 Topsy-Turvy |
 July 8, 2005 |
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 July 9, 2005 |
 July 10, 2005 |
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 July 16, 2005 |
 July 16, 2005 |
Our Mother Wren
The story of our mother wren actually begins in 2001, soon after Judy's arrival
at our home. It was cool enough for sleeping with our windows open, and one
morning we were all awakened with this incessant chirping soon after dawn. It
took us awhile to locate where the chirping was actually coming from, but
finally found a little bird in a tree at the south end of our house.
Unfortunately, it was just far enough away that we could not see it distinctly
enough to identify without binoculars. Furthermore, when we did attempt
binoculars, the little chirper would stay on the back side of the tree or move
to another location as we attempted to identify it. After quite some time and
searching through the bird books, identifying it as well as we could despite its
limited visibility, we finally got a good look at it, only to realize we had
spent the entire time chasing after none other than a little Carolina wren!
In previous summers, the wren has usually made a nest over
the front door, or at least near the front door, which is on the east side of
the house.
This summer Judy's sister, Jill, gave her a very unique
planter called a Topsy-Turvy. With enthusiasm Judy purchased a tomato
plant, some potting soil and got the planter all assembled. When it was all set
to go, we hung it proudly out on the front porch -- east side of the house.
A few weeks later Judy decided to check and see if she needed
to add any soil to her Topsy-Turvy. Removing the top and peering in, Judy
was surprised to be met with a pile of sticks and straw. Upon closer
investigation she discovered four little eggs, and before long we had four
little, tiny birds. Come back and visit the site as we take pictures in the
upcoming weeks to show them growing up.
A little side note to our fledglings, we have a pair of black
snakes that sun themselves at the south end of our house. (Click
here to see their picture!) Judy has even walked up to them and petted them!
One day Wanangwa came in frantically wanting Judy to come take care of one of
the snakes. It had crawled up one of the posts on our front porch and was up on
the horizontal supports of the roof. We immediately thought of the threat the
snake was to "our" baby birds! Judy picked up a stick and began
attacking the snake to get it completely down and off the porch! With much
effort, battling the snake with the stick and changing its mind as to where it really
wanted to go, she managed to get the snake to the ground and then chased him
until he slithered under the house, with extra encouragement to keep moving by
continuing to work on the last of the tail until it completely disappeared. We
have not seen him back out on the front side of the house since that traumatic
ordeal, and we hope it was terrifying enough for him that he will stay away
until the babies are on their own wings and far above him! He has been spotted
once on the south side of the house since that experience, but Judy did not even
bother to try to pet him again. He is now classified as "public enemy
#1"!
Topsy-Turvy |
July 8, 2005 |
|
July 9, 2005 |
July 10, 2005 |
|
July 16, 2005 |
July 16, 2005 |