Peeping Wren

by Karla Joblin
(Tupelo MS USA)

If you look in the "hole" in the middle of this nest, you can see the momma Carolina Wren sitting on her eggs.

She and her mate built their nest in a hanging planter basket that was turned sideways on a shelf in our garage.

My husband adjusted the garage door so that it wouldn't close completely and shut them in or shut them out.

They carried in leaves, twigs, and bark over a period of several days, but then we didn't see them and thought maybe they had decided to nest elsewhere.

But soon we saw a tiny egg in the nest followed by another a day or so later. After she finished laying she began sitting on the eggs day and night.

I'm not sure where her mate is staying, but he keeps a close eye on her. Anytime we go into the garage he flies out from wherever he is and perches up high to watch us and make sure we don't bother her.

Thank goodness he doesn't "dive bomb" us like I have seen mockingbirds do. He just watches us until we go inside.

She began sitting on the eggs on June 12, 2010, so we should have baby birds around June 26.