Wren's nest - can't put my car away!

[werdnal]

We live in an old farmhouse and use what used to be the "tractor shed" for our cars. A couple of days ago, my hubby asked if I'd seen the wren's nest next to my car. I had a look and there is a perfect ball of moss and woven twigs at about head height on a beam in the wall. No signs of activity, but its recent as the moss is still wet and green.

It occurred to me, that although the wren has obviously not worried about my car coming and going, if I put the car in there, it means my cat can get on top and she will be level with the nest. So my car will be living outside for the next few weeks until we know that any little ones have successfully fledged.

Any idea how long they are in the nest for please? And do they have more than one brood?

[astarsdad]

Hi,

It does not sound like a wrens nest, especially at that height. It sounds like a goldcrests, but this is the first time I have heard of them nesting in a building. At another perspective it sounds like a greenfinches nest and I have never heard of them nesting in a building. My bet is that it is a robins. Is it an open top nest or one with an entrance hole? Can you lock the garage doors?

Terry

As a postscript a male wren will build 3 or 4 nests for a suitable female, who then chooses one and lines the nest with feathers. If it has not been selected or feathered within a couple of weeks do not be surprised.

[werdnal]

The "garage" has no doors - its a 3 sided open shed formerly used for farm implements.

Still convinced its a wren - the nest is a perfect ball with a tiny entrance hole about a third of the way down the front. Wrens roost in the shed over the winter aswell, but in a place that is safe from the cat. I'll try to get a photo and post it tomorrow.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by astarsdad

Hi,

It does not sound like a wrens nest, especially at that height. It sounds like a goldcrests, but this is the first time I have heard of them nesting in a building. At another perspective it sounds like a greenfinches nest and I have never heard of them nesting in a building. My bet is that it is a robins. Is it an open top nest or one with an entrance hole? Can you lock the garage doors?

Terry

As a postscript a male wren will build 3 or 4 nests for a suitable female, who then chooses one and lines the nest with feathers. If it has not been selected or feathered within a couple of weeks do not be surprised.

Were you watching Springwatch this evening? Here an active Wren's nest in a garage over twice the height of Werdnal's. I'm pretty sure she' right + it is a Wren's nest!

[werdnal]

Thanks, I saw that. Its very similar to ours - thatch type woven stems at the bottom and a moss "hood" on top, with an entrance hole in the front. As we haven't seen any wrens coming and going, we cannot be sure though.

[witham]

we've had wrens nesting in our partly open fronted barn for a few years and their nests are usually about head height, one even a bit lower as it was built between two hay bales on a raised platform, This year they have returned to one of the old nests in our ponies stall after sprucing it up a bit (the nest not the stall ) and are now feeding young.