Spring Is In The Air!

Spring is in the air, the flowers are blooming and the birds are singing. Not only are the birds singing, they are looking for the perfect place to set up house keeping.

Every year we have a wren couple that nest in one of two bird houses that hang off the outside of our screened porch. My husband and I have a great deal of pleasure and joy as we anticipate the arrival of the new babies. One very hot and humid summer I took the time to document the babies learning to fly.

I called this guy the “bald headed geek”. I don’t know why. I just love the little tuft of down that stuck up from his head. He was the bold one. Always being fed first and always sticking his head out first waiting for mom or dad to arrive with a wonderful meal or snack.

One day he decided to spread his wings. This was the first time that I actually saw any of the babies wings. He came out but then said, “I’m not going out there! Let me back in! Really! I mean it. No way am I going out there!”

The next thing I knew he was back in the bird house to take a nap with his brother and sister.

Nap time was over and he was back at the door to the house trying to see mom and dad. Where is that meal? He kept his wings inside this time but was really sticking out of the door when his brother came from underneath wanting to see where dinner was.

Much to the little guy’s surprise his brother pushed really hard to see what was going on and he popped right out. He tried to get back in with such desperation, but the other brother filled and blocked the door. He hung on as long as he could but hopped out on the “mailbox” that was hanging right in front of the doorway.

“Hey! What are you doing? Let me back in! I don’t like it out here. It is so bright and big! Let me back in!!”

“No way!” shouted the brother that was at the door. “What are you doing? How did you get out there? What’s it like? Where is mom and dad?”

The Bald Headed Geek could not get back in. The look on his face was so pitiful. But not for long.

The Bald Headed Geek fluttered in a panic, down to the bottom ledge of the birdhouse while his brother and sister looked on.

The mother and father wren were busy catching dinner for their very active babies.

It was fascinating to observe all 3 babies at this state of life. The Bald Headed Geek eventually jumped or slipped off the ledge and fluttered down to my feet. I could not breathe! He took a moment to gather himself together and then flew very low to the ground landing in some flowers, which gave him welcoming shelter. He called out to his parents so they would know exactly where he was. At that very moment the papa became very attentive and active with his new little fledgling.

Mommy wren continued to bring food to the two babies left in the house while the father called to them. With each call or song from their father, the babies would get very excited, look out the door and chirp loudly. The Balk Headed Geek began to get some strength and tried out his new wings fluttering up to the top of a fence.

Eventually the brother came right out of the house and flew a short distance. Their sister was panicked as she was all alone in their very “Cozy Inn”. Mom & Dad were now having to juggle keeping up with the first baby that was now off in the woods, the middle brother that was between the woods and the bird house and the sister that was not about to leave the safety of the nest. Whew!

Finally the baby girl came out and the family began to move away from their Cozy Inn. I could hear the daddy wren off in the woods singing his beautiful song. Eventually it faded as the little wren family ventured off in the world. I felt like a real empty nester!

Now I hear the male singing his love song again, trying to attract a female to set up house in the Cozy Inn again. And so it goes….

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