Wednesday more like Wrens-day!
South Carolina’s state bird is the Carolina Wren. This small songbird was officially designated as the state bird in 1948. This species of wren can be found in forests, and marsh edges across the Southeast. Carolina Wrens thrive in woodlands, coastal scrub, suburban neighborhoods, and backyard gardens. They love dense shrubs, brush piles, and tucked-away nooks for nesting. You can attract them to your yard by planting native shrubs, leaving natural leaf litter, providing nesting boxes, and keeping a water source like a shallow birdbath. They prefer cozy, sheltered spots and will even nest in flowerpots, mailboxes, or porch wreaths and other assorted items around your lawn or house.
These wrens are insect lovers. Their diet mainly consists of beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and other small invertebrates, which makes them wonderful natural pest control for your yard. During colder months, they may also eat seeds and berries when insects are more scarce.
Fun fact: Carolina Wrens have at least 14 different calls and song variations! Their most recognizable song sounds like they’re singing “tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle,” loudly and proudly often from a high perch. Though ‘she be but tiny’, Carolina Wrens have BIG voices and can sometimes be described as “the mouth of the south”.