The Cute Exterminator!

   This, my friends, is the best kind of pest control for the garden!  It is free.  It is clean.  It is efficient.  There are several birds that hop around in the garden between the rows of cabbages and mustard greens.  This little wren has the better idea of sitting on the fencepost while keeping a watchful eye on the plants.  The first wiggle of a caterpillar brings the bird to life and it hops off the post and is soon snatching its prize.  Once one worm is in its belly, the little bird lets out a loud chirring for all of its family to join it for lunch.  Soon, there are several wrens busy as can be.  They are cleaning the leaves of any and all bugs.  

  Today, the wren braved the cool winds to stand "bug watch" while the other wrens went off in search of possible places to forage.  They will be back as soon as this one calls.  Their presence is one of the reasons that I refuse to use any insecticides in the garden.  There is no way I would ever do anything to hurt my critter friends and especially not those that are so helpful.  Who needs to put harmful chemicals out when you have such cute, little exterminators that work for free?  

The "Bird Hotel" Has No Vacancies!

  The arbor around the french doors has a canvas awning cover.  I hang a few potted ferns on either side of the front steps and then always have large plants on stands under the ferns.  Last year, a tiny wren loved the fern so much that she made her nest there twice.  She survived a tropical storm without ever leaving her nest.  I had tied the fern from all sides to keep it from swinging too much so she was safe and sound.  Since then, she has returned to the nest and her broods come to roost on the beams and some nestle down in the fern with her.  The sweet little family is welcome to stay as long as they like, however, this spring, they may have company.

  On the opposite side (about six feet from the fern nest), a pair of doves have taken a liking to the other fern.  Another nest is in the process of being made.  Doves, like wrens, seek out places that are near humans that they trust.  It makes me feel good to know that my critter friends feel safe around me.  I am in hopes that both birds will nest near the door and be at ease with each other.  Both wrens and doves are not overly territorial so it should all work out fine.

  The pair of doves come to the plant stand that now serves as a feeder.  I had taken down the other feeders when the hawk was visiting (but not for sunflower seeds).  Several birds were snatched before I realized what was happening.  The plant stand was beneath the broad leaves of an avocado tree which provided a blind for the songbirds.  Since our hard freeze, the leaves are slowly dropping.  The feeder protection is almost naught now and I noticed the hawk has returned.  Son and I were pondering how to devise another shelter for the birds.  Hopefully, tomorrow will find us with some suitable deterrent.  While I love the hawk, it needs to leave my sweet songbirds and search for a nice fat rat!

As Our Main Course, We Have SPIDER!

  Early this morning, I needed a break from gardening so the front steps offered a shady spot.  From there I could watch the clouds building over the Bay while I sipped my lemonade.  It is also from there that I could listen to the sweet sounds of the baby wrens peeping in the hanging basket just above my head.  The tiny birds get so excited when they hear the slightest noise as they think Mama and Papa are bringing food.  To me, there is nothing better that babes of any ilk.

  The parent wrens had no problem entering the nest while I was just an arm's reach from the nest.  They have grown accustomed to my presence and just disregard the idea that I might harm them.  I delighted in seeing the birds flit in, pop a morsel in a gaping mouth and dart out again.  The search for food  was never-ending!  As I watched, I became aware of just what the birds were proffering as foodstuffs.  A few caterpillars, a few odd bugs and a lot of spiders. SPIDERS!!!  It seems that wrens have a thing for spider meals.  After about the fifth spider serving, it occurred to me that perhaps spiders were easy to find and easy to obtain.  Every nook and cranny about the bayou has some sort of eight-legged critter lurking therein.  Wrens being the busy, little hunters they are, have no problem snatching up the tidbits.

  Obviously, spiders are nutritious.  Otherwise, those feisty baby birds would not be growing so fast.  Another week and they will be ready to fledge.  Learning to fly will be the next big step in their survival training.  With that comes the lessons on hunting...perhaps even hunting spiders.  For now, however, the birds are snug in their nest as the storms are building.  Mama Wren is a wise bird to build her nest by the front door!

Resting is not an option!

  Little Mama Wren is still sitting on her five eggs.  She made her nest in the hanging basket next to the front door.  As you know, I fretted over her during the recent storm and went out every hour to make sure her nest was still secure.  My extra wiring did the job and she was not wobbled too much.  All is well with her.  She rarely leaves the nest now and Papa Wren occasionally brings her a fine morsel.  He has been busy working the tomato plants and finds extra caterpillars for his ladylove.

  Today saw me digging out an old gutter drain/wannabe pond. Forty feet or so of a gravel drain ended in a small pond at one time but has been filled with dirt for a while now.  Years ago, the area was fitted with a pump making the drain resemble a running creek,  The water cycled from the pool back up to the gutter drain.  Birds loved the filtered running water causing this to be an ideal feature.  I missed the bubbling "creek" so decided to reinstall the whole works.  It was during a short break that my little Papa Wren took a notion to fuss at me.  I had sat on the steps with my lemonade and he thought I was entirely too close to his soon-to-be family.  For being such a tiny critter, he is quite feisty!  The little fellow started fussing far up in a nearby tree but kept getting closer and closer.  He wanted me gone...and now!  Soon, three other wrens joined Papa.  Each were chittering frantically at me to leave the area!

  Through all of this, Little Mama sat quiet as a church mouse on her nest within an arm's reach.  Not once did she give any sign that she was disturbed.  I figured that if she let me add wires to her basket while she was sitting on the nest, she was good with me resting a bit on the steps.  I assume that the others had no idea that she and I are quite friendly.  After a bit, I headed back to work with my shovel and left the birds in peace.  I am sure they will appreciate my efforts once the project is complete.

Storms, Gardens and Birds

  It is THAT time of year again and every eye around this area is watching the Gulf of Mexico.  While the storm, Cristobal, is supposed to not strengthen too much, it is still threatening to dump copious amounts of rain on us.  Yes, the landfall is supposed to be in Louisiana but that puts us on that east side.  Anyone who knows anything about hurricanes knows that is NOT where you want to be.  Of course, like other storms, our little area will cope even without the media attention.  Always have...always will.  We prepare.  We ride out the storm.  We carry on. 

  My one big beef with this storm is that it is coming so early in the season.  Why is that a problem?  Well, my garden is at its peak right now and any high winds, torrential downpours or flying debris will wreak havoc on the plants.  Seriously, I may as well call it a season and not worry about any more fresh veggies.  Thankfully, I was able to home can plenty for our winter stock already so we are good to go.  

  Today, as I was wandering about making a few minor storm preparations, I stopped to admire the healthy plants and thought how fortunate we are to be able to "uproot" ourselves and hunker down inside the Little Bayou House.  The plants and critters do not have that luxury.  They take the brunt of  the storm.  In fact, just outside the front door (south side), a little wren is sitting on five eggs in the hanging fern.  The tiny bird will not give up her nest if at all possible even if that old basket gets to banging around uncontrollably.  This fretted me something fierce so I secured her little home along with ours.  Armed with some strong wire, I reinforced the hanging chains and ran guy wires from the sides of the basket to the main posts.  The basket barely wiggled now so hopefully, my little friend will be safe.  Son and I have a difference in opinions about my efforts.  He says I am interfering with the course of nature.  I say I am trying to help a friend.  Either way, what is done..is done.  Stay safe, folks, stay safe. (Stay safe, Little Wren, stay safe!)

Good Little Mama!

  Son keeps after me to "let nature take its course" when it comes to the critters of the Bayou.  I admit that I find that difficult at times.  Take for example a few years back when I "rescued" about a dozen skink eggs from sure ruin in a tropical storm.  I had found the mother skink and her clutch of eggs the day before the storm hit and watched them closely as the tide edged nearer and nearer the nest.  As waves started sloshing around the nest site, I could not stand it and raced down the hill to rescue what remained of the nest.  With a dozen ready to hatch eggs in my shirt, I trudged back up the hill in the pouring rain to relocate them in the greenhouse.  On  the way up the hill, three little skinks hatched in my hands!  Over the years, I have saved a baby 'possum, a few squirrels, a couple of baby mockingbirds and a rat snake.  (The snake needed rescuing from several crows!)  With each rescue, Son reprimands me.  "Mom, you have to learn to let things occur as they are meant.  Let nature do its own thing."  I always agree and tell him I will try to do better. 

  Recently, this rescuing came into action again but I just did not tell Son!  A pair of wrens made their nest in the oddest of places and were prime targets for a snake invasion.  Sure enough, a rat snake (probably the one I rescued) was found winding its way up to the nest of baby birds.  Oh, no you don't!!!  In one swift movement, I grabbed the snake and pulled it free from the board covering the nest.  The snake was bewildered which gave me plenty of time to relocate it before it thought much about why it was suddenly not having breakfast.  The parent wrens were in an understandable frenzy about this whole ordeal but soon went on about raising their brood.  That nest was near the shed and happily all five little ones survived.  Mama Wrens are not above reusing an old nest for their second brood of the season but this little mama decided against it.  She has relocated.

  This afternoon, I noticed something strange about the hanging fern that I was rooting.  The basket hangs right next to the steps that I use about two dozen times a day.  It is within easy reach since I want to keep it well watered while the fern roots.  As I looked at my basket, I had to smile.  Mama Wren decided to move her nest near the person that helped her earlier this spring.  The neatest little nest is being made in the hanging basket. I guess she  knew that I would help her if needed and decided to make it easier for me to watch over her brood.  At least this nest is not an easy target for a snake since hopefully, I will be able to see it much quicker than back by the shed.  Smart bird!  Good Mama!

Wandering...just wandering

  As I hike the hillside in the early morn, a billion things are floating about the brain.  Here lately, things are a jumble of "not so good".  Don't get me wrong, nothing is devastating but there are "those" billion things that shift around just enough to be aggravating.  Stress is not a fun thing.  Someone once said "Not all those who wander are lost."  It is true.  Some of us merely wander aimlessly to collect thoughts along the way.  The voices riding beneath the trees sometimes can bring great solace.  Their bits of wisdom put things in perspective when life throws it askew.

  One of those voices came to me by way of a small bird.  A Carolina wren was perched in a dead mimosa tree.  It was singing the sweetest, "come hither" melody that ever was heard.  Music echoed through the trees. The bird was calling its brood that fledged a few days ago.  The little ones all gather back at the nest site at night but then at the crack of dawn they flit about searching for breakfast.  The bird singing was a comfort to my weary mind.  "Come hither and I shall protect you."

  Carolina wrens are tiny birds that are huge with personality.  While they are normally shy, once they know you, they are quick to trust you.  These birds will nest in sheds or porches without fear of humans.  My sweet friends nest in the greenhouse where I work every day.  Not once have they shown fear.  They use my presence to "protect" them and bring comfort.  This morning, the bird turned the tables and brought peace to my weary soul.

Making Herself At Home

  Ever since Son built my greenhouse, a small wren has been making her nest there.  She has chosen one spot or another to build her compact, neat nest and then lay her eggs.  Most years, she lays five eggs.  She sets on the nest come night and day until her brood is hatched then she and Daddy Wren work themselves to a frazzle to feed the hungry rascals.  After all this time, the little wren has come quite used to my presence in the greenhouse and has no qualms to having me work near her while she is on the nest.  This year, she built her nest about six inches from the door.  I am in and out of the greenhouse probably a dozen times each day but it does not seem to phase her in the least.

  This morning, as the sun warmed the greenhouse, Mama Wren slipped out to get a bite to eat and some water.  I took advantage of her absence to check the nest.  Sure enough, her usual five eggs were there!   In a couple of weeks, the eggs will hatch and my greenhouse will be a nursery for the little ones.  They will be fed there, grow there and even take their first flight lessons there.  The first part of their lives will take place in the relative safety that the greenhouse provides.  While I could be seen as a threat, Mama Wren knows that within those walls, she has nothing to fear...not even me.

  Even after the little ones are on their own, for the rest of this year, they will return to the greenhouse often to seek refuge.  During storms, the hanging baskets and crossbeams will see the wee birds taking advantage of the building.  It makes me happy to know that they trust me enough to continue using the greenhouse as their safe house.  Hopefully, the birds will continue to do so for years to come.  They are always welcome.

Sweet Little Family

  A pair of wrens nested in the hanging basket that holds a Swedish Ivy plant.  This planter is right inside the greenhouse door where I enter each day.  My trips in and out of the door never bothered the little wrens as they were building the nest and Mama Wren was never alarmed while she incubated her eggs.  I like to think that the wrens have accepted the fact that I will never harm them. 

  Yesterday as I entered the greenhouse, I heard a soft, almost inaudible peep.  Ahh, this sounded promising!  I gently turned the basket so I could see inside of the nest.  Yep, the eggs were hatching!  One, two, three fluffy grey heads with huge yellow beaks could be seen inside the tightly woven nest.  The other two eggs showed signs of hatching as well.  Mama and Daddy Wren were already on the search for bugs for their hungry brood.  Mama Wren had no qualms of leaving the eggs to hatch by themselves since the greenhouse was the perfect temperature.  No need to worry about the little ones at the moment.  It was more important to gather food for the soon-to-be hungry brood.

  While I busied myself with the herbs, Mama and Daddy Wren made trip after trip to the nest.  With each mouthful, the peeps grew stronger.  The birds were growing!  The next two weeks will find both parents tirelessly hunting.  Then, the little ones will fledge and learn to fly in the relative safety of the greenhouse.  After just one day, they will head outside to explore the world beyond the confines of these walls.  At night, however, the little wrens will come home to roost.  The greenhouse will be their home for the next few months as they learn the ropes of being an adult bird.  Meanwhile, Mama and Daddy Wren will start another nest and the whole process will start again.

Feeling Right At Home

  A lot can happen in just a few days.  Outside chores kept me from doing much in the greenhouse other than giving the plants a drink.  That changed this afternoon and I had about an hour to play in my favorite place. I repotted a few of the herbs, snipped back some of the old leaves and then settled in to watch a few of the critters that have made their homes among the plants.  Several large green anoles and one redheaded skink were having territorial spats on the philodendron while a green tree frog took a snooze on the watering can spout.  Then I heard the fluttering of the wren's wings.  Well, now!  I am sure glad that I waited to water the plants!

  The little wren had been on her nest in the hanging ivy basket the whole time I was working just inches away from her.  This is the same wren that has nested in the greenhouse for the past few years.  She has grown accustomed to my presence and does not even try to "escape".  We are friends.  She lets me check on the progress of her eggs and little ones and I try to help in small ways.  A saucer of fresh water was put on the shelf for her pleasure and the door will remain shut so she does not have to fret over predators.  We made sure to leave her a small opening near the roof so she can enter when she pleases. The greenhouse is the perfect place for her to raise her brood.  After she left, I checked her nest to find that she has been busy, indeed!  Five speckled eggs were in the nest.  Mama Wren will be in the greenhouse more often now so I have to remember not to startle her.  Watering the ivy will have to be scant.  There is no reason to soak the nest and Mama!

  It is times like this that I wish the grandlittles could be on the Bayou. There are so many things that could be learned first hand and so many memories that could be made.  That is not to happen, though, so I will have to document the process in photographs and share those with the kiddos.  All things happen for a reason, I suppose.  In the meantime, I am sure glad Mama Wren is back with me.

The Visitor

Before daybreak, I went out to pick the figs.  The birds would not beat me to the trees this morning!  Our two small trees are trying their best to show their appreciation for the quality care we have been giving them.  I picked almost a half of bucketful of the little jewels!  Not many by some standards but enough to make me smile!  After that chore was finished, I headed back inside to make a pot of coffee.  Just as I went through the door, something as quick as a shadow caught my eye! It was there and just as quick..gone!  Now, what was that?  I peered into the corner of the room.  Whatever it was..it was small!  This was strange indeed!  Ms. Ez had been in the room this whole time and never even made a whimper!  Some protective dog I have!   I kept staring where I last saw the movement...nothing.  Hmmm?  Perhaps this was just a figment of my imagination?

I made my coffee and called to Michael.  While we shared a cup, I mentioned what I had (or had not) seen.  It took a few moments before my constant prattle even made contact with his groggy brain.  I suppose that it is a futile effort to talk to some folks before that second cup of coffee!  Finally, he made his way into the living room to see for himself.  Aha!  I did see something!  There it was as plain as day!  I saw it again but at least this time, I had Michael as a witness!  There on top of the cabinet was a small bird!  A wren had somehow found itself trapped inside the house!  Not wanting to traumatize the poor, little bird anymore than necessary, we pondered how to extricate it calmly.  The plan was made for me to slip around to the right and open the screen door.  This I would have to prop open since it has a spring attachment that slams it shut.  While I did this, he would make his way around to the left of the bird causing it to veer towards the door.  All was going well, until I broke out in giggles! Michael was heading left alright only he had decided to do so by climbing across the back of the sofa! From there he stepped to the nearby cedar chest and then onto a wicker chair!  My giggles could not be contained!  These actions so reminded me of a game the kids concocted when they were younger.  The floor was the Bayou filled with alligators and they were explorers.  The object of the game was to climb from furniture piece to furniture piece to cross the room..err..Bayou without being eaten by the gators!  Michael was doing well at doing this!  The little wren hopped just out of his reach onto the window ledge.  It tried with all its might to find a way through the screen.  Next hop led the bird to my gourd stash and then to the top of Mom's antique sewing machine.  Michael finally made contact with the floor and amazingly was not eaten by hungry gators!  My giggle attack was starting to wane about this time as I realized that Ms. Ez had taken interest in the game.  She was crawling on her belly toward Michael.  Why she decided to do a belly crawl was beyond me but there she wallowed like some giant caterpillar!  Oh, geez!  The giggle attack struck again!  Poor little wren!  She was being held captive by a bunch of crazies! I lurched forward to grab Ez's collar while Michael eased toward the bird.  The bird, by this time, was mere inches from the open door.  Outside, another wren was calling frantically!  It had seen the little one in the window and knew something was afoul!  Only then did I realize that this was a baby bird that had just fledged!  No wonder the poor, little thing was lost!  At this point, Michael scooted the little one to the open doorway and away Little Wren flew to its mama!

What a story this little bird had to tell!  It had ventured into a scary place filled with alligators, climbing explorers, giggling, crazy ladies and fat caterpillar dogs!  All of these things were chasing the little bird but it was smart enough to find its way out!  It had entered the scary place but made it out alive!  Whew!  That is one brave little wren!