Possible abandoned house wren nest?

Possible abandoned house wren nest?

by Laura S.
(East Aurora, NY)

PLEASE HELP! I am not sure what to do, if anything. I have a small bird house in the lilac tree outside my bedroom window.

I have been enjoying watching the mother bring insects to her fledglings (I can see at least two) and video taping them for the past two days.

She literally feeds her babies from sun up until sundown. However, I have not seen her all morning long today.

I am worried something may have happened to her; or could this be how wrens get their fledglings to leave the nest? The babies have been chirping nonstop all morning.

It's now early afternoon and still no sign of parent birds. Should I be concerned? Is there anything I can/should do?

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Possible abandoned house wren nest?

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Aug 17, 2011
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3 orphaned wrens
by: mary

I, too, have found 3 baby house wrens in our birdhouse with one parent on the ground, dead. I have watched all day for the second parent to return, but it has not, and the babies have been frantically chirpping all day.

A local rehab volunteer said to lift the birds from the nest, lay white paper towel down, and return them to the nest.

Check later; if the birds have pooped, then they are being fed quietly, probably a response to the earlier attack which killed the other bird!

If no bowel movements are found on the paper, soften dog or cat food, break into tiny pieces, tap the side of the baby beak, when mouth opens wide, feed the babies by hand.

Two are eating well and pooping immediately, the third appears weak but it finally started eating some.

She also said to look into the house with a flashlight at night; if there is no adult with the babies, bring them in for protection.

We did this, gave them a night feeding and all three are sleeping soundly now. Tomorrow I will deliver them to the rehab home. Wow....what a day!

Jul 28, 2011
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Common Among Songbirds
by: Wild-Bird-Watching.com

Keep in mind that the adult birds will withhold food in order to get the young to leave the nest. This encourages the young to leave the nest to find their parents and food.

Also, some fledglings are too heavy when fledging time comes. They must lose some weight before leaving the nest.

As one other visitor said, it would be very rare that something happened to both adult birds. Which would be about the only way the nest of young would be abandoned.

Gene
www.wild-bird-watching.com

Jul 28, 2011
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Answer
by: linda in PA

The parents will incubate the eggs for 10-14 days,then after hatching, take care of the young in the nest for another 10-14 days. Then the young and parents leave the nest, before the young can fly, and the parents feed the young for another two weeks or so.

Jul 28, 2011
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baby wrens
by: Anonymous

I have listened to the babies calling out to their parents all day yesterday and again this morning I am VERY worried about what might have happened to the pair of parents. They are in a bird house outside my kitchen window that has been used by these wrens for years!

Jun 19, 2011
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Abandoned wrens return
by: Elsa in Ontario

Had a similar issue today. Babies were crying for parents all morning and they were no where to be found. I was sure the babies would be dead by morning.

After looking around, I found the adults building a new nest in another house I had set out the previous year. They HAD abandoned their first nest!

I quickly took down house number 2 and watched as they circled in confusion looking for their new digs. After about 1/2 and hour mom found her way back to the screaming babies in the first nest. She went into the house and was there for a good minute or two. I was really curious to see what would happen.

She emerged, and rose to the challenge. She collected insects non stop all day and fed the little guys until I could actually hear them getting louder (stronger). I won't put out another house until these guys have flown the coup for certain.

One hypothesis I have is that these birds tend to make two sets of babies a summer at our place. They were late in getting started this year due to odd weather.

I wonder if something was telling them that today is the day to make nest number 2 and maybe that led them to abandoning the first nest? Any thoughts?

Jun 05, 2011
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Carolina Wrens abandon nest
by: Cynthia in Ohio

Carolina Wrens built an amazing nest on a shelf in my enclosed breezeway, left it about a week, and came back to fill it with eggs and dutifully hatch them.

After several days of attentive feeding, they disappeared for 14 -16 hours yesterday, just before a set of harsh thunderstorms that lasted for hours with lots of rain and winds.

I left the door to the breezeway open until 2 am, hoping they'd come back late, and reopened the door at 6:30 am, after just 4 hours closed, hoping they'd arrive early in morning.

The pair just showed up at 8:30am, with lots of calling and shrieking as they took turns checking out the babies, who are now clearly dead.

My thought is to put on a disposable glove and removed the dead babies and leave the nest. Will the wrens use the nest again another time?

Jun 20, 2010
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Orphaned Baby Wrens
by: Diane

Look at the article "Raising Orphaned Baby Wrens"-on this website. Hope that helps. Good Luck.

Jun 13, 2010
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Wren No Parents
by: das

Hi, I was looking for an answer and saw the same thing. I have a nest that the parents have left and the baby wrens are still there. O is out and it fly's some, I'm thinking they decided it's time the kids be on their own and left. Don't know!

Jun 22, 2009
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3 baby birds 1 dead
by: Anonymous

I have been watching these birds make their nest and care for their young then all of a sudden the parents were gone. There are two babies alive and weak, one is dead. What can I do to help? I think they are wrens of some kind. Thanks

Jun 14, 2009
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That is worrisome
by: Bonnie

Since you've seen neither parent, that is worrisome. It would take a lot for both to be killed at the same time. Do you have any clues as to how old the babies are? I just found out they are ready to leave the nest within 10-14 days after hatching. They grow fast!

In Memphis, an organization called Wild Wings Rescue will help if birds are found injured or if a nest of babies is abandoned. You might try the local ASPCA or ask area veterinarians if they know.

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