My cat has attacked a Wrens nest

by Shelley Din
(London UK)

Good morning,
For the last couple of days I noticed a Wren had set up a nest in my blackberry branch that protrudes out from the side of my my shed. It is only four foot from the floor and attatched to a trellis. Easy to access!

I had been googling sites to find out about these birds and assumed this nest was one of several that would probably be declined by the female as it seemed not safe.

My cat had become fixated on it two days ago and I had to keep bringing her in. Yesterday evening she leaped up and caught a Wren in her mouth who I can assume was sitting in the nest, it happened so quickly I ran out to the garden and managed to free the bird which moved off so quickly that I didn't see if it was badly injured.

After much thought and the cat put in a room I made the decision to gently move the nest, if the bird was to survive I didn't want him coming back and nesting again so by removing it hopefully he would move on to a more suitable spot.

I wasn't 100% sure it was empty so when I lifted it I cupped it in my hand. I then felt a warm egg roll in the palm of my hand which turned out to be five eggs when I took a peak.

I had just bought a natural nest from the garden centre yesterday that I had intended to put near the nest but in a safer place to hopefully entice the Wren to move home.

My daughter grab it as I held onto the remains of the original nest and the eggs in my hand. I had put some dog hair in it that I had brushed from my dog and I gently took the inner lining of the original nest and put it into the new nest.

I gently put the eggs back with as little movement as possible and then covered them with some leftover leaves from the original nest.

I then placed the nest back in the blackberry bush but this time two foot higher from the original spot which was less accessible for predators but hopefully near enough to find.

A wren came back after about 30mins later but just kept looking at where the nest was stayed for a few minutes then flew away.

I don't know what to do, I know I've done more than I should of but I didn't expect to find the eggs.

I'm scared the eggs may die in the cold without the warmth of there mum there. And I'm not sure now if its the mum or dad returning now I know there must of been two.

I'm hoping whichever one my cat got survived? Any advice please!