|
I have two extreme birdboxes in
my garden. A wren nested in a shed last year and this
year it has used a stable. The nest in the shed
required my help because the bird was building on such
a narrow ledge that the leaves were falling to the
floor almost as fast as they were being added to the
foundations. So I quickly nailed on a batten to extend
the ledge, and a family was reared successfully. This
year, the wren has used a rather larger ledge, about 3
inches deep, in the stable. (Not surprisingly, the
nest was lined with hair from the ponies that share
the stable with the wrens.)
Wrens often nest in buildings but
the nests are mostly made in crevices and holes; hence
the scientific name of Troglodytes – the cave
dweller. It seems to be unusual for the nest to be on
an open ledge. I am surprised the bird managed to get
the nest to 'stick' on such an exposed platform.
One of the unusual aspects of the
wren's private life is that the nest is built by the
male. In fact, he builds several and the more nests he
builds, the better chance he stands of attracting
females. The nests are the equivalent of long plumes
or an elaborate song because female wrens appear to
judge the quality of their suitors by their
nest-building skills.
They choose well-hidden nests that are less
likely to be found by predators. A nest inside an
outhouse with a narrow slit for an entrance must be a
pretty powerful attractant!
|
