Wren nest in shamrock plant

by Karen Dugan
(New Cumberland Pa)

A pair of Carolina Wrens have built their nest in my shamrock plant on the front porch. Last year, I found an incomplete nest there...and removed it.

Last week the grandkids were over to watch fireworks and bumped the planter on the porch and a "bird" flew out.

We quickly got a flashlight and peeked inside to find four pale pink eggs, and one cream with speckles. (Cowbird egg).
I can't describe our excitement!!

We now have a nature cam poised to watch their blessed event.

Mommy Wren is busy incubating...and daddy coming and going to feed her.

I checked on the net about the cowbird egg, and suspected it would diminish the potential of the Wren babies, and followed a suggestion to nuke the eggs so it wouldn't become an embryo, and replaced it.

Every time mommy takes a break we run out to adjust the cam and leave her a few meal worms on her little front porch.

It's been an exciting few days setting up to watch what happens next.

I have been a bird lover for years with may birds and feeders through-out our wooded property..even have a pair of red tailed hawks and great horned owls...but have never been privy to a birthing.

I suspect our wrens have been in residence here for a while, as I see them in the winter...but
even those sightings are rare.

Thank you for your website and the opportunity to share our excitement with you....more pictures to come!!

Birds and Blooms	Pioneer Woman	People Magazine	First For Women