Bedtime for birds in shared accommodation

WE tend to think of bird boxes as only being useful when species are nesting in spring and summer. But a sighting at the weekend reminded me how valuable they can be as a refuge during the depths of winter as well.

I was walking my dog down the road at dusk when I spotted a wren in a tree calling loudly – as these vocal little birds generally do. Another wren arrived on the scene, followed by a third and then I noticed one disappearing into a nestbox that had been fixed to a tree.

I walked on but my curiosity was aroused. Wrens can roost together in the winter, huddling together to keep warm, so I decided the following day to wait fairly close to the nestbox and observe what was going on.

It was cold and still and as the sun gradually dipped below the horizon and the light faded I thought that perhaps I had been mistaken.

I watched a treecreeper living up to its name, creeping up a tree, and a blackbird was noisily declaring it was time for bed, but there was not a wren to be seen.

Then I heard a familiar call and one appeared in the dim light, a rotund little thing with tail cocked, the shape resembling a little teapot. It sat on a branch close to the nestbox and was soon joined by another wren and then a third.

I was far enough away and remained still so as not to disturb them, watching as they flew down to the top of a fence opposite me and sat side by side, jumping over one another, exchanging places as if cards in a pack shuffling themselves.

I have seen footage of gatherings of long-tailed tits doing the same thing when ordering themselves on a perch before sleep for the night, yet this wren dance was in the open and before they had even headed to their roost site.

Eventually they flew towards the nestbox and, one by one, went in. Just to confuse matters two then flew out and over my shoulder, another came from the right and headed for the box and two later appeared and joined it and... well, if they were trying to confuse me they were doing a good job of it. By the time the light had faded and all fell quiet I reckoned there were five wrens tucked up for the night inside the bird box – feathery balls bundled together.

Sharing warmth in a sheltered wooden box is a lifesaver for such a small species. So much so that dozens can actually gather together during a hard winter. In fact a staggering 63 have been recorded sharing a single nest box!

I can’t compete with that total, but it was fascinating to witness something I have read about actually taking place. A cute and cosy congregation.