Out on the patio at the home of our friend Kris a couple of weeks ago, fellow Master Naturalists and I enjoyed watching busy Bewick’s Wren parents caring for their young. The experience was too delightful not to share.
Mama and Papa Bewick’s Wrens, cavity nesters, chose to build their nest in a birdhouse by Kris’ patio this spring. Of course, last year they nested in the pocket of khaki shorts that had been hung out on a laundry line to dry. I guess they decided stability from the wind might be a better bet this time.
Mama and Papa took turns bringing food to their babies. Wrens bring caterpillars and other insects to their young, though sometimes small lizards or frogs might be on the menu. As adults, they will also occasionally consume plant foods, such as seeds, but they really are primarily insectivores.
Inside the birdhouse, the little babies vocalized their hunger to their parents. Between parental visits, I did try to take a quick peek inside the nest box, but it was too dark for me to see the babies very well. We believe there were four in there, however.
The attentive wren parents also kept a tidy house. Above, one parent can be seen removing a fecal sac. Many baby birds release their poop in a strong mucous membrane, or fecal sac, allowing parent birds to easily pick the membrane up in their bill and remove it from the nest.
The wren parents always kept a careful eye on the nearby humans, but when they saw we were not a threat, they visited the nest box with regularity.
That is, until one woman lingered too long near the nest box, and the returning parent bird in frustration swallowed the insect it was carrying and proceeded to chee-chee-chee-chee angrily at the woman until she left the nest area.
Here at home, our wrens change their nest location every year. They briefly considered the shed again, but it seems their final choice was elsewhere. But they still collect food from the garden smorgasbord, so they are around somewhere!
Wrens are probably my favorite birds in the garden, so inquisitive, unafraid, boisterous. Investigating all of the plants from every angle, especially below. Love them!
Exactly, Alan! Their songs are beautiful, too — I could listen all day!
Enjoyed this post a great deal! We had a pair of Carolina wrens nest in a clay nesting pot hung on our breezeway about 2 years ago. It was so much fun to watch them busily caring for their little ones! We were lucky enough to see the youngsters shortly after they fledged, too.
That’s so sweet, Cynthia! I’m thinking about creating all sorts of “potential” nesting spots for the wrens (ones that might allow me to get more pictures, of course). It would be fun to see if they picked any of the spots.
Wrens are such characters. I love having them in the garden even if they scold me to from time to time.
It’s worth it, Ally — I’ll take their scolding just to get to see them.
We have had two nests in succession on our back porch. Unfortunately we did not know about the second nest until one of the parents was killed by our ceiling fan. I was so devastated I cried for two days after finding a little nest of 4 hatchlings. I went to the local Wildbird Unlimited store and bought worms. I hung a worm holder a foot from the nest to help the single parent as feeding the brood alone must be daunting. I think our babies are about 10 days so it shouldn’t be long before they leave. It was a comfort to learn that the surviving parent may find another mate. In the future we will be very careful about using our ceiling fan. What a joy these little creatures are.
When the last group of fledglings left the nest one got caught somehow between the screen and the door. I went to rescue it and when I did one of the parents boldly came close to me and fussed at me for getting near the baby. I was in awe of the intrepid sprit of this little wondrous bird.
I hope my tragic story helps someone else be aware of the unexpected hazards that may befall the littlest treasures of wildlife.
Elle, thanks for sharing your story. I’d never really thought about nests near or on porches, so it’s good to spread the word about the dangers of ceiling fans. I’m so glad you are helping the surviving parent have easy access to food for its young. Perhaps the little ones will stay in the vicinity and make nests of their own.
We just had a crazy Wren experience. We have been paying attention to the wrens and the birdhouse. The 2 parents were going nuts outside of the house but wouldn’t go in. I looked inside the birdhouse and there was a snake inside of it. My girlfriend poked the snake a few times with a sharp stick and the snake darted out. A few minutes later after terrifyingly chasing the snake away one of the baby’s popped his head out. Took about an hour but a total of 2 babies came out. Once both came out they and the parents flew away. Crazy Wren day.
It’s so hard to watch nature sometime. The snake was doing what was natural — finding food — but it’s hard to not want to save the baby birds we watch grow up. Glad to hear some or all of the babies made it!