My little wrens

15 years ago

I have a huge flower pot, set with a 6'-tall 4x4 post in the front yard. I have a bluebird box mounted to the post and petunias, cosmos, and thumbergia planted in the pot.

A pair of tiny wrens has made a nest in the BB box and are now feeding hatchlings.

They are about 35 ft. away from the Purple Martin pole and give me a great scolding every time I go out to photograph the martins, or clean the bird bath, or fill the bird feeders, or water the plants, etc.

Here's one of the wrens watching me very closely...

An overview of the "BlueBird Garden," the thumbergia vine is just beginning to climb above the cosmos. I had to keep unwinding it and putting it on the bird netting so it could grow up into the sunshine. It should cover the post and bird house soon.

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Comments (14)

kayjones
15 years ago
These are great pictures! The blue blooms belong to which plant?
acey
15 years ago
I love these pictures!!! What a nice protective parent!!!
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It is just natural competition. Carolina wrens are harmless native birds, not invasive imports! It is illegal to disturb their nest. If the Carolinas are building, then the chickadees have already moved on. Anyway, I think they can enter with a 1&1/8-inch reducer. Why not put up another house? Maybe the chickadees will try again. I would be THRILLED to host either one or both. BlueBars Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.sialis.org/nestboxguide.htm
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When I say under the eaves, actually, there was a little opening under the eave that went into the attic, if that makes sense. We built this house 3 years ago and we never even noticed the space. That's how small it is. They were inside of that space, not on the outside of the house. I checked pics of starlings, crows, cowbirds and grackles, and they most resembled grackles. They had long tails, and long dark beaks, and really looked like miniature crows. I do think they were grackles. As of today, we believe they are gone. They sure were messy little things. My husband is going up into the attic this weekend to see what kind of mess they made in there. I'm not sure that where the nest is will be accessible from the attic however, because the room that the opening was over is a room with a cathedral ceiling. If he can't get to it from the attic, he will have to seal it up from the outside. The space is so small that he will not be able to see inside to observe the nest or the mess from the outside.
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I think wrens will build a nest anywhere they can possibly fit into. Had one on a tractor where a gauge had been removed. And that tractor was being used. But ----- one year I had one of those decorative ceramic houses and sure as heck a wren built a nest in it. Sad to say the babies fried. Had to take them out with forceps. Please do not use these houses for birds. They are an oven and no circulation. Sorry for hi jacking your post!!
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Linda Wayman
15 years ago
Caroline, that is beautiful. I love those flowers.
Linda
alisande
15 years ago
May I add my wrens to yours? They've appeared in the daily photo thread, but I'm sure they'd like to join your wren family.

What are the blue flowers? Everything is gorgeous!

The thing I find remarkable about my wrens is this: I was given the pottery birdhouse when we bought this house in 1975. A pair of house wrens moved in right away, and we had wrens in that little house, hanging on the porch, every year thereafter until they suddenly disappeared at some point. Eventually I took the birdhouse down.

I ran across it this spring and impulsively hung it up. Within days I heard the familiar (and loud) trill of a wren. I couldn't believe it! Obviously, they're not the wrens we used to have, but there must be something about this birdhouse that calls to House Wrens.

Wren in tree with treat:

Treat about to be given to babies:

Thanks, Caroline!
glenda_al
15 years ago
Neato!
lisa11310
15 years ago
Oh dear, you are going to hate me. I know this is NOT the Bluebirding forum but having been there for 4 years now I have learned quite a bit. Your little house is lovely, a very cheery spot. However it is not safe and could become very UN cheery. I would like to save you the heart ache of dead babies, etc. by sharing a site that EVERYBODY with a bird house should read BEFORE putting it up. www.sialis.org
Sorry I don't know how to link. The information on this site partains to ALL cavity nesting birds. Please check it out!
alisande
15 years ago
Lisa, which house are you talking about, mine or Caroline's? I went to the site you mentioned, but it's so jammed with information that I couldn't begin to figure out what you're referring to.

PS Caroline - I just realized the blue flowers are petunias. Very lush!
caroline94535
Original Author
15 years ago
The "blue" flowers are actually purple and white petunias. Petunias have a strange ultra-violet coloring, or aura, or something, that often makes them photograph as blue, but in real life these are a medium to dark purple with white centers.

The white flowers are cosmos "Sonata," and the yellow vine is a Thumbergia. It also comes in orange and white. The cosmos comes in a rainbow of colors, too. I just love the whites; they seem to grow bigger for me.

As for the birdhouse...I know it's not in a safe blue bird location. I have dedicated blue bird boxes, hung to all the safety specs, in the back yard. I have everything except blue birds back there! LOL No self-respecting blue bird would come close to this house; I would move it if they did.

This box is in a location that does not even attract bluebirds. It's for the chickadees, wrens, nuthatches, finches, anything that wants it. First come, first served. It's about five feet from my living room window, nearly under a spruce tree, and in a high foot-traffic area. The chickadees and wrens love it. Everything else stays clear.
lisa11310
15 years ago
Sorry, didn't make that clear. The box on a wooden pole is unsafe and the wire around it makes for even easier access for Coons, Cats, and any number of climbing preditors including snakes. Everybody has good intentions when they put a nest box out but so many have tragic endings. Most can be avoided with a little education. I was one of those people that thought you just put a box out and the birds come! I got lucky when I first started, got curious and did some research before Spring. So far I have only lost one nest of eggs to a House Wren. Yes those cute little birds destroy eggs and toss babies from Blues, Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches, Tree Swallows etc. I don't want them around but they ARE cute and sing a BIG song so it's a personal choice.
I am just trying to help educate the everyday "joe" on cavity nesting birds. :)
lisa11310
15 years ago
Sorry Caroline was typing at the same time.
gazania_gw
15 years ago
Caroline, lovely pictures. Every year there are wrens in a very old wren house in our choke cherry tree at the very back of our lot. Cute little birds and fun to watch, but they are loud and never seem to shut up. Pretty, cheerful song they have, but I am glad that they aren't near my bedroom window!
FlamingO in AR
15 years ago
What gorgeous photos and a beautiful setting, Caroline!

May I add my wrens to yours and Susan's? lol We have a Carolina wren nesting on our verandah, sitting on 5 eggs. She's built it in a plant that hangs on the wall, near our front door, under cover.

I can't wait until they hatch. I love those little wrens. And I want to be able to use the verandah again, too! lol
Silverdove
15 years ago
My spouse built a bird house that we put near the front porch. Within a few days, a wren began filling it full of sticks. The sticks are poking out the entry hole. I don't know it the wrens actually used the house for its intended purpose--it was too full of sticks for anything to fit inside.

Nevertheless, we do enjoy the wren's singing.
lisa11310
15 years ago
House Wrens build dummy nests out of twigs. If you can look inside you will see a nest cup lined with soft materials if it is a real nest. If it is just twigs you can remove them, this just means they are nesting near by .

My little wrens

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My little wrens

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