 PM6/29/09

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A couple of canyon wrens made nests in a new awning I put up this year.
Kind hearted me left them there. They have pooped all over the chairs and
table and concrete. I went and looked in the nest, and there is a solitary
egg in each. I read they lay from four to eight eggs. And I would ASS-U-ME
that they would have laid them quite a while ago, and they have already
fledged. So, do you think these are just unhatched eggs? Gestation is
14-18 days, and I guess I could put up with them another two weeks, but I
think they're done for the year, and it's time for the nests to go, and some
barrier wire to go up to keep interloper poopers out of there in the future.

Steve

XXtreme SW Utah 3700' elev.

Martin Jensen

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Jun 30, 2009, 8:45:43 AM6/30/09

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Well, there's the issue: Why don't the birds we attract into our living space
for easy observation learn not to poop in return for our largesse?

Martin

jadel

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Jun 30, 2009, 11:05:43 AM6/30/09

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Canyon Wrens will sometimes double clutch, so to speak,--produce a
second batch of young in one season. They will also sometimes destroy
the nest when brooding is finished. So maybe you've got a second
batch of little wrens on the way.

J. Del Col (in Philippi, where the Carolina Wrens fire up at 5AM and
don't quit until dark.)

Josh Hayes

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Jun 30, 2009, 4:27:37 PM6/30/09

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jadel <delc...@ab.edu> wrote in
news:61a01441-d9d0-455e...@l32g2000vba.googlegroups.com:

>
> Canyon Wrens will sometimes double clutch, so to speak,--produce a
> second batch of young in one season. They will also sometimes destroy
> the nest when brooding is finished. So maybe you've got a second
> batch of little wrens on the way.
>
> J. Del Col (in Philippi, where the Carolina Wrens fire up at 5AM and
> don't quit until dark.)
>

I was going to add something much like this -- hereabouts our Bewick's
wrens generally crank out THREE batches of kids every year, and as you
might expect, we're up to our armpits in wrens.

Fortunately they're quite attractive, if pugnacious, little birds, and the
song is lovely. I'd say: give those canyon wrens a couple more weeks. If
there seems to be no activity around the nests, you're probably okay to
dispose of them. If they're already pooping all over stuff, you may as well
put up with it until you're sure they're done.

-Josh in Seattle

SteveB

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Jul 1, 2009, 9:50:15 PM7/1/09

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"Josh Hayes" <jos...@spamblarg.net> wrote in message
news:Xns9C3A88EBC17...@216.168.3.44...

As we speak, I am creating a structure to provide nesting space, feeders,
and watering in my back yard. It's like the squirrel/chipmunk rule. As
long as you stay in the yard, you're cool. If you come on the patio and do
your duty, you're fair game.

Steve

Martini

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Jul 2, 2009, 8:52:48 AM7/2/09

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You are facing certain disappointment in plotting to manage the wildlife that
you also plot to attract to your immediate environs. The creatures will
neither understand nor obey your "rule" about "doing their duty," because they
don't behave according to human awareness of personal functions and sanitary
behavior. They will feed and nest in your back yard and frequently stop by your
patio and survey their options from there. Neither your rule nor your birdshot
will keep them at bay. Approval denied.

SteveB

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Jul 3, 2009, 11:38:34 PM7/3/09

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"Martini" <hawk...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:h2iapa$7df$1...@news.eternal-september.org...

Boy, I must be stupid or something. I thought that removing the nests which
were right over the table and chairs would help with less shit on things.

Oh, dopey me.

Steve