I have a nest in a hanging plant outside of what I think are cactus wrens.?

Question

I took the plant in for about 30-45 mins last night to water the plant and I pruned around the nest too so the babies wouldn't get poked with the leaves. Ever since then I haven't seen the mama bird.

It used to be the mama was with them all the time, and I would walk up the stairs or open my front door and I would see her flying away. I haven't seen her since I watered last night. Did she possibly come back, see that the nest was gone and then abandon her babies? Or is she just coming less and less since they're older? (They're about 4 weeks old).

I'm afraid they might starve. What should I do?

Answer 1

maybe shes confused cause her nest has been moved. this is me and if i havent seen the mama bird in a long time i would care for the baby birds myself. put the nest back where it was and see if she comes back

Answer 2

Give it time..she should be back to care for them...birds do not abandon that easily. If you are too close to the nest and always watching..you may be keeping the parents from coming.  You can watch from afar, and you must watch continually as visits can be quick and infrequent.  If you look away you may miss the visit.   However you should refrain from taking the plant down again for an length of time until the babies leave the nest.  The adult will not sleep in the nest with the babies if they are older, so the parents probably sleep elsewhere and come back in the morning to feed.  Also, are you sure these are Cactus Wrens and not  Bewick's Wrens or House Wrens.  Cactus Wrens are pretty large and usually do not nest in hanging plants..they usually nest in cactus and build a dome-shaped nest.  They occassionally nest in trees or scrubs if cactus is not available.

Also, wrens do not stay in the nest for 4 weeks.  

Cactus Wren- leave nest at 21 days of age.

Bewick's Wren- leave nest at 14 days of age.

House Wren- leave nest at 12-14 days of age.

ONLY if you are positive no one is caring for the babies..which I think is unlikely, you can take them to a local wildlife rehab:

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactA...

Bewick's Wren info:

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBir...