He who shall hurt the little Wren, shall never be beloved by men

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The Wren has been revered since the time of the druids, who regarded it as a sacred bird and a symbol of wisdom and divinity. The bird was protected throughout the year by superstitions, one of which threatened anyone tempted to steal a Wren’s egg with the prospect of their hands shrivelling up. 

Despite the veneration surrounding it, in the seventeenth century Wrens became prey in a ritual hunt held once a year. The day and derivation of the custom varied but one origin can be linked to a story in which a Wren betrayed St. Stephen and the resulting custom was to ‘stone’ a Wren to death as a punishment on St. Stephen’s Day (26th December). Once dead, the Wren would be paraded from house to house, with those involved seeking rewards. The custom is still practiced in parts of western Ireland, though these days an effigy is used instead.

Wrens are no longer ritually persecuted by humans but they do still suffer during cold weather, because the insects and spiders on which they feed are in short supply during harsh winters. Wrens also use up a lot of their fat reserves keeping warm during the night, which they spend the next day replenishing. In an attempt to conserve heat, Wrens will gather in communal roosts at dusk, often seeking the comfort of nest boxes or other cavities. The biggest roost ever recorded consisted of 61 Wrens, using a nest box in Norfolk.

Clare Simm, from the BTO’s Garden BirdWatch commented: "Despite its insect-based diet, you can still help your resident Wren survive the winter. During severe weather they will take small seeds, crumbs or finely grated cheese. They may also be attracted by fat-cakes if placed near the ground."

Severe winters can wipe out much of the Wren’s total population. In the winter of 1962/1963, for example, BTO data showed that the Wren population declined by as much as 80%. It then showed a tenfold increase over the next decade, underlining its capacity to ‘bounce back’ thanks to its large clutches and multiple broods.

Clare added: "The information that we gather from BTO Garden BirdWatchers is extremely important, letting us know which birds struggle to cope during the winter. Results from the last few winters show a drop in counts of Wrens, so it will be interesting to see how they fare this winter."

Would you like to help us find out how this winter affects our Wrens? For a free BTO Garden BirdWatch information pack, which includes a copy of our quarterly magazine, email gbw [at] bto.org, telephone 01842 750050, or write to GBW, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU.

Notes for Editors

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