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Birding/Carolina Wren hatchlings

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 7/31/2009


Question
Bob,

One month ago, June 30th, I returned from a vacation to find that a Carolina Wren had built her nest in one of my hanging baskets.  Her eggs hatched about 10 days later.  I was helping her out by putting meal worms in a dish under the hanging basket and she would gather them up to feed her 4 hatchlings.  Last night before the sun set was the last time I saw her and heard the babies chirping.  This morning I awoke and went to the dish with mealworms and saw that parts of the plant in the hanging basket were on the ground.  I stood on a chair to look into the basket only to find that the nest was smashed and no remnants of babies were found.  I placed mealworms in the dish anyway, but it has been at least an hour and the worms are still there.  Is it possible they could have flown away this morning or do you think something could have eaten my babies?  How long do chicks remain in the nest before flying away?

Thank you, Tammy

Answer
From hatching to fledging (leaving the nest) is only between 2 and 3 weeks - perhaps less than 18 days. That is why if you are interested in a nest you should look into it at least every week as we do with Bluebird boxes. If the babies were small a predator could have gotten them.

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Bluebird Bob Walshaw

Expertise

I can answer almost any question on Eastern Bluebirds and small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, etc. Also general questions on other songbirds. No pet bird questions please.

Experience

I have had a 100+ nestbox trail for more than 20 years, I do a lot of writing, public speaking and educational work in this field. My hands-on Bluebird talks include more than 1000 people each year.

Organizations
Oklahoma Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society, National Audubon Society, Oklahoma Audubon Society, Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance

Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Oklahoma Today, Fur-Fish-Game, Birds & Blooms, Nature Society News,Back Woodsman Magazine, Tulsa World, Broken Arrow ledger, Teaching Tolerance magazine,Trappers World, OK Hole Story, Birders World

Education/Credentials
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, Graduate of the Home Study Course in Bird Biology from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Oklahoma Master Naturalist. I am also a pofessional speaker and writer.

Awards and Honors
Chosen as a public speaker for the North American Bluebird Society, Bluebird trail accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, Chosen as a panel speaker at the 2006 NABS Convention.

Past/Present Clients
Many

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