At a time of anxiety and issues so complicated that we don’t know if we’re part of the problem or the solution, I’d like to share something calming; the happy Carolina Wren nest in my garden.
Around 8 am every morning, the Carolina Wren chicks outside my patio start waking up. The parents usually chirp signals to the little ones that breakfast service will begin. The chicks then position themselves for the incoming beetles, spiders, caterpillars, crickets, and moths that make up the steady food delivery service from the organic garden outside their nest. Breakfast lasts from about 8:15 until 10 am. Snacks of randomly caught insects can occur all day. Then of course there's the hearty dinner, which begins at around 5 and goes till 8 or so. With the exception of the choice of foods, I'm surprised to report that it's quite similar to our human routine.
I know this because it's the second year in a row that we’ve hosted the Wren family. In fact, it may be the same couple. I’m out in the garden in the early hours of the day, which is why I now tiptoe when they're sleeping and use other doors so as not to interrupt their feeding schedule. Though I’m not a bird, I’ve been a mother. So, I understand what it means to have babies around the house.
Carolina Wrens are a monogamous bird (90% are). The male and female mate and raise a family together. I’ve watched the two in our garden build their nest about a month ago under the roof of our house. They toiled away for about a week bringing grass clippings, leaves, and other soft substrates to prepare for their chicks. Incubation time took around fourteen days. All the chicks were born successfully, from what I can tell. When the parents are away, I peer into the nest to see how the little ones are doing. At times, I’ll hear one of the parents chirping intensely from a distance – which I believe is their way of saying “step away, please.” When our dogs are out in the garden, the birds approach cautiously. The nest is a mere 6 feet off the ground and literally four feet from our back patio door. But the proximity seems to be fine with the birds. They're happy with their situation in life (they chose the right garden, after all).
It’s a huge responsibility and a lot of work to raise little ones. Both birds hover around the nest 24/7. They're on guard to distract predators in order to keep the chicks safe. Both parents have also been delivering food at an exhausting pace. As the little ones grow larger and more alert, they move closer to the edge of the nest in anticipation of their next meal. You can see the frantic parents trying to please their demanding chicks as they keep pushing more and more food into the nest. Hunting and gathering becomes a relentless activity.
Our chicks will nest around 16 days or so. Then, they’ll leave the nest to make their own way in life. Fourteen million of these Carolina Wrens live in North and Central America. Thanks to their richly musical songs, the gardens they choose to settle and sing in are lovely places (as I can attest).
When times are tough, it helps to focus on the little things. If they have wings and songs, even better.
Above photo courtesy of
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