Gourd works for House Wrens

by Ken
(Buffalo Grove, Illinois)

A relative was going to grow and finish gourd birdhouses and sell them on eBay.

We ended up with a complimentary prototype.

I figured it was just a tree decoration, but as it turned out it was quite functional.

I think the male must have taken 2 weeks or longer to attract a mate.

Day after day, hour after hour, morning till night, the same song over and over with no letup, until the magic day when they met.

I don't know about other nests the male constructed, but the female picked the gourd.

Since the eggs hatched (3 of them) and the task of feeding the chicks began, the adults have become silent.

One of the parents is the nest cleaner, and that's real love, seeing as all they have to clean with is their beaks. Nuf said about that.

I hope to witness and photograph the young's first flight.

Wren Nesting In Cacti

by Sharon O'Neil
(Powhatan, VA)

I just noticed this nest this morning.

It was constructed very quickly as I watered the Christmas cacti last Friday before leaving for the weekend and there was no sign of it.

I heard the male wren singing while perched on a wind chime support on the porch this morning.

I tilted the blinds slightly to get a better look at him and noticed the nest.

The female flew from it just a bit after that.

I went out and examined it taking the pics at that time.

There are no eggs yet but I'm hopeful to see some soon!

I'm reminded of a wren building a nest in a potted plant on our porch in Texas many years ago when my girls were small.

It was exciting for all of us to observe the progress of the nestlings including fledging.

Our Singing Friends

by Neal Cardin
(Sonora, KY)

When our house wrens come to start their nest, it is a very enjoyable time, but not a quiet time.

It is never hard to tell when they are in the area as their song is sung loudly and often starts very early in the morning.

We've never had a hard time attracting the house wrens.

A simple small house hung on the clothesline brought our first two pairs in several years ago.

After moving, we hung two houses under the porch of a storage building during the winter as spring rolled around, in come the birds.

Our birds have never seemed to mind us being around their boxes until this year.

Before they would sing and let us know if we were close, but this year they've become really defensive.

Part of it may be the young cats that have become permanent residents at our house.

The cats can't get to the birds or the boxes, but we know the wrens have a fit when the cat gets near.

One particular bird become very defensive after the eggs hatched.

While watering the flowers one morning near the boxes, one bird followed me and tried to grab my shirt sleeve as I walked away.

We love it when they are around.

We have several other types of birds around our house, but nothing else seems to enjoy singing loud and constantly as the wrens.

We hope they keep coming back.

Wrens Return to our Porch

Two years ago a Carolina Wren made a nest on our porch in a wreath. We named him Little Buddy and became intrigued.

We kept peeking in the wreath to watch the progress which I thought was probably bothersome to the little family.

So, we taped a webcam to the wreath and ran the video to our computer.

We found out we could stream the video and we did...we had a following of kindergartners, libraries, preschools, and normal people like you and me.

It was riveting. We watched the momma nest, then saw the eggs, little hatchlings, and then they were gone.

These parents work hard to feed those babies!

Well, this year I have a cabinet on the porch and a wren is back. We call this one Junior.

Again we've set up the stream and have over 47 views already (in one day).

So far it seems the nest is built and a a bird is sleeping in it at night....anticipating some nesting soon.

Wrens Winter Nights

by William Lowe
(Bridgehampton)

We have a family of wrens that are around all winter on Long Island.

If we do not close the garage door early enough at night, as many as three wrens will be in the garage at daylight looking to get out.

Even though we see no sign of them when we close the garage door.

When they do get shut out of the garage, they will roost for the night in the wreath that hangs on the front door.

This surprises any after dark visitors during the Christmas season as the wrens flee the wreath as company approaches.

My guess is they are looking for warmth through the night.

Peeping Wren

by Karla Joblin
(Tupelo MS USA)

If you look in the "hole" in the middle of this nest, you can see the momma Carolina Wren sitting on her eggs.

She and her mate built their nest in a hanging planter basket that was turned sideways on a shelf in our garage.

My husband adjusted the garage door so that it wouldn't close completely and shut them in or shut them out.

They carried in leaves, twigs, and bark over a period of several days, but then we didn't see them and thought maybe they had decided to nest elsewhere.

But soon we saw a tiny egg in the nest followed by another a day or so later. After she finished laying she began sitting on the eggs day and night.

I'm not sure where her mate is staying, but he keeps a close eye on her. Anytime we go into the garage he flies out from wherever he is and perches up high to watch us and make sure we don't bother her.

Thank goodness he doesn't "dive bomb" us like I have seen mockingbirds do. He just watches us until we go inside.

She began sitting on the eggs on June 12 so we should have baby birds around June 26.

Little Wren Launching

by Rae
(Griswold CT.)

I have had this box which was more of a decoration than a nesting box for about 5 years. This is the first year a wren made a nest in it.

I watched it closely, took lots of photo's and was fortunate to see the first baby fly off.

The photo's are of the second or third one that just couldn't make it out of the box.

It got stuck and crawled back in the box and chirped for about an hour or so at the hole.

I talked softly to it and approached it carefully and reached out to touch it and it let me stroke it's neck.

It jumped out on my hand and quickly pooped in my hand (LOL), it stayed for a few seconds and then launched from my hand.

The mother and father are now setting up again in the same box with another brood.

The mother stays at the hole for a few minutes and I talk to her before she fly's off to the nearby apple tree.

After the first babies flew off the father was singing his head off for hours during the morning and most of the day and I think he was singing for his mate to come check out the box again.

They are the sweetest little birds that I have ever seen.

Wren Nesting In Fireplace Gas Tank Lid

by Mark Mathosian
(Advance, NC)

It is the beginning of summer in North Carolina and we noticed birds building nest in several trees around our home.

One day while sitting on our back deck we heard little tweets coming from the lid of our gas tank that sits near our master bedroom window.

Closer observation revealed twigs sticking out from under the lid. I carefully opened the lid and a small bird flew out.

Closer observation revealed that this was in fact a bird's nest. I carefully closed the lid so as to not disturb the nest any further.

Then I worried that my tampering with the lid might have scared the bird away for good.

I told my wife about the nest and the small bird that flew away. Because many types of birds visit our yard, including blue birds, doves, blue Jays and others, we couldn't be sure what kind of bird it was based on my quick encounter.

We decided to be pay attention over time to see if the bird returned and then figure out what it was.

We watched and waited for several days and sure enough one day we spotted the small bird returning to the nest.

I obviously did not scare it away for good. My wife thought she recognized what type of bird it was and said it looked like a Wren.

She thumbed through the pages of bird watcher's book we often refer to and sure enough she located the drawing of a familiar bird, it was a Wren.

We first noticed the nest about two weeks ago. Now the tweets have become louder. This morning I carefully lifted the lid again and photographed the baby Wrens in their nest.

We are proud grandparents of at least 3 healthy baby Wrens. There may be another in the back of the nest but I am not sure.

Attached is a photo collage of our new extended family.

Mark Mathosian, Advance, NC

Cactus Wren saying Happy Valentines day

by Cindy
(California high desert mtns.)

Just look at the bottom inside of this Wrens tail feathers!

The Cactus Wren can be one of the most annoying birds, to have around your house. They are destructive, mischievous, and LOUD. But then they are one of my favorites!

I always know when something is in and around my house, that shouldn't be.. by the way they squawk.. at trouble. They are, my little watch birdies.

They always seem to get into trouble. I've had to let one out of my wood burning stove, just opened my living room door.. and then opened the door to the stove.. and out it flew.

I heard something flopping around and then saw it in the stove hitting up against the window. Poor little thing.

I didn't even know how long it'd been in there! What if I'd had a fire going in there?? Yikes!

Another time, I heard something scrambling in a bag of trash I'd set near my back door, before taking it out. I was afraid to take a close look.. I did, and there was a Wren.

It'd gone in the bag after something, through the tiny little loops at the opening, and was panicking because it didn't know which way was out. I just ripped the bag open and off it flew.

They've given me some great pictures.. one of which was this one.

When I took a close look at the markings on the inside of its tail feathers, I just about choked!! How awesome!! Hearts!! I since have many pictures like this, that show their hearts.. such a neat find.

Drywall Screw in Wren Nest

by Jeannie
(Allendale, Missouri)

I noticed little items being placed on our porch below a wrens nest, a weathered piece of glass the size if a nickel, a rusty screw, roofing nail, rusty old nail.

These were left one at a time. I looked at the wrens nest and there was a drywall screw sticking out. Do the males bring gifts to the females? Anyone? I am not a bird watcher as such but this has me baffled?

I came back later and the drywall screw was no longer in the nest but was laying on the porch.

I moved it over next to the other items. Later I went back and noticed the drywall screw was gone.

It makes me think that the male is bringing her items and she has rejected them. I continue to watch and photograph the progress of this baffling mystery.

My Carolina Wren Guest

by Angela
(Zanesville, OH)

Hi! I am glad I found this site!

Every year I noticed these little brown birds. I always called them nosy birds because they always came to the porch while we were sitting there checking us out.

Anyhow, I would notice one would always build a nest in my hanging vine plant but they never stayed.

This year I saw the same thing, this little brown bird building another nest in same plant. Just last week. So I checked it out and was really impressed by this awesome little cave nest.

Seemed like it was going to remain empty again so I thought nothing of it. Then I go to water said plant and I hear a little "cheep" so I thought there were babies.

I put water the can away and come back to look at the nest and it was empty. So I was baffled I didn't really look deep enough.

So yesterday I look and as I tilted the plant forward and noticed about 4 little tiny eggs! So I must have watered poor mommy as she was laying an egg.

I hadn't seen mama in a while so I was worried she had abandoned the eggs. So I Google little brown nosy birds in Ohio and found a picture which led me to this site and was amazed at the stories.

So I look last night and there she was looking back at me. I took a picture this morning and there she still sat, a patient mama.

2 birds 1 nest?

by april hofmann
(Salt Springs, Fl)

There is a wren nest built in an old swimming pool where the water goes out of the pool and into the filter.

There are 2 (as far as I can see) babies already hatched and then all of a sudden right at the mouth of the nest another egg appeared with the babies still in the nest.

Today I went to check on them and there is another egg right next to the other one. Is this normal?

Hand Pump Hidden Nest

by Julie Marlay
(Ottumwa, IA)

I recently found an old hand water pump in my husband's shop. He decided to clean it up and paint it. We then mounted it to the corner of the deck hand rail.

It only took a few weeks, when I noticed there was a pair of wrens going in and out of the pump spout. As I continued watching, they started bringing small sticks.

It became quite comical if the stick was turned perpendicular to spout and wouldn't go into spout. Eventually, they would drop it enough times that it would be in the correct position for entry.

Whenever I needed to water flowers on or near the pump, I would get scolded for being too close. Once, the little female was right at eye level with her warnings!

In a few weeks, we could hear the chirping of the hatchlings. We watched as female would fly in with food, then wait for male to arrive.

You could see her little beak outside the spout as she took the meal from the male. He would occasionally go into spout, but the majority of times, it was the female.

I only saw one of the babies take its first flight, but didn't have a camera. The photo I have included is the female entering the spout.

Carolina Wren Nesting in Star Wars Bucket

by Anna Boros
(Silverhill, AL USA)

Our grandchildren are big Star Wars Fans.

I bought some buckets with Star Wars pictures for them to play with at our house.

I started using them to put weeds I pulled from the flower beds in.

I kept emptying the sticks and weeds but they kept reappearing!

One day I looked in and saw several small eggs in with the sticks and weeds.

Since this bucket is stored next to the window, I was able to get a picture from inside through the blinds.

I can also watch the male Carolina Wren bringing insects to the female.

Since it is gardening season, I am looking forward to the day when I can get my gardening tools, gloves and watering cans off the shelf with the bucket without disturbing our little feathered friends.

I am hoping, since it is time for the eggs to hatch now, and it is the first week of May, that they will be coming out on May the fourth and we will have a bucket of "Kylo Wrens."

May the Fourth...(Force) be with you!

Wren in the Barn

by Peggy Barnett
(Liberty Mounds, OK)

Many years ago my grandsons each made me a bird house from old privacy fence boards.

I thought the nest boxes were too small for actual nesting so I used them for decorative purposes.

We recently moved to a rural area and my husband decided to use the nest boxes to decorate his barn, one on each side of the entry door.

A few days ago I saw a Carolina Wren fly into the barn, which I thought was strange as we have only a few trees on our ten acre property.

I investigated and found that the Carolina Wren had discovered the decorative nest box and was raising a family inside.

Talk about a safe place, a nest box, inside a barn. There are fans inside the barn that keep it cool inside during our 100 degree summer.

When the nesting is complete I plan on moving the nest box onto the covered porch outside the barn, just to be sure that the Carolina Wren would not be locked out during the early spring when the exterior door is often closed.

Peggy Barnett
Liberty Mounds, OK