I have Carolina Wrens nesting in a hanging plant pot on my deck. They were actually there last summer too....they had a brood last summer and again this summer. It's so much fun to watch them. I think the babies were born last Sat as they have been coming back and forth quite frequently with food. Oddly enough I don't notice them singing until after the babies are born. Everything I read said they do not use the same next twice, but they refurbished the nest from last year and to my delight are back....I'll be so sad when they leave.

There are several little beaks bobbing and weaving in the nest. Mother and Father Phoebe are feeding them together. One of the parents--looked like Father Phoebe--served up a bug with its wings still on. Father Phoebe was working with the bug for some time. When he delivered it, the bug's body was facing towards Baby Phoebe. Baby Phoebe gulped it down with no complaints. Both parents stand together on the stamped concrete under the deck. They constantly scour the walls of the house for bugs. Now and then, they go up to the nest for a look-see. I haven't figured that out. Maybe looking for fecal sacs? Anyway, I can gawk all I want at this little family and they cannot see me.

These little cutie pies are one of my favs! I've had them nesting around my house for several years, and they are well known for nesting in very unusual places! A friend of mine had them nesting in a football helmet on a shelf in her garage! I find it best not to peek at them at all, but you can observe from short distance. As long as the parents are going in and out, everything should be OK. As fledging draws near, don't be alarmed if the parents are not frequenting the nest as often as they did when the babies were young. I was fortunate to see a group fledge last year, but this year, they fledged when I was not at home! They are such fun little birds to watch!

For about 5 years there were a pair of Carolina Wrens who built a nest on our screen porch inside a grocery bag filled with other grocery bags that hung on a hook outside the kitchen door. The little rascals squeezed under the screen door through a space so small that until I saw one of them do it I would have said it was impossible. And each year when the nestlings fledged and left the nest there were always at least two of them who couldn't follow their parents under the door. My wife or I would have to leave the door hooked open so they could leave. Once it took three days for one chick to figure it out, even with its parents repeatedly coming in to lead it from captivity.