The first broods of bluebirds, Carolina wrens, and chickadees have fledged. So should we rid the nest boxes of old nest material and all its mess as soon as babies fledge? Research says, that depends.

Ms. Renkl is a contributing Opinion writer who covers flora, fauna, politics and culture in the American South. Spring is proceeding apace in this yard, despite my worst fears. For 28 of the 29 years ...

It’s that time of year when our feathered friends follow that age old quest to nest. This results in quite an opportunity for all the birders (aka birdwatchers) out there including yours truly. I was ...

Early this spring, I hung a small bird box from a pergola rafter ten feet from my kitchen window. I had high hopes that either Carolina chickadees or house wrens (both are cavity-nesters) would ...

Spring is proceeding apace in this yard, despite my worst fears. For 28 of the 29 years that my husband and I have lived in this house, the elderly widow next door mostly shared our commitment to a ...