Maybe he was already courting another jenny wren, inviting her to inspect a tipped-over flower pot full of twigs in the tool shed. However, the female at the birdhouse had energy and ambition enough to provide for her babies by herself. About two weeks after hatching, the fledgling wrens flew out of the nest and started learning to hunt down their own caterpillars and bugs. I felt I'd been amply paid for the effort of obtaining and hanging the birdhouse. And it still looks decorative, even now that it's empty.
Wrens are the easiest birds to attract to a birdhouse.
They show little fear of people, and just about any kind of birdhouse will do. Gourds make splendid wren houses. Seeds for birdhouse gourds, also known as bottle gourds, are available from most seed catalogs. Gourds require a long growing season, so plant them early. In fall, cut them from the vines, leaving several inches of stem attached to each gourd, and store them in a cool, dry area.