Wrens nesting in porch light

by Sue
(Suburban New Jersey)

For several years in a row, we had house wrens nesting inside our porch light. It's a hanging light that has a metal "roof" over the glass enclosure, and although the space between the roof and the glass is very narrow, the wrens still were able to get in there.

So every year, we have had to unplug the light to avoid roasting the birds! At the end of the season we would take the light apart and clean out the twigs, hoping the wrens would get the hint and find a better nesting place.

Finally we got smart and put up a wooden wren house. The wrens got smart too, and decided to upgrade their living space. They have left the light alone since then.

Our front porch has also been home to nesting robins and cardinals, and currently, to a pair of mourning doves. We don't get to use the front door very much in the spring and summer.