AboutJulia Booth Expertise I can answer questions about bird identification (by sight or sound), behavior, distribution, population, conservation, mating, nesting, fledging and feeding. I do have some practical knowledge about foreign species, but identification skills are limited in that arena.
Experience I have ten years birding experience in Southern California. I am well versed in all the species living in the Western US. Many hours spent birding. I have been frequently told I should lend my knowledge to good use, and have encountered few bird related questions that I cannot answer.
Organizations Audubon Society
Education/Credentials My education is in art and photography -but I have a substantial portfolio of nature related work.
Expert: Julia Booth Date: 6/26/2008 Subject: Baby wrens
Question I live in Ontario, Canada. I had a nest of baby wrens in my decorative bird house, I saw two babies heads out of the hole on Sunday afternoon and from a distance with a long lens could see a third beak in the background. On Monday morning I saw a dead baby under the birdhouse with a second head hanging out of the hole, the baby there was obviously dead. An hour or two later the little dead chick that had been hanging out of the hole had disappeared. On Tuesday morning I came out and found three dead babies all in the same area about 8 feet from the birdhouse, plus the one directly under the birdhouse. I have no idea how they got there and then later that day I saw a wren building another nest in the same birdhouse. Any ideas what happened to the babies and what is going on. I was very upset by seeing all this. Many thanks.
Answer Hmm...Wrens are cavity nesters and famous for nesting in the oddest places. They are generally very protective of their babies, both parents taking part in the feeding and caring for the young. The male will often scold away predators with a high-pitched nasal call.
Did you see any signs of foul play -perhaps some sort of animal having gotten into the nest? Was there any blood or were the babies just limp and dead? How old were the babies? Were they entirely featherless and pink, or did they have some down on them. Occassionally when chicks attempt to fledge too early, they get attacked or they suffer some sort of trauma from their inability to fly.
Although if they were attacked, it's unlikely that they would rebuild in the same location. Is there any way you can open up the birdhouse and check for insect infestation?
It's a mystery to me as well. Maybe if you give me some more information, we can figure it out.
