Birds are notorious for being attracted to door wreaths which is something I learned all about this past year. I am living in a neighborhood for the first time and decided that I would try and be neighborhoodly and get my first ever door wreath. Where I come from you don’t bother because the deer don’t care. I had visions of seasonal door wreaths, holiday wreaths, a cornucopia outdoor decor. Jumped right on the bandwagon and quickly jumped right back off.

Off I went to a silk flower shop. There I met the owner, a charming lady I instantly adored. The plan was to pick up some flowers and make a wreath myself but this lovely woman offered to make it for me at no cost – she just likes arranging flowers. I gave her only two qualifications – I do not like busy or the color orange. I stressed that I preferred a plain style just one bit of fluff away from minimalist.

Later when I came back for my new professionally designed door wreath, there was an “oh my” moment. I’d hate to see this woman’s idea of busy if that was plain. And it’s huge. I think she must have thought I meant barn door, not front door. She explained to me that it had pheasant feathers in it and I would need to run scissors along them to keep them curled when it’s humid. Not going to happen in my world. I’m in Georgia. When is it not humid? For me this thing is over the top, opulent and all a bit much.

I loved it. It’s soooo very, very not me but it made me laugh out loud and if something makes you laugh out loud, take it home. I named it Oscar Wilde because it’s so…Oscar. Up it went on my door and within days the Carolina Wrens had moved into it. They were crazy about Oscar! Right off they took it over as a roosting spot which I discovered one night when I opened the door, startled the wrens and they flew in the house. Should this happen to you, turn off all the lights indoors and turn on an exterior light, they will fly to towards the outdoor lighting.

The next morning Oscar my door wreath became a wall wreath. Since then my little Carolina wrens have raised two broods in it and continue to roost in the silk flowers. When they had babies the wrens owned me completely. My boyfriend was informed that he may pay the mortgage but he may not use his front door lest he disturb the wrens. Those little birds can make me hop. If they raise the alarm, I check. As soon as I would come outside to see what the ruckus was Dad wren would hop around the porch quite smug with himself. I bought them meal worms which something I do not do because birds and I have an agreement. I provide water, shelter and habitat and they provide insect control. But there I was, paying for bugs.

So my idea of a seasonal door wreath was given the kabosh and Oscar is still on the wall a year later with a birds nest in the center. He’s getting a bit tatty due to the activity but I love him.

But be warned – if you have a wreath birds may like, which is basically anything not metal, they will readily roost in them. Wreaths are great habitat. Consider hanging it on a wall. If a bird does fly indoors at night, turn on an exterior light to draw them back outside.

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