My first clutch has fledged as of yesterday. I’ll be cleaning the box out soon and hope they’ll come back for the next round.

The house wrens were one of my best surprises last year. Moving the box closer to watch them was a great idea. They are a hoot when they’re not feeling threatened.

Do let me know how you make out with them and if any bluebirds come back this spring/summer.

Best,

Jeff

I had house wrens in one box and bluebirds in the other box in my backyard last year. When I first saw the house wrens building I contacted Julie Zickefoose who is a phenomenal writer, artist and bird rehabiliator and she told me to let the house wrens build their nest. She said that stopping them from doing so puts the other nesting birds in your backyard at risk. I followed her advice and the house wrens nested and fledged their young without bothering the bluebirds. I do not have a huge backyard either.

In short, don’t make the house wrens mad.

You would probably do well to put your other box a good distance away from the house wrens since the bluebirds have decided that your yard is a good place to nest. Try to re-create as closely as possible things like: distance from box to trees because they want to feel like they can flee there to safety if needed without feeling like squirrels or other animals can jump down on it. That way, the wrens and bluebirds should be able to live in peace.

If you don’t want another box in your yard then just enjoy watching the house wrens build and sing and raise their young. More than likely they won’t return next year. I know mine haven’t been seen since they left last summer. I would just take down the other box if nothing else has shown an interest in it.

Feel free to ask me anything else you like. I actively discourage nuisance/competing birds in my backyard and have been very successful at it. I hope to have a free or low cost report on how I’ve done it available before fall.

Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Jeff