Although the Carolina wren is considered to be a cavity nesting bird I must confess I have never found a Carolina wren nest in a natural cavity or nesting box. In fact, when it comes to Carolina wren nests, I have learned to expect the unexpected.
I have found Carolina wrens nesting in my well house, beneath the cover of a propane tank as well as in a cardboard box sitting on a shelf in my garage. Others have discovered Carolina wren nests is strange places too.
For example, their nests have been located among the rocks of stonewalls, clothespin bags, hanging baskets, open paper bags, mailboxes, buckets, as well as in old hats and shoes.
One year Carolina wrens nesting in North Carolina chose as their nesting site a Jeep Wrangler. They constructed their nest where a shock absorber was attached to the frame of the vehicle. What makes this nesting so fascinating is the fact the vehicle made three trips before the nest was discovered.
Carolina wrens apparently have no problem nesting in vehicles that are driven about. Decades before the famous Georgia ornithologist, Thomas Burleigh reported that, in 1928, a pair of Carolina wrens nesting in Athens chose as their nesting site a touring car. The vehicle was left near a sawmill for two days. During this time, the wrens began building their nest beneath the hood of the car. When the car was driven away and returned the next morning, the unperturbed birds resumed construction of their nest.
If you have never located a Carolina wren nest on your property, perhaps you have been looking in the wrong places. This year focus your search on places you would never expect a self-respecting wren to nest and you just might find the nest that has been eluding you for so long.
5 thoughts on “EXPECT TO FIND CAROLINA WREN NESTS IN ODD PLACES”
We have some nest in our carport every year, always in a different place! Last year was a bag of seedling soil I left on a shelf, year before was a hand broadcast seeder, and this year is a pair of rain boots!
Every year they try and nest in my garage. I have to be diligent and check the garage every day. If I don’t find it and the eggs are already laid, I let them hatch and fly away. Usually two broods a year.
It sounds like you try to be a good Carolina Wren landlord, If you ever decide that you don’t want the birds nesting in your garage, you could erect a nest box nearby. Who knows? They might like it better than your garage.
We have some nest in our carport every year, always in a different place! Last year was a bag of seedling soil I left on a shelf, year before was a hand broadcast seeder, and this year is a pair of rain boots!
I have a pair building a nest in my chiminea right now.
in a hanging Gourd off our back porch
Every year they try and nest in my garage. I have to be diligent and check the garage every day. If I don’t find it and the eggs are already laid, I let them hatch and fly away. Usually two broods a year.
It sounds like you try to be a good Carolina Wren landlord, If you ever decide that you don’t want the birds nesting in your garage, you could erect a nest box nearby. Who knows? They might like it better than your garage.