Community Chat

[NickNack]

Thank you everyone for the feedback.  My watering can does have a long spout.  I think I'll do as @Tshirtgal @Kachina624 and @MyShadowLove  suggested and just water slowly around the nest.  

I've been taking the hanging fern down to water it but think I can tell where the nest is and just leave it hanging while watering.  Thank you so much, everyone, for helping me think through this.  @Cakers3 @ECBG @RedTop @Trailrun23 @Foxxee 

[Tinkrbl44]

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@NickNack wrote:

I have a hanging fern on my front porch.  My favorite bird, a Carolina Wren, is sitting on a nest in it.  I was taking it down and watering around the nest, but now she's sitting on it all the time.  It really bothers her when I look in it.

It wouldn't bother me to just let the fern die, but the Carolina Wren probably wants the coverage that the plant gives the nest.  If the fern died, it would be pretty open.  I don't know what to do.

By my calculations, the eggs should hatch around the 22nd.  It may be a little sooner than that, because I'm not exactly sure when she started incubating the eggs.  Then the babies will fledge about two weeks after that.  That means there's about another month.

I'm sure others have had this situation.  What did you do?

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@NickNack 

I have to qualify this by saying I haven't tried it personally, but a gardner friend frequently does this in the hot months ..... put an ice cube or two in spots where they can be tucked in, or when she jumps off to get a worm or something.  The cubes melt and while the water that seeps into the soil could be chilly, it won't be chilly for long, especially if the soil is warm.   An ice cube is at least 1 liquid ounce, and won't disrupt her nesting duties. 

Throwing a couple cubes into any high hanging plant can help to keep the soil moist.  Like I said ... I've been told it actually works. 

Has anyone else here ever tried this?  

[Bird mama]

@NickNack  I just wanted to stop by and say Bless you for caring so much about the little wren nesting in your plant.  You're right in that she picked the plant for cover from predators and you've received excellent suggestions about keeping the plant alive while the parents incubate their little ones.  

[NickNack]

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@Bird mama wrote:

@NickNack  I just wanted to stop by and say Bless you for caring so much about the little wren nesting in your plant.  You're right in that she picked the plant for cover from predators and you've received excellent suggestions about keeping the plant alive while the parents incubate their little ones.  

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@Bird mama   Thank you @Bird mama .  I do love birds and all wildlife.  I have a bluebird with her second nest in a nest box in my back yard.  I love them and worry about them until they leave the nest.  They're one of my greatest pleasures.

[Big Joanie]

Hate to say it .. but I would sacrifice the plant for the birds ....

[Tinkrbl44]

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@Big Joanie wrote:

Hate to say it .. but I would sacrifice the plant for the birds ....

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@Big Joanie 

Ordinarily, I would, too.  We can always buy another plant.  The main concern is that she chose that place to nest because it provides her with some coverage and helps hide her from predators.  The healthy stalks and leaves protect them all.  The plant being watered helps keep the babies safe.  

[Big Joanie]

Very true .....

[ValuSkr]

I think you could water it with a watering can without disturbing the nest too much.  Mother might fly off but she'll return.  It's a delicate situation, to be sure!

[NickNack]

@Big Joanie @Tinkrbl44   As Tinkkrbl44 said, I want to keep the plant alive to protect the babies.  I don't want bare leaves over the nest.  

I believe I said that I wouldn't mind at all letting the plant die except for that reason.

[Imaoldhippie]

@NickNack ...........get one of those long neck bulb waterers that you fill the bulb and stick the long neck into the soil and it waters as necessary.  Sorry I dont know what they are called.