Carolina Wren Family

Carolina Wrens are some of my very favorite birds. For such a small creature, they have lots of attitude, fearing nothing and scolding loudly as they chase away any potential danger. Ounce for ounce, they are the loudest birds in the woods or your back yard. A rich mahogany brown with a creamy white eyebrow makes them easy to recognize. We have had a pair (or several over the years) in our backyard for many years. Once they built a nest in a bicycle helmet on the shelf in the garage. We had to leave the window open a bit so the parents could get in and out when the door was shut.

We hung a gourd from the porch light by our kitchen door, and each summer, some small bird builds a nest and raises a family there. Last year, the House Wrens got there first. I never understood how they got those big twigs through the small hole. When the weather turned warm, we put some chairs on the patio and planned to enjoy our time there. But a pair of Carolina Wrens decided otherwise, scolding and flitting about to show us their displeasure. So we moved to the swing in the yard, and they could get back to the business of raising a family.

We had no idea that she had eggs in the gourd. Incubation is by female only, lasting 12-16 days and the male may feed female during incubation. Both parents bring food for nestlings. It's hard to tell which is mom and which is dad, since both sexes look alike. The young leave nest about 12-14 days after hatching. There may be 2 broods per year.

Not only do they feed the young, but they keep the nest clean by removing the fecal sacs produced by the young. Disposable diapers for birds!

Yesterday, the adults were very upset that our cat was outside and continued to scold after I put him inside, since they saw him through the kitchen door. I thought one of the babies might have fledged, since this third wren started hanging around. It sat on the same chair as the mom, and followed her around the patio, but made absolutely no noise. Very well feathered and flighted for a fledgling, I thought to myself. Where did this guy come from?

At first, she would enter the gourd to feed, then she started just leaning into the gourd to feed them. Getting bigger - they will be ready to fledge soon. This morning, I noticed a little baby beak sticking  out through the hole.

They were quiet today - quieter than any time in the last few weeks. Then the racket began and the cat went to look out the kitchen door again. There are the chicks! Only 2 of them, and so small! Carolina Wrens have a tail they usually cock straight up, but the chicks have almost no tail at all yet!

Yep, I'm a big guy now he says. I don't have to use diapers any more.

They didn't walk too well, given they have never had to walk at all before. You could see the dismay on his face when he got to the hose. How am I going to get over this!

Oh no! This big block is even bigger than the hose! How will I ever get to the top? I didn't see him, but a mighty leap go him to the top.

Dad followed them until both were safely hidden under the plants.

It's a never ending job keeping up with children. While they were in the nest, we just had to catch the bugs for them. Now we have to keep up with them and teach them to find their own bugs. Whew, I'm tired already.