For the past few evenings I have enjoyed watching the wren parents bring back all varieties of insects from small beetles, to crickets and caterpillars. The male was capable of singing with his mouth full, which amazed me, especially when he began doing it regularly. He liked to perch on the shepards hook and sing, as if announcing to the world that he was a star multi-tasker, and a good provider for his family. The best was when he had a worm or caterpillar dangling from his beak and went about his cheerful announcements. Sadly, as much as he liked to brag, he did not feel the same about getting his picture taken, so even when I tried with my 300mm, I still could not get a shot of him on the post. Shy one that he is.
The last few nights have been chilly and I have checked each night, finding mama wren nestled down in the tunnel of pine needles, keeping the little ones cozy. Seeing her there makes my heart smile, as does hearing the male belt out his melodious tune.
Today when I got home from work, I ran to the back door as I do every day, to check what’s been going on in my absence. I noticed immediately that two of the wren babies were on the deck, out of the nest. The parents were calling excitedly from somewhere in the woods behind my apartment and I quickly ran to get my camera and long lens. On my stomach, in full stalk mode, I inched back to the door, slid it open slowly and then resting the camera on a make-shift bean-bag rest, I watched as the two babies tried to figure out what to do. One gave in soon to the calls of the parents, disappearing over the edge. I could not go look for fear of scaring the other baby.
The last remaining baby seemed torn between following his sister or taking a nap. He could not decide, but it was obvious the napping urge was stronger. As I lay on my stomach, baking in the sun and looking through the camera lens, he stood in the shade of the deck chair, then slowly his head dipped down and his eyes closed and he fell asleep! Right there in front of me, with both parents still calling loudly from somewhere in the distance.
A little while later he got some energy and perked up, looking around at first, as if wondering, “where has everyone gone?” Then, without much in the way of fanfare, he hopped to the edge of the deck, and took a leap of faith! I sprang up and ran to the side of the deck, hoping to see him, but already he had disappeared into the brush at the edge of the woods. The parents called loudly so I have to assume he made it safely. What a scary thing that must be, to leap from the deck, having never flown anywhere before and not evening getting any chance to practice first!
What a great sneak peak I had into the lives of a Carolina Wren family! How lucky I feel that they chose my bike bag for a place to nest. I hope the male still comes to sing to me now and then and maybe I will even get to see the babies around from time to time.
Nature gives us such wonderful gifts, daily if we pay attention and notice them. I hope all who are reading find a little spot of beauty and joy in the natural world today.
“The rare moment is not when there is something worth looking at, but the moment when we are capable of seeing.” –?
Have you ever gotten the chance to witness a baby bird fledge or leave the nest? I’d love to hear about it! Use the comment box below to drop me a note.
If you want to read another post about what we can learn from Wrens, click HERE.