Nest Boxes Help Bring Birds Back

Wherever you live, chances are a sweet-singing, cavity-nesting bird would be happy to perform in your yard — and it might stick around if you offer it a cozy nest box, like the one this Carolina Wren enjoys. Natural cavities, like old woodpecker holes, are often in short supply. So putting up a box in the right place — and that’s the right size to accommodate them — is truly an act of stewardship.

BirdNote gives you the sounds of birds every day — and you can get the sights as well — when you follow us on Instagram: @BirdNoteRadio

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Nest Boxes Help Bring Birds Back

Written by Bob Sundstrom

This is BirdNote.

[Carolina Wren song, https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/239386881#_ga=2.124008841.2033091756…, 0.05-.07]

The Carolina Wren’s exuberant song can be heard throughout the East and Southeastern U.S.

[Carolina Wren song, https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/239386881#_ga=2.124008841.2033091756…, 0.05-.07]

The vibrant song of its close relative, the Bewick’s Wren, can be heard in much of the West.

[Bewick’s Wren song: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/242263151#_ga=2.160618046.2033091756…, 0.15-.18 and
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/217665891#_ga=2.65131949.2033091756.1…]

Depending on where you live, one of these sweet-singing wrens would be happy to perform in your yard — and they might stick around if you offer them a cozy nest box. Both are cavity nesters and natural cavities, like old woodpecker holes, are often in short supply. So putting up a box in the right place — and that’s the right size to accommodate a wren or another bird — is truly an act of stewardship.

And in turn, they give us their songs:

[Carolina Wren song: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/239386881#_ga=2.124008841.2033091756…, 0.05-.07]

Not all birds nest in cavities, not by any means. But among those that do are some terrific birds to have around the neighborhood: dazzling bluebirds and Tree Swallows, Purple Martins, chickadees, titmice, and more.

[Carolina Wren song: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/239386881#_ga=2.124008841.2033091756…, 0.05-.07]

Nest boxes can bring song and beauty right to your doorstep. To learn more about nest boxes, visit BirdNote.org. I’m Michael Stein.

[Carolina Wren song: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/239386881#_ga=2.124008841.2033091756…, 0.05-.07]

BirdNote gives you the sounds of birds every day — and you can get the sights as well — when you follow us on Instagram: @BirdNoteRadio.
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Senior Producer: John Kessler
Production Manager: Allison Wilson
Producer: Mark Bramhill
Associate Producer: Ellen Blackstone
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Carolina Wren recorded by Wil Hershberger. Bewick’s Wren recorded by Bob Hasenick.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2021 BirdNote February 2021 Narrator: Michael Stein

ID# box-06-2021-02-25 box-06