Welcome to the birdy side of the internet! This week brings a compelling pairing of past and present: a window into the former abundance of the eastern Bewick’s Wren, and a practical, habitat-centered project you can put into action right at home. The historical record reminds us how quickly familiar species can disappear from entire regions, while the Birding Tip shows how something as simple as a brush pile can restore microhabitats that birds rely on for safety, food, and shelter. Together, they highlight how paying attention—both to the past and to our own backyards—can deepen our understanding of the landscapes birds need to thrive.
This Week in Birding History: A Bounty of Eastern Bewick’s Wrens
November 16, 1930 — Ninety-five years ago this week, self-taught ornithologist Harry C. Monk documented four Bewick’s Wrens along River Road in Nashville, Tennessee, marking a November high count for any location east of Memphis.
At the time, Bewick’s Wren remained somewhat common across the Appalachian states, and the eastern population—more reddish in appearance than its western counterparts—was still a regular member of the region’s avifauna. Since then, this population has undergone a steep decline. Breeding sites east of the Mississippi River are now rare, and Bewick’s Wren is currently listed as Endangered or Threatened in eleven eastern states, including Tennessee.
Digitized historical observations, such as Monk’s, provide critical insight into long-term population trends. These early records help researchers trace the species’ dramatic retreat from the East and highlight the value of preserving bird data across generations.
Birding Tip: Building a Brush Pile for Birds
Brush piles are one of the simplest DIY habitat features you can add to a yard. In natural forests, fallen logs and tangled branches create pockets of shelter, shade, and insect life. When we tidy up every twig, we remove those hideouts and reduce the microhabitats many birds depend on. Building a brush pile restores a bit of that structure. It offers birds cover from predators and harsh weather, both frigid snow and desert sun, and as the wood decays, it becomes a steady buffet of insects. It is a low-effort, high-reward project. Here’s how to build one, where to place it, and which birds might benefit most.
Creating a Brush Pile That Works
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Choose the right spot — Pick a strategic location a short distance from your home or sheds to reduce fire risk and discourage rodents from settling too close to buildings. Edges of clearings and woodland borders work especially well, providing birds with both nearby feeding areas and quick access to cover. If you garden, placing the pile near your beds can be helpful—birds will forage for insects in the pile and then patrol your plants for pests. And if aesthetics matter, tuck the pile into a back corner where you can still watch the activity without feeling like a log heap dominates your lawn.
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Gather materials — Collect fallen branches, sticks, and logs of various sizes. A few sturdier logs—about 4 to 6 inches in diameter—make an ideal foundation. Any wood type is fine, though more rot-resistant species like oak or locust will help the frame last longer. Yard clippings, evergreen boughs, old lumber, or even a few stones can be added. Brush piles are forgiving structures, so no need for precision.
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Build the foundation — Start with your largest logs on the ground, arranged parallel with small gaps between them. Add the next layer perpendicular to the previous one, creating a loose crisscross pattern that forms sturdy tunnels at the base. These openings are critical—small birds and mammals use them as escape routes and safe resting spots. Picture a towhee or a rabbit slipping under a log to avoid a passing fox or Cooper’s Hawk.
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Pile it on — Add medium branches loosely over the frame, then layer in smaller sticks and twigs. You can even top the pile with evergreen clippings to help shed rain and block wind. A used Christmas tree can also be repurposed here—once it’s done spreading joy indoors, it makes excellent brush-pile material. Just be sure to remove all ornaments and tinsel beforehand. A cone or mound shape works well, but the design is flexible; as long as there are open spaces for wildlife to move and enough density to provide cover, you’re on the right track.
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Let nature take over — As months pass, the pile will slowly settle and decompose. Insects move in, fungi begin to break down the wood, and the whole structure becomes a richer habitat. Refresh it each spring and fall by adding new branches to maintain height and density. Consider planting native herbaceous plants nearby or allowing vines to drape over the pile—both will increase cover and insect abundance. Eventually, the oldest sections will return to the soil. When that happens, simply start a new pile beside it and let the cycle continue.
Who’s Likely to Visit?
Once your brush pile is established, expect activity. Ground-loving seedeaters such as the American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, or Eastern Towhee frequently dive into brush piles for refuge or foraging. Many other songbirds will stop in as well, especially during pre- and post-breeding migration when cover and insect resources are at a premium. If you position the pile near native plantings or a water source, its impact grows even stronger—birds move between these features throughout the day, turning your yard into a small network of habitat…