Will wrens carry eggs out of nest?

[Trishy]

I have a pair of tree swallows that showed up on my martin house today. I think they are from a house in the back yard. I found a broken swallow egg by the front porch earlier today. I have heard a wren the last couple of days and think it may have taken the eggs out of the swallow nest and taken over the house. Do they do that sort of thing? I sure feel bad for the swallows. They want to take up residence on the side of the house that is unoccupied. I only have one pair of martins in the house and they live on the opposite side. I suppose I should kick the swallows out of there, but sure feel for them.

[flyin-lowe]

The last two years I had my BB's second clutch of eggs disappear. No sign of a struggle, no feathers, nothing. Within a day or two the twigs started showing up which is what the wrens use to build their nest. This year they wiped out a BB nest and a TS nest. They have taken over the TS gourd. I have never seen them travel up to the PM house so I don't know if they will or not but so far the wrens are my biggest concern. They seem to do more damage at my place the S&S.

[mjneppl]

kick the swallows out--there are a lot of them.

we need martins.

my dad in wi--is going on 25 years without martins.

wisconsin is in bad shape

[Trishy]

I agree Mike. I am going to put up another house for the swallows and close off that side of the martin house. Hopefully they will move into the one I put up for them. Thanks everyone.

[Wendell Hansen-IA]

Trishy the house wren can be just as bad as a sparrow at time's. This site may help.

http://www.sialis.org/wrens.htm

Good luck.

[Trishy]

Thanks Wendell