Feathers and Fuzz

one woman's cure for the empty-nester blues

Nesting Challenges: Wren Builds His Own House

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There are no contractors a bird can hire to build a family home.  If you want a house, you have to build it yourself.  The male Wren does the majority of construction, but he is clearly supervised by the female.  She can also be seen rearranging the design as the project moves along.  This might sound familiar to you.

You will see the product of 12 hours of construction over a 24-hour period — collapsed into a 1 minute video. Leaves, pine straw, and bits of bark are woven into a ball with a hollow center. If you’ve ever left your garage door open during nesting season, and been faced with removing a Wren nest, then you can attest to a Wren’s weaving skills!

Nesting Challenges: Location is Everything

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Location Choices May Be Creative, But ...

If you have ever left your garage door open for a few hours in the spring or summer, you have probably encountered the Carolina Wren.  It is incredible how fast they can build a nest!!

I made the mistake of not using my BBQ grill for a few days during nesting season.  When I opened the grill cover, I found the two-story Wren Mansion pictured here.  I can't even begin to tell you how happy I was to find no eggs in the nest.  Sorry Mr. Wren -- I win this territory dispute -- move on!

Wren Next Inside BBQ Grill
Wrens in a Box

Wrens in a Box

When I said "Move on!", I did not mean for you to move into this bamboo box I used for concealing minor electrical connections by the hot tub!  Really, Mr. Wren?!  

I was too late this time -- the nest was full of eggs.  Unfortunately, the box sat on a 24" high table -- an easy target for snakes.  Out came an assortment of construction material.  The box ended up on a pole protected with a snake baffle -- just a couple feet from its original location.  It took momma Wren an hour or so, but soon she was tending to her nestlings.  They fledged successfully -- launching from the cut-out handle of the bamboo box they called home.

Lesson Learned:  Never turn your back on a Wren during nesting season!

 

And, now, I will tell you the story of the Bluebirds who discovered the "barn birdhouse" -- the house I didn't think would ever be used for nesting.  Silly me!

One afternoon, I saw the Bluebird pair coming in/out of this decorative house.  I checked it out and, sure enough, they had an active nest.  The issue was:  With the house sitting directly on a deck floor, it was an easy target for snakes and other predators.  I had just been through a rough summer of nest predation and was not about to lose another nest to predators -- snake or flying squirrel!!

BB Barn Before Relocation

Bluebirds Move Into Barn House

 

So ... like the wrens in a box ... the "barn birdhouse" got mounted on a pole protected by a snake baffle.  I struggled with how I could protect the house from flying squirrels.  I came up with a design for a hinged, mesh door to cover the THREE holes in the barn house.  I'm sure I should not admit this -- but every night at dusk (after the parent Bluebirds left the nestlings for the night), I would go close AND LOCK the door.  I set an alarm and, every morning at dawn, I opened the door.  (I won't mention the fan I hauled out to blow cool air into the house during the brutal July/August temps.)

BB Barn Door Closed
BB Barn Door Closed

 

Crazy or not, these Bluebird nestlings (count them 1-2-3) became fledglings.

Triplet Nestlings to Fledglings