You are here:

Birding/Death of a carolina wren

Advertisement

Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 2/28/2010


Question
Dear Bob,
    Yesterday I left my house for a few hours. I came back to find a wren in my house. I got it out with no problem and when outside, it began calling and calling for its mate. I prayed that it would find it.
     This morning I woke up and looked under my bed for my slipper and there was the mate dead in my slipper. I am just devastated. I draw them here with a meal worm farm to my back porch. My door lock broke on my back door so I had to take the lock out and that left a hole that i keep a sock in until my son comes to fix it. My 3 yr old granddaughter was here yesterday and pulled the sock out for a peep hole. I guess I forgot to put the sock back in before we left and the wrens got in. And my cat must have killed it.  I feel so irresponsible. I love my birds. They give me so much joy watching and feeding them.
    I have read that wrens mate for life. This is tearing me up.  What will happen to the living mate? Will it wither away and die from sadness?
                              THANK YOU,
                                    Chris

Answer
Please don't feel badly. All small birds have low survival rates, and in addition to predators there are accidents. That is why they have so many babies. I caught a Wren in a rat trap a few weeks ago. Yes, it will find another mate. If you will send your email address to me at walshaw1@cox.net I will send you my free 20 page Bluebird book which also has some Wren information. If you are concerned about giving me your address Google Bluebird Bob to see the work that I do.

Birding

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.