They're Gone...

   Each summer, a Carolina Wren will make a nest in my greenhouse/swamp shack.  This year, she chose a galvanized tub filled with huge pine cones that I had saved for my sister-in-law.  How the tiny bird squirmed her way into the midst of those prickly cones, wallowed out a spot large enough for the nest then build that nest without me noticing is quite the feat.  But...she did.  Then, she laid 5 beautiful, splotchy colored eggs and began her "sit" time.  Several times, I came close to accidently upsetting her but she held her spot and after a couple of weeks, she hatched her brood.  Then came the chore of feeding those 5 hungry mouths!  She and the male bird were constantly flitting in and out of the greenhouse/swamp shack.  I was careful to avoid the area as much as possible.

  At one point, it was necessary for me to retrieve some gardening tools that were just a couple of feet away from the nest so I took the opportunity to check the babies!  Those little rascals were already getting too large for their comfy home and were pushing each other out to the edge.  I knew it was time for them to make their first flight within days.  I, also, knew that Mr. Bat, the Bayou Prince Cat, would be an indoor kitty for a few days.  I was determined to let those little cuties learn the art of flying and foraging without the interference of a cat.  

  Sure enough, the birds made their exit the very next day.  It was a drizzly sort of day so the cat did not complain (much) about being cooped up inside.  He got extra treats, the birds took their first flight and all is well.  The greenhouse/swamp shack now seems empty so it is a good time for me to clean it up a bit.  The birds still come to roost near their snug nest each evening so that area will stay the same for the time being.  Happy flying, Little Ones!  I am glad your mama chose the safest place for your upbringing!

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.

Who is calling?

  It is not unusual to find birds' nests on my hikes about the hillside.  It is also not unusual to find them in all of our outbuildings such as the shed and greenhouse.  Wrens seem to love nesting in areas near people and do not seem to mind if we check the nests now and again.  I love these little birds.  Their cheerfully jumbled calls fill the air from daylight to dusk as they busily work the gardens hunting bugs.  This year, there is an abundance of bugs which makes gardening a bigger chore but makes the birds' lives much easier.  In a matter of minutes, the busy, little wrens can find dozens of caterpillars or grasshoppers to feed the hungry mouths of their broods.  Mama Wren, who chose the greenhouse as her abode, has not started the task yet as she is still setting on her five eggs. Papa Wren, on the other hand, does bring her an occasional treat.  He is a good husband!

Papa Wren singing in a brush pile.

  This afternoon, my sister-in-law made a visit to the Bayou.  While she was here, we toted mugs of coffee out to the greenhouse.  This is one of her favorite places (as it is mine) to sit and relax.  While there, I showed her Mama Wren's nest and told her to listen to Papa Wren's song coming from behind the greenhouse.  He was guarding his ladylove and was letting any intruders know that he was on duty.  It was not long before she could recognize the song of the wren.  She then made the comment that another wren was singing on the south side of the greenhouse. I listened but had to giggle as it was not a wren. Yep, the song was almost perfect.  Each note was in perfect sequence but after three trills, it stopped and continued in what almost sounded like a whip-poor-will's call.  It was not a wren at all but our resident mockingbird mimicking the call of the wren.  How confusing must this be for the wrens???  

Papa Mockingbird who mimicks the call of the wren.

  The wrens nesting in the greenhouse are Carolina Wrens.  These birds pair for life and stay together year round.  The songs are different between male and female but when they sing together it sounds like one bird singing.  This is something the mockingbird has yet to copy and hopefully will never.  While I love hearing the mockingbird with his never-ending song, it is also nice to be able to hear and distinguish the song of the wrens. 

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.

Home is Where the Heart Is!

Home is where the heart is.  I have heard this saying all of my life!  My granddaddy used to tell me that back in the day.  When I was small, it confused me a bit.  I could never understand just what he was trying to tell me.  Then, when I was a bit older, I  understood the whole concept about love and family making up the home rather than just  boards and nails.  Anyway, today when I was out hiking about the hillside, I noticed a small bird nest.  While most birds make their nests in bushes or trees, a house wren will make their nest in a place that is far more convenient!  They have a preference of having a roof over their head!  If a nesting box is handy, it will be occupied!  If no nesting box is handy, any container will suffice!

The bird nest that I discovered today was in a place that might have been convenient for nest-building but was not too overly convenient for my brother.  The house wren had made its nest in his ice chest! This cooler was the one that he takes fishing.  His live bait swims around in the old ice chest and is alive and ready for a fish.  Well..not now!  The wren built a lovely nest in the cooler!  In that nest were two eggs!  Mama Wren was not happy with my presence during her egg-setting so I could not get a good photograph!  I did not want her to abandon her already lain eggs so I backed off to let her have her space!  In  a couple of weeks, I will check again and perhaps get to see the babies!

It amazes me that these small birds have little or no fear of humans.  I can recall that a wren always made a nest in Granddaddy's shed right above his workbench!  That little bird would be within six inches of his hands while he worked on one project or another!  Also, back when the kids were young, a wren made a nest in our laundry room!  I had hung a plastic Halloween Jack-O-Lantern on a hook above the washer.  This held my clothespins that would be used daily..or at least daily until the nest was built!  After the little ones were hatched, the kids would take the plastic pumpkin down from the hook and set it on the kitchen floor.  There they could play with the baby birds!  Mama Wren would continue to fly in and out while feeding her babies!  So I suppose that home really is where the heart is!  Mama Wren can make a nest in anything!  As long as her babies are with her, she is happy and at home!   As for the nest in the cooler, I suppose Mama Wren is happy.  (Not so sure that I can say the same for my brother!)