URGENT: Left garage open one night into the next day and birds are nesting... (1 Viewer)

joeinaustin said:

I think they are Carolina Wrens based on the color and white eyebrow, but they could be something else that looks similar. They have been actively in and out of my garage for a couple days and I found the nest today. I didn't know there was one as I have been recovering from ACL surgery, but one was trapped in there the last time I shut the door and then today I saw another one fly and it landed at a nest (see attached picture).

I have been working very slowly on building the two following nests:

http://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/birds/american-robin/
and
http://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/birds/bewicks-wren/

I've got the pieces cut, all the supplies I need to put them together and hang them, but I haven't protected them from the outside or gotten any predator baffles or any sure locations yet.

I can't leave my garage open all the day and night so I need to figure out what I can do to move the nest into one of the boxes I am building or to another close by, but outside the garage location. to be honest, other than the piles of poop and potential hazards for the chics, I would consider removing a window pane in the garage door to give the birds ingress and egress, but I would think the garage would be like an oven for them in the sweltering summer heat.

Anyway, if anyone has experience in solving these types of issues so the birds are not harmed I would appreciate help and am able to provide prompt action and answers to questions that might help you guide me in what to do(that's the first time the ACL has come in handy since I'm at home all day recovering!).

Anyway, I appreciate any help you might be able to give.

joe

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joeinaustin said:

Ok. So it's not a really big deal unless the eggs are already there. I hobbled outside and held the camera up and didn't see any eggs.

I'm wondering if I get the nest screwed together today and then put their nest inside it, but leave the front of the nest box off if they will continue to use it?

Then, tomorrow I could hang the nest under the soffit right outside where the nest is currently. Then, the following day I could put the front on the nestbox and they would have to use the hole.

Too much effort for something that isn't a big deal for them or worth the time? These guys are my very first residents so I don't mind putting some work in to make the transition easy, if that makes any sense.

thanks very much for the input.

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joeinaustin said:

Gotcha! Thanks etudiant.

I gave it some more thought and I think maybe just moving the nest outside in the box will be best. I can remove the window pane to give them access, but my neighbors love to get cats and let them be outdoor cats so I find them on the roof over my son's room and walking the yard all the time, when my dogs aren't out. Sooooo, the cats can probably jump thru that window opening and if they get inside the garage they have an easy climb to get to the nest. I'd feel terrible if my forgetfulness cost them their family or their own lives.

I'll get ready to move the home to the lee of the soffit over the garage door and hopefully they will like what they see. Otherwise, hopefully some birds out there will like the Cornell designs.

I'll post pictures of the final nesting site if it's ok to bump posts after they've sat for a week or so.

Thanks again. I appreciate your help.

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