To begin with, Marjory, I’m sorry to hear about your little bluebirds. The adults will likely re-nest, but it’s still no fun to find dead baby birds. I’m also sorry if I spelled your name wrong. After ...

While many birds curtail, so to speak, their nesting efforts during the summer, the house wren does not. They just keep going. Let's take a closer look at this clamorous, nonstop nester. This ...

Insects make up 97 percent of a house wren’s diet Entice them with a bird house Clean out the bird house in spring My friend extols the virtues of house wrens for one’s garden. Please explain. Your ...

For us, summer usually starts on Mother’s Day when our back-of-the-garage garden plot begins to take shape. Today we can see the first yellow flowers on our tomato plants and our peppers, zucchini and ...

Early this spring, I hung a small bird box from a pergola rafter ten feet from my kitchen window. I had high hopes that either Carolina chickadees or house wrens (both are cavity-nesters) would ...

A house wren engages in its throaty song. Will it be able to attract a mate before summer is over? (John Kelly/The Washington Post) Perspective by John Kelly I’m worried that the wren in my backyard ...

Looking for birding opportunities close to home? Birds with “house” built into their names are, not surprisingly, common urban residents. Three such birds found in Minnesota include the house wren, ...

Like any first-time parent, I was overprotective about the new babies. In this case it was our first experience as “parents” to nesting house wrens. I had been given a small birdhouse as a Christmas ...

Where are your usual nesting house wrens and bluebirds? Same place mine are, I guess. We've neither seen nor heard a yard wren this spring; one nest here has been routine for years. The nest boxes I ...

I have to apologize for taking so long to answer your e-mail (and your question). Usually I’m pretty good at responding to e-mails, but sometimes other more tantalizing “spam” e-mails distract me and ...

A house wren surveys John Kelly's backyard. A pair of the birds are preparing to lay a second clutch of eggs in a birdhouse there. (John Kelly/The Washington Post) Perspective by John Kelly I’ve ...

Doesn't everyone love wrens? Here, three species brighten our days. Year-round, only one stays. Another comes in summer to raise families. Now, with winter setting in, the one most rare has arrived.