Katydid delivery (it's not Digiorno)Anyhow when we got up there was a great uproar from the sitting porch. A baby wren would stick its head out of the box and clatter frantically.
Ready to launchAn adult would show up, insect in beak, but rather than insert its booty in the door, it would call from a flower pot across the way until the baby popped out and fluttered into the air. They were remarkably accomplished at flying right from the get go....
Mama calling the kids to come out for a picnicThis continued until we had seen seven. (There could have been more before and I thought there was still chirping coming from the box as we were leaving.) On one hand I will miss them. They are endlessly entertaining with their constant coming and going. And the way they take on the world with no fear at all. On the other hand it is going to be nice to sit on the porch without feeling guilty about disturbing them. It astonishes me that in a couple of weeks the parents managed to raise this mighty brood from eggs the size of kidney beans. On bugs! No wonder they had a fit whenever I went out on the porch. They didn't have time to pause in their insect delivery.
Baby staging location (before they left for parts unknown.There was one in another pot by the door....Alan didn't see it and when he went out to see where it went it nearly flew in his ear.)
And lest I feel bereft of wrenliness, the male is singing from the other porch now...they have nested there for several years, so I suspect there is another brood in the planning stages.
Male singing from the camel bellsFor more Sunday Stills....
And just in case you are sick of wrens...Here's Lucy!****Update, they spent the night on the other front porch and are out there now making quite a racket. The big wrens should get parent of the year awards or something.
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26 comments:
How fortunate you are to have seen the launching of the latest wren generation! How exciting! Isn't it amazing that they just pop out and fly? ...even if it's just a few feet at first. What confidence!
Parts of your story made me laugh out loud: "...like a clown car in there"; "...almost flew in his ear."
Great, I loved the one with its head stuck out of the box.
Thanks for sharing your front row seat view of the wren family's activities. Great photo captures! I, too, chuckled over, "like a clown car in there"....great description.
I've never seen wren eggs; I knew they must be small, but didn't know they are kidney-bean sized.
Have a pleasant Sunday.
Those we had in the bird house at the Aerie fledged earlier this week. I'm not sure how many we had but there were three little ones under the deck on Thursday evening making a chatter that drew my attention. I watched them flutter thier way off into the tall golden rod on the side of the yard.
It was much, much quieter on Friday.
Love the story, and the thought of a second batch!
The silhouette of the wren on the camel bells is exceptional. What kind of camera do you use?
Thanks for the story, it's always special watching that first flight (and hoping there's no cats around!) Very good shot of the male.
This doesn't go with the Sunday Stills challenge, but here is a link and blog that Liz may enjoy.
http://oldesowfarm.blogspot.com/2009/06/cattle-and-women.html
And kinda in your neck of the woods too!
I have wren envy! :)
Well, it will be a lot quieter, if lonelier now!
Watching birds learn to fly is a great spectator sport. But I love that sillouette of the singing wren.
I so miss my wrens. The shrikes ran them off this year. Great shots considering you took them through a screen. "I love Lucy"
Great photo selection and story. I am also missing our Wrens and Phoebes. Truly empty nest syndrome! Lucy looks nice, too!
The singing on the bell is a great shot. The turkey is a nice touch.
Love the wren posts. We are on an egg watch as well. Should be any day now.
Great story about the Wrens! I really enjoyed it, what fun for you! We had Blue Birds that raised two sets so far, but we missed the fledging..must have happened very early in the morning:)
I love to watch the birds too!
Aww! Great pics!
That's a lot of babies to feed! Poor momma must be worn out by the time they're ready to feed themselves.
Great pictures!
The circle of life. What an enjoyment that is free! :) Great pics...
You are amazing with the camera! Beautiful photos.
Love Lucy, and the clown car comment cracked me up!!!
June, it was pure delight to get to see them! The clown car thing is an Alan quote...it just seemed sot fitting...
Lisa, they are so cool. I got one of one of them from about a foot away but it turned out blurry..
Jeanelle, I didn't see the eggs either, but we looked them up in the bird book. the clown car thing was Alan and it struck me funny too. He was tall enough to peek in..me not so much. lol
Joated, the young 'uns make an awful racket, don't they. Seven of them set up quite a din. They seem to have spread out now and the male is back to singing day and night...which is quite nice.
Nita, thanks, we are eager for them...especially if they nest in the pillar on the central front porch instead of the sitting porch. Although I miss the activity, it would be nice to actually sit on that porch on occasion. lol
Theoldgreyegg, thanks it is a Canon Powershot s3. It was given to me by an incredibly kind person and I really love it.
Shirley, thank you. We do have a couple of cats, but the mockingbirds keep them pretty well cowed.
Nita, great blog, thanks for sharing the link!
Dani, wish we could share. We have dozens around the buildings and lanes this year. I suppose it is probably because this pair has been so successful over the past few years, but they have become delightfully common.
Violet Sky, thanks, I was lucky enough to have him come sing when I was sitting about four feet away from him. It was a gloomy day, like many this summer, and that is what I got.
Linda, I was so interested to read that the shrikes did that. We think we saw a juvenile northern shrike down where the mockingbirds nest, early this spring. I took a photo, but it was just too distant to be clear. Now I really hope that it wasn't one and I would hate to have anything chase away the yard birds.
Flowerweaver, thanks...sorry about your birds. Hopefully they will return for another go around this summer. I am dreading winter more than ever this summer after having such an incredible run of birds to enjoy.
RG, thanks. Old Lucy came over to the house and posed just outside the dining room window. I just couldn't resist.
dibear, thanks, you are really in for a treat!
Far Side, blue birds! Wow! We have only seen a couple this year and not close up. sorry you missed the fledging. I am so delighted to have finally gotten to see something come out of that little box. We had chickadees, tame ones, a couple of years ago. I spent hours watching them...but they fledged when I was out picking strawberries. I felt so bereft.
Tipper, they add so much to summer. There are few other things going very well, but we have a great array of feathered visitors and I am so grateful for them'
'
Patches, thanks!
SC Momma, thanks. When I saw those seven babies pop out of that little box I felt guilty for every time I went out on that porch and disturbed the feeding rhythm. I keep all my houseplants on that porch in summer and I have a number of herb and lettuce seedlings out there to keep them out of reach of the slugs. I simply had to go out there, but...
Sara, thanks. As you know, with milk and fuel and fertilizer prices where they are right now, free is the only kind we can have. I am so grateful for them
Teri C, thanks so much. Most of the credit goes to the camera, which is an amazing critter, but thanks
WW, thanks it did me too. Pure Alan...lol
HA!!
A screen door? They look very artsy. I thought you'd managed to get a filter strapped to that camera or something.
Clown car? Bahahaha...
Steve, I haven't even begun to touch the scope of that wonderful camera, even though I mostly just point and click. There is so very much to point and click at these days. I never go anywhere without it and feel bereft if for some reason I have to leave it home. Thanks for your kind words...hope all is well with you...
Great shots, how cool is it to get to witness the babies first flight. I got to see our baby bluebirds a couple of years ago, it was fantastic..:-)
Thanks, Ed, we were delighted by them. Blue birds must have been really terrific!
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