OT - Bird sleeping at night on a bird feeder

[Guest]

Here is a picture I took of a Carolina Wren sleeping on a bird feeder at 2:30 AM. I used to have one sleep under an awning. This bird feeder is only 25 feet away from the awning location. The bird feeder is hanging under a weather dome to keep rain off the feeder. Possibly, it may be the same Carolina Wren.

[Laverne]

Hey Uncle Sammy...

Bless his little heart... That just doesn't look like a very comfortable place to sleep - now, does it?? I know very little about Carolina Wrens. Is their nesting season over? Does this guy nest around your place somewhere - or is he just there for the groceries?

Ah-hemm! And what were you doing outside at 2:30 in the morning? Never mind - don't answer that!!!!

[Al Denton]

Samuel, At my previous place I had two wrens sleep on a small ledge under a shed roof in the off season. I kept a fire going in the woodstove inside the shop most of the winter, and the wrens slept outside(on the ledge) just above where the stove pipe came through the wall before it turned up to go through the shed roof. I always loaded the stove up good with wood on very cold nights just for the wrens. I kinda miss those little wrens. They roosted at least tree years with me....Nice photo.Al

[Guest]

Laverne, for some reason, they tend to roost in places that do not look comfortable. From what I have noticed, they like to roost in corners so they are packed in real tight, I am guessing to preserve body heat. They also like to roost where they are protected from rain and out of reach of predators. I have yet to see one roost where it could easily be reached by a ground predator. Also, they are very good at evading predators. For example, when I approach their nest, they will vacate and not return until I am completely out of site. Also, the baby birds go completely silent until I am gone. This is the observations I have made in my experience with Carolina Wrens.

I got to really know them when they nested at the entrance of my office building. They nested in a trash can. I am re-posting some pics of the nest and nestlings I took when they were nesting there on July 3, 2005. I put up a sign on the trash can to let people know not to use the trash can, but it really wasn't necessary as they fledged the very next day after these pics were taken. They are really neat birds, when I pull up in my truck, they like to land in the bed of the truck and look for something. I have no idea what they are looking for. They just dart around in the bed of the truck like they are looking for insects and then leave, I have yet to figure out why.

Al Denton, do you hang bird feeders in your yard? Even though Carolina Wrens are mainly insect eaters, they tend to hang around bird feeders looking for insects. Also, Carolina Wrens really like low bushes like box hedges, etc..

[Al Denton]

Samuel, Nope, no bird feeders here. I do however put seed out in bitter cold weather. Also, Carolina Wrens and chikadees nest here in housing made for them. The wrens love to hang out in a dense hedge of Ileagnes. I believe they roost in them because of good protection. Al