I thrifted this and it now hangs on the elevated porch under a roof as part of the fleet of wren-appropriate nesting structures and houses. I think it's too late for this year but given all the others, they have plenty to choose from come Spring!

Super cute!, I didnt know you can use open nesting boxesI have a few houses with the tiny wren appropriate holes drilled, no perches. Also, few gourds all facing east. Please tell me how this works for nesting wrens? We have a gazillon on this property.

I have seen them nest in open, shoeboxes, toolboxes, bowls, hanging plants (especially medium to large ferns), and even among heaps of old tools and towels on a shelf. As long as it is cluttered, there is a possibility of them nesting in it. I built shelves in the floor joists underneath an elevated porch to create more nooks and crannies for them as well.

What a great find not only for garden decor but I'm sure the Wren's will find it a very fitting home too!

Over the years I've seen Wrens build nests in all sorts of spots! Last year a pair of Carolina Wrens built a nest at the corner of the house wedged between the house and the AC Unit. Unfortunately a critter (likely a snake) got to the eggs before they hatched; one day I found all but one egg missing entirely and the next day the remaining egg was broken and empty; not broken like it had hatched but like something had pierced it a few times and cracked it open .


Before downsizing when we retired, I had a large collection of decorative birdhouses. I donated loads of them to a thrift store but kept a few and sat them outside. They didn't hold up long in our Florida humidity but this is one I sat on the brick ledge outside the bedroom window about 3 years ago and it was used by a pair of Wrens to raise a brood.


The nest isn't visible in this old photo but a pair of wrens built a nest in this fern basket.


25 or so years ago, one of my nephews gave me 2 Purple Martin Condos and my husband mounted them on poles in different parts of our property. We never attracted Martins but the Wrens used both of them every year for nesting!

I love wrens! So cute. I've had one nest in the middle of a hanging plant before, and once in a watering can that was laying sideways on a little table under the carport. It got there before I did that spring, so I didn't use that can that year. Both nests were successful and we got to watch the "egg to baby in the nest to empty nest" process for both. These are the friendly birds that occasionally find a pretty small hole in a screen that I can never remember to fix, and come in to see what's up.