The first broods of bluebirds, Carolina wrens, and chickadees have fledged. So should we rid the nest boxes of old nest material and all its mess as soon as babies fledge? Research says, that depends.

I wasn’t a good landlord this past year. The tenants, however, faired seemingly well in their temporary spring and summer digs. This is what I was reminded of last weekend, while cleaning out and ...

Carolina wrens, unlike house wrens, live here year-round. So Carolinas have a wing up, so to speak, on house wrens: They get first choice on nesting quarters. In fact, they’re well along with nest ...

It looks like the avian real estate market is heating up. Our feathered homesteaders are already on the job building nests and laying claim to their preferred nesting boxes. I suspect that the ...

The house wrens that chose our yard for nesting this spring furnished a bungalow. In early July, for their second nest, they pushed and pulled sticks into what has to be considered a mansion. The ...

Ms. Renkl is a contributing Opinion writer who covers flora, fauna, politics and culture in the American South. NASHVILLE — The drama started the first time a house wren showed up, nearly a decade ago ...