There were numerous reports of wren problems on trails this year. Here are a few suggestions for dealing with wrens on your bluebird trail:

1. Most important, keep your boxes as far away as possible from brushy and heavily wooded areas which are wren habitat. At one time, 50 feet was considered a safe distance, but now 200 feet to 300 feet is recommended.

2. Constantly remove “dummy nests.” The male house wren may place sticks in as many as 10 different boxes in his attempt to attract a female. By monitoring your boxes on a regular basis you will be able to remove sticks you find in your boxes and this will keep the boxes available for bluebirds.

3. Do not put up extra boxes away from your bluebird trail for the wrens to use. While this may help keep wrens away from your bluebird trail for a year or two, your wren population will increase and “box-imprinted” wrens will venture out onto your bluebird trail.