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Birding/Abandoned Wren Chicks

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 9/1/2007


Question
Every year a house wren decides that our mailbox is good place to build a nest.  It is an old cranberry scoop on a covered porch right next to our back door.  Many a time we have been startled when we put our hand in for the mail.  We always setup a temporary box for the mail and relinquish the box to the wren for about a month.  We have seen many chicks and all have seemed to have done well until this year.
It appears that mother has abandoned the 3 chicks in her nest for about two days now.  I know we may be too close, but they picked the spot.  Anything we can do help their survival at this point?

Answer
Not really. Sometimes one or both of the parents are caught by predators, but usually one of the parents can keep up. Three seems a low number for a wren. Are you sure that some have not already fledged? If they have truly been abandoned you might try to contact a bird rehabilitator in your area (Call Audubon, the local humane society, the Wildlife dept., etc). Good luck.

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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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