Comments on: How Are The Wrens Doing?

By: Mary Ann Pike

Mary Ann Pike — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:51:08 +0000

We have 2 Carolina Wrens in the South Hills of Pittsburgh that have been coming to our feeders regularly this winter, and they don’t seem to be any worse for the cold. We’re in for another cold week, but hopefully it won’t be as bad as the first 2 weeks of January.

By: Patsy

Patsy — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:14:14 +0000

My Carolina Wrens love mealworms. They will come and chatter until I put them out for them.

By: Marcy C

Marcy C — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 01:10:11 +0000

A few years back when there was ice, we found a Carolina Wren laying out on the ice and snow, only 5 feet from the barn. It was so sad to see it and so close to shelter. But this was BEFORE they started coming to the feeders near the house….this pair(s) were down in the woods and only in the last 2 years have they been coming to the feeder. So I guess the suet, peanuts and sunflower chips are helping them survive…they have had many broods the last few year also and bringing the family to the feeders. Does this mean the offspring have a stronger gene pool for handling the colder temps? The ones this year weren’t even phased with the bitter winds and snow (over 15 inches). The nest is right outside our front door….at our old place we had a plastic vinegar jug tied on the porch iron railing(a 4 inch square cut out) and they nested and roosted for over 5 years…even when one died, it was still used…we also found a recently made nest down in the shelves under the deck area… again…right where we walk right by…I love listening to them and they must like being around us…

By: Anthony Bledsoe

Anthony Bledsoe — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:31:30 +0000

My wife Meg and I live in Forest Hills, just east of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, and we found a dying Carolina Wren right next to our patio two weeks ago. We brought it inside and tried to save it, but within ten minutes, it expired. The culprit, however, was not the cold and the snow pack, at least not directly. Inspection of the bird indicated that some predator, probably a feral cat but also possibly the Cooper’s Hawk that has been around our house, had badly injured its abdomen.

By: Marge V.

Marge V. — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:38:59 +0000

One of my favorite little birds!! I’ve got lots of photos of one (we had 2 last year, and 2 this year) that was on my front porch railing for quite a while and also have a few pictures of it under my round picnic table w/benches attached looking up all over the underside of the table and benches, probably finding spiders or some other goodies). We have seen it go in and out of a small (4×4 inch square) spot/window right under the roof of my backyard shed. So we are not going into the shed for anything lest we disturb it/them.
I was told they nest in spring in unusual places, too, such as hanging plants and I’m sure Marcy will probably have them all year now, maybe little ones, too.