Our nest is tucked down inside the neck of an amphora-shaped pot holding a somewhat sad-looking oleander bush. We would have been unlikely to notice it if Kristen hadn’t unwittingly showered the little mother wren while watering the pots one day – an experience that was startling for both of them! On closer inspection, we found three mottled cream and rust eggs, one of which you can clearly see in the picture below.
While we can’t be exactly sure when these eggs were laid, we’re expecting them to hatch fairly soon, as Carolina Wrens generally incubate their eggs for about two weeks. Once hatched, the nestlings grow pretty quickly, getting ready to fledge (leave the nest) in as few as ten days in some cases. The parents will be kept busy during this time feeding them insects, possibly supplemented by some berries and seeds. We’ll keep an eye on the nest, and post hatchling pictures if the opportunity arises. We’re also recording the progress of nest at NestWatch.org, a citizen science website run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus): Carolina Wrens are found throughout the Eastern U.S. They like shrubby, vegetation-filled areas, full of the insects that make up the main part of their diet. Anyone with brush piles or shrubbery on their property is likely to attract these diminutive birds. The male’s loud teakettle call is very distinctive, and you often hear these birds long before you ever manage to spot them. You’re unlikely to mistake them for the common House Wren, which is smaller and more slender. Florida’s population of Carolina Wrens is larger than their northern counterparts, and more richly colored.
Beautiful capture of the Carolina Wren, Jill.
ReplyDeleteNicely done.