In Memoriam----My wrens are dead!

[theophilus]

I am so angry. A pair of wrens had built a nest in my storage shed. I have been watching them for weeks. First the nest, then the eggs, then the little birds (four of them). They were growing quickly and I watched the male and female searching the area for tasty insects for the little ones. I hadn't been in to check on the babies for a few days and I wanted my daughter to see them. I have tried to not go into the area too much, although I have several times and no problems resulted.

Well, we went in and three were dead on the floor and one was dead in the nest with its head hanging out! Grotesque horror! I can speculate that no cat or other predator bothered the babies because they were "fresh" and not nibbled on. I have two theories:

One, that my neighbors recent spraying in his yard was a pesticide that resulted in some tainted insects that the parent wrens ingested and fed to their young. The young then died and the mother threw them out, one at a time, until the last one died and the parents left.

Two, the parents ate tainted food and died leaving the little ones to starve to death.

Either way, this stinks. I could be totally wrong but we all need to consider the effects when we spray for anything. It might seem that no harm is done but birds will come along and scarf up our insect victims--innocent or otherwise. Beware and remember the wrens.

[Lorien]

1. So sorry. Those lawn sprays are horrible

I've found dead and sick birds after my neighbors spray their lawns. One year they sprayed after several litters of raccoons were born. I spent two weeks picking up raccoons that were so sick and weak from vomiting that they just went limp when I grabbed them by the scruff of the neck. All had to be put down, except one, who was brain damaged and went to live with a wildlife rehab guy as a pet. The vets who put the raccoons down said that it was lawn fertilizer that had done that to them. Why on earth would ANYONE risk their own health by using that stuff, let alone the health of wildlife? The lawn just isn't worth it!

[solinvictus]

2. Sorry to hear it..

One of our favorite things to do at an old apartment was to watch the bluejay's nest outside our walkway. I love my birdies.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. How terribly, terribly sad.. We seem to have so little respect for the

other creatures that inhabit this planet. We don't even have a lot of respect for the other humans that inhabit it.

[Pool Hall Ace]

4. I'm so sorry.

I recently got into watching the birdies.

RIP, little wrens. :cry: