Sorta O/T Attracting and keeping wrens
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Guest
Is there anything special that one needs to do to attract wrens? I've several houses but no tennants. Is there a particular size, type of material, location, ect that wrens really like or need? Most all of the houses that I have are fairly close to our house, say within 15 or 20 feet, one is located on the front porch. Some are large, say 7x7, while some of them are 3x4 or so. Thanks for any and all responses!!
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Guest
Be careful what you wish for ...
Many people who host cavity nesting birds, like those who monitor bluebird trails, curse wrens and either actively or passively discourage them from nesting. House wrens in particular can be a lot of trouble. The male will build several "dummy" nests, filling up box after box with little sticks, and wait for the female to choose which one she wants. This wastes other boxes that bluebirds, tree swallows, chickadees, titmice, or nuthatches might use. Also, house wrens are not above piercing the eggs of a bluebird or other cavity-nester and tossing them out of the box in order to take it over - that happened to me once.
Wrens will nest in just about anything - natural or artificial cavities, shelves, boots, flowerpots or hanging flower baskets, pants hanging on a clothesline, watering cans, mailboxes, buckets, on/around human houses - you name it. At a nature center I belong to, a Carolina wren nests every year on top of a telephone book in a corner of the outdoor pay phone. We can call out; we just have to use directory assistance! I saw a photo once (here, I think) of a wren that nested in a swing-top trash can. Sometimes, discouraging wrens is harder than getting them to nest.
House wrens can have 2 clutches in a season, with up to 8 eggs each time. That leads to a lot of wrens competing for nest space next year.
Carolina wrens are less problematic. I have not had any competition problems with them. Carolinas can have 2 clutches, 3 in the south. They are less aggressive, in my experience.
That being said, if you still think you want to attract wrens (and I admit, the male house wren does have a fantastic song!) try placing several small gourds or small wooden houses around your yard, away from your purple martin, bluebird, or tree swallow set-up. While the first 3 species like open meadows and fields, house wrens like a little more brushy or wooded area. Unfortunately, so do chickadees, nuthatches and titmice.
Both house & Carolina wrens eat bugs, so they are good species to have around. They generally don't come to feeders, but in bad winters, I will get a Carolina at the peanut feeder on occasion.
Here in SW Ohio, Carolinas live year-round, house wrens migrate and I haven't seen one back in my yard yet this year. Depending on where you live, you might have one or both species in residence, or maybe they aren't back for you yet.
Basically, if you see wrens in your yard, you can probably get them to nest there.
Try this link to The Birdhouse Network for detailed information about all cavity nesting birds: http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/
Hope this helps,
Many people who host cavity nesting birds, like those who monitor bluebird trails, curse wrens and either actively or passively discourage them from nesting. House wrens in particular can be a lot of trouble. The male will build several "dummy" nests, filling up box after box with little sticks, and wait for the female to choose which one she wants. This wastes other boxes that bluebirds, tree swallows, chickadees, titmice, or nuthatches might use. Also, house wrens are not above piercing the eggs of a bluebird or other cavity-nester and tossing them out of the box in order to take it over - that happened to me once.
Wrens will nest in just about anything - natural or artificial cavities, shelves, boots, flowerpots or hanging flower baskets, pants hanging on a clothesline, watering cans, mailboxes, buckets, on/around human houses - you name it. At a nature center I belong to, a Carolina wren nests every year on top of a telephone book in a corner of the outdoor pay phone. We can call out; we just have to use directory assistance! I saw a photo once (here, I think) of a wren that nested in a swing-top trash can. Sometimes, discouraging wrens is harder than getting them to nest.
House wrens can have 2 clutches in a season, with up to 8 eggs each time. That leads to a lot of wrens competing for nest space next year.
Carolina wrens are less problematic. I have not had any competition problems with them. Carolinas can have 2 clutches, 3 in the south. They are less aggressive, in my experience.
That being said, if you still think you want to attract wrens (and I admit, the male house wren does have a fantastic song!) try placing several small gourds or small wooden houses around your yard, away from your purple martin, bluebird, or tree swallow set-up. While the first 3 species like open meadows and fields, house wrens like a little more brushy or wooded area. Unfortunately, so do chickadees, nuthatches and titmice.
Both house & Carolina wrens eat bugs, so they are good species to have around. They generally don't come to feeders, but in bad winters, I will get a Carolina at the peanut feeder on occasion.
Here in SW Ohio, Carolinas live year-round, house wrens migrate and I haven't seen one back in my yard yet this year. Depending on where you live, you might have one or both species in residence, or maybe they aren't back for you yet.
Basically, if you see wrens in your yard, you can probably get them to nest there.
Try this link to The Birdhouse Network for detailed information about all cavity nesting birds: http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/
Hope this helps,
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Guest
Hello,
I have wrens every year. I use to have gourds with 1 inch hole. Until they went bad. I made my own house this year. In fact put it up yesterday and today they are going in and out. In the morning, they are the noisiest little birds I ever heard. Made me think twice about putting up a house for them
But they are kind of neat to watch. I have them far enough from the martins that they don't bother the gourds.
Hopeful they aren't the only birds I get this year. They need to send some of those sy's up fro that texas area. I have an asy male that it waiting for them
good luck!
craig
I have wrens every year. I use to have gourds with 1 inch hole. Until they went bad. I made my own house this year. In fact put it up yesterday and today they are going in and out. In the morning, they are the noisiest little birds I ever heard. Made me think twice about putting up a house for them
But they are kind of neat to watch. I have them far enough from the martins that they don't bother the gourds.Hopeful they aren't the only birds I get this year. They need to send some of those sy's up fro that texas area. I have an asy male that it waiting for them
good luck!
craig