In the early Spring of 2009 we experienced an invasion of Wrens into the house. We never discovered where they entered but certainly they liked the warmth of the linen cupboard.As soon as we let them out they reappeared. Exactly the same is happening as the year ends.They enjoy the Christmas tree but they certainly hover over the windows as if they wish to get out. We have lived in this house for 44 years but it is only recently that we have experienced this visitation. Where do wrens normally winter and where do they obtain their food or do they hibernate?Any answers will be gratefully received. Peter.
Haha I think they've found themselves a nice, warm, giant nestbox to roost in over the winter!
Wrens don't hibernate and we do get wrens that remain here in the UK over winter, they have to continue to find whatever food is available over the winter - seeds or insects - as best as they can and at night they often gather together in large numbers as more bodies = more warmth. This usually happens in nestboxes or natural holes but it looks as if they've found a way into your house and as it is nice and warm, it is probably somewhere they consider highly suitable for a roost!
I suspect that a new hole has appeared that they've discovered they can enter through as this is a recent thing, as they are so tiny only a small gap would be more than adeqate for them to squeeze through.
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
Hello Hop Farmer, time to check your air bricks I think.
Fascinating story. Are you left with lots of poo to wipe up..?
Btw, welcome to the forum. :-)
I'm sure this is fairly unusual behaviour - its certainly something I've never heard of before!
I'm curious too about the mess, do they leave you a lot of mess? Its strange how they get in. Maybe if you found out where you could box it off like a big nest box or something? Especially since small birds like Wrens really suffer in the cold of winter.
Hi Peter and welcome to the forum. I can't help on the hows and whys of this but it is a great story and I do like Paul E's suggestion as a remedy.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
That's a great story, wrens in the Christmas tree! I had a similar problem with some house sparrows a couple of years ago. They always nested in a hole in our wall (I think it was an air vent), but time and again the chicks would venture too far back along the cavity and end up falling down through the wall, eventually finding themselves stuck behind an iron grate at ground level in our conservatory. This must have been going on for several years without us even realising sadly, as when we smashed the grate out of the hole to rescue one wee baby we discovered a couple of very old tiny bird skeletons. During the same breeding season another chick ventured the same way so we had to rescue that one too. It was quite distressing as they were still quite young, and I was unsure if they would survive once I released them as I was unable to reach the hole in which the nest was sited to replace them. After we were sure all the birds had fledged that year and the nest had been vacated, we attached a nest box on the wall to cover the hole. I can only suggest you try to find where they are entering the house and if it is a hole in a wall such as mine then place a nest box over it like I did. Or if they are entering through an open window, you might consider fitting those mesh screens that stop cats from jumping out of windows (as I'm sure you won't want to keep your windows closed all year round!).
Hi Peter, and welcome to the forum.
What a wonderful story! Did you get any pictures of them in your Christmas Tree? The nearest we ever got to birds in the house was an escaped canary!
I agree the best bet is to keep watch and find out where they are getting in and then put up a nest box to cover the hole.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hi Peter
Welcome!
A wonderful story, or rather is it? Depends upon how many you get but it sounds lovely from this end! The Wren is one of my favourite birds, so small but can be so loud when they sing.
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Worth having a read of this: http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/expert/previous/roosting_wrens.asp the record number is over 60 wrens in a nestbox!!
Hi Hop, This spring you may have a nest on your hands if they continue to go in there. I would suggest finding the hole where they enter and place an open fronted nest box in the way of the hole! Fascinating story! Coal
Birding , Birding, Birding !