I’m devastated to announce that the baby Carolina wren has died. It’s okay. It’s been over 11 days and he long should’ve fledged by now, though, and he really wasn’t eating, I don’t think, so I don’t think he stood much of a chance and he would’ve struggled in his little birdy life. His parents were very attentive and did all that they could–they were in the nest feeding him (or trying to) ALL THE TIME. In all honesty, he didn’t look right to me when he hatched. I had a good cry and am smoking a real cigarette, and then Nathan will take care of him when he gets home. I feel wren’s little spirit is happy and free, because yes, I can feel him around me. This is nature, and sometimes things just happen that way. We have had other successful nests closeby like this, so I’m sure it’s nothing we did. I hope you are happier and feeling better now, little guy.

UPDATE: (7:30 pm EDT): Nathan came home to bury him and the nest was infested with bird mites. Bird mite infestations cause anemia in baby birds. So that is why he died. Right now, Nathan is spraying the yard so the mites do not spread to our population.