Carolina wren and nest in mailbox (1 Viewer)

[LaeonaEra]

Hi,

The mailman left my mailbox open one day and that's as long as it took for a wren to make a good chunk of nest in there. So I put up a sign for him to leave it open and I didn't care if my mail got wet. Unfortunately it seems my leaving for work in the mornings, the mailman coming, me getting home and putting peanut butter nearby caused her to abandon the nest. At first I smelled the smallest one, the other two were still doing good and opening their mouths. A few days later one of the two was outside of the nest but still in the mailbox. Then one of them went quiet a couple of days ago. Then today they were both gone but I saw the mom (maybe not?) was still eating the peanut butter.
Besides obviously not letting my mailbox be left open ever again, what should I do if I catch another wren making a nest where I know they won't survive? I read that they will abandon a nest if they are disturbed too often so I feel really guilty and depressed for not knowing that and doing something in the beginning. It's not a good day when you have to bury three baby birds (I buried the first one when I smelled it) one had maggots already in it. I don't want this to ever happen again. I removed the nest and shut the door, and set the nest out on a statue for now. Thanks for any advice.

 

[delia todd]

Hi LaeonaEra and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

I'm not sure what to suggest, except maybe have a spare, temporary mail box ready to put in nearby. Though perhaps that might be one that can be used by the wren instead if you erect it before the start of the breeding season. LOL

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum.

There’s not much you can do if a bird makes a nest where you know it won’t survive as it’s illegal in many states and countries to interfere with a nest.

 

[LaeonaEra]

Hi LaeonaEra and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

I'm not sure what to suggest, except maybe have a spare, temporary mail box ready to put in nearby. Though perhaps that might be one that can be used by the wren instead if you erect it before the start of the breeding season. LOL

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

That's a great idea Thank you!

 

[Hamhed]

The Carolina Wrens here in western NC build multiple nests each season, sometimes in the most risky situations. If my car sits unmoved for a few days, they have been known to start a nest in the engine compartment. Black snakes regularly plunder the ill-placed locations. If a wren has only started a nest and not laid eggs, I see no reason not to remove it from an unworkable location.
For example, last year, I watched them build a nest at ground level in an old mailbox I had converted into a birdhouse but set aside before mounting it. A black snake got the nestlings; I discovered the snake inside the box, alerted by the scolding parents. My solution was to mount the box high on a shed wall, out of the snake’s range. They raised one family this year already. If I clean the box out, maybe they’ll use it again.