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.
The little ones arrived yesterday (June 18) at about one in the afternoon!
See his eye? This little guy is fewer than twenty-four hours old!
I came downstairs to get a bottled water, and I saw the female Carolina wren perched on top of the nest box, chirping furiously—calling her mate. When he didn’t come, she jumped Read the rest of this entry
We have another Carolina wren nest this year! It’s under one of our grill covers that we’d pulled off and left on a chair–these little guys build QUICKLY! Mommy wren and Fattypants are being pretty protective, as expected. They have commandeered the porch, pretty much.
Nest location.
Carolina wrens build their nests of moss and sticks.
I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL THESE TINY EGGS HATCH!!
Happy Father’s Day!
On May 21, I got pictures of a Carolina wren nest we found that had four eggs in it. Fourteen days later, on June 5, we checked in to see how things were going. There was a sleeping baby–at least two sleeping babies! The other two we couldn’t see, but there was a chance that they were snuggled up underneath the others. They didn’t have feathers yet, so they needed to huddle together to keep warm. Still, there was also the possibility that the other two eggs didn’t hatch, or that the hatchlings didn’t make it. Here’s a photo of the front most sleeper (I drew a thin red circle around his little developing beak).
Today, we have confirmation that at least three of the fledglings survived! I wish I’d gotten a picture, but Nathan didn’t have his camera. There were three fluffy, grumpy-looking baby wrens (that’s how you tell, other than the fact that they waggle their wings, make a lot of noise, and beg for food), and they were being fed by Mommy (Daddy–whom we call Fattypants–was singing elsewhere). We are very excited to welcome these little ones!
Also, Carolina wrens usually breed twice in a summer, so hopefully there will be another batch in a few weeks!
UPDATE: It’s confirmed–there are three little ones, but there was one egg left in the nest, which means it probably was inviable. I’m glad those that hatched are all alive and happy! Here’s the egg that was left:
…thrilled to announce we stumbled onto our Carolina wrens’ nest (they found a cozy spot inside the cover of one of our generator’s propane tanks)! Mommy wasn’t happy when we came by to get a photo, of course–so we had to be quick which means these aren’t the best pix, but we’re hoping to see fledglings soon!
