Carolina wren (Ga DNR, Todd Schneider)

By Terry W. Johnson

Although most species of wildlife try to stay as far away from us as possible a precious few have adapted to life in our backyards. This is particularly true of birds. Although birds will regularly visit our yards in search of water and food, some also actually nest in the shadow of our homes. These include Carolina chickadees, eastern bluebirds, house wrens, brown-headed nuthatches, great crested flycatchers, purple martins and Carolina wrens.

Carolina wrens, however, take nesting close to humans to a completely different level.

Historically, Carolina wrens nested in abandoned woodpecker holes and ball-shaped nests in trees and thick vegetation. I must confess that I have never seen Carolina wrens nesting in a natural setting or even in a nesting box. All of the nests I have been fortunate to find were in places such as garages and well houses.

Although other birds such as phoebes and barn swallows will build nests under the eaves of houses and outbuildings, none build nests on human structures as often as do these small (5 ¾-inch), brown birds with the loud voice. I would venture to say that if you have seen a Carolina wren nest it was in one of the last places you would ever expect to find a nest.

For example, Carolina wrens sometimes construct their bulky nests in open boxes, mailboxes, empty cans and baskets stored in garages. I know a man who reached into a coffee can in which he stored nails only to find a wren was using it as a nest site. Wrens also build nests in open paper bags stored on a shelf to their liking. Back in the day when most folks dried their clothes on clothes lines, Carolina wrens would sometimes use clothespin bags as nesting sites. Golf bags apparently also make great spots for their nests.

If you heat your home with propane, there is a good chance that one spring when you check the level of the propane in your tank and open the lid, you will find a Carolina wren nest. The birds also nest in stacks of patio furniture. A North Carolina couple even found a Carolina wren nest inside an open bag of sand.

When one fellow found one of their nests containing young built on the upturned head of a string mower, he gently relocated it to a nearby shelf. Fortunately, the parents continued to feed the young.

Carolina wrens also build nests in clothing. The pockets of coats are frequently used as wren nesting sites. But the birds will also use both hats and shoes.

Carolina wrens have long been drawn to vehicles. A little less than a century ago, the famous ornithologist and author of “Georgia Birds,” Thomas Burleigh, wrote about an interesting experience he had with Carolina wrens nesting in his touring car. It seems that Burleigh noticed that a pair of wrens was building their nest under the vehicle’s hood. The birds’ work started when the car was left at a nearby sawmill for two days. When the car was driven and not returned to the sawmill until the next day, the nesting pair of Carolina wrens remarkably resumed building the nest.

In North Carolina, Carolina wrens built a nest deep in one couple’s Jeep Wrangler – unbeknownst to them. It seems that the industrious birds constructed their nest at the spot where one of the vehicle’s shock absorbers was attached to the frame. Incredibly, the Jeep owners made three trips to town before discovering the nest.

One day, another Tar Heel couple drove to the grocery store some 15 miles away. When they went to load their purchases in the car, they were startled to find a Carolina wren sitting atop a nest. The bird was so unperturbed by the event that it remained on the nest during the ride home and the folks removed their groceries. Impressed with the bird’s fidelity to its nest, the owners simply parked the car and waited until the pair fledged young from the nest before moving it again.

The list of other vehicles that have served as Carolina wren nesting sites includes tractors, abandoned trucks and cars, and golf carts.

Our tolerance for Carolina wrens and the birds’ willingness to nest close to humans is epitomized by this tale. A man liked to sleep with this window open. Not being the neatest person in the world, he often left his underwear draw open. One morning he was awakened by the sound of something fluttering in the open draw. When he peered in, he found a Carolina wren’s nest. When later asked why he didn’t move the nest and close his window, he replied, “No way, I’m enjoying having the wrens in my bedroom.”

If you happen to find a pair of Carolina wrens nesting in your garage, leave the garage door open. This will enable them to successfully raise their young.

And  if you’ve had an experience concerning Carolina wrens nesting in an odd location, I would love to hear from you.

Terry W. Johnson is a retired Georgia DNR program manager and executive director of The Environmental Resources Network, or TERN, the friends group of DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section. Check out past columns, his Backyard Wildlife Connection blog and his book “A Journey of Discovery: Monroe County Outdoors.” Permission is required to reprint a column.