A Carolina Wren's Strong Grip

Carolina Wrens have large strong, gripping feet.

These birds are so much fun to watch, especially their bouncing stance.  I feel fortunate to have a pair of wrens that frequent my garden and my patio area, flying in low to the ground to explore the garden, the logs around it, the edges of the house and any pots or plants tucked in the corners.

I've heard bird bander's comment on the strong grip of their feet, but not until I witnessed this wren bathing recently did I completely appreciate the strength of that grip!

Raccoons visit my yard at night and frequently turn over the bird bath.  I sometimes hear the "kerplunk" if I'm sitting in the living room reading.  I try to discourage them by putting a pan of water on the ground at the edge of the patio.  It worked last night. They triggered the movement sensor of the porch light, though, and I looked out to see two of the cutest fellows climbing the posts to the deck and peering over the cross beam, clearly in search of seeds or suet. They found none!

The last time I heard the bird bath fall over, the chimes also started ringing.  I looked out that time to see a raccoon hanging upside down from the cross beam checking out the chimes for food!  I have to admit they make me smile.

When I filled the bird bath the next morning, I filled it too full, even though there are some rocks in it, placed there for smaller birds.  The water was too deep for this determined little wren, but that didn't stop him from taking his bath just the same.   

As you scroll through the images below, notice that he never lets go of the rim of the bird bath!

He grips the edge, lowers his sides into the water and flicks his wings and tail to splash water over his back.

Needless to say, after watching his efforts, in the future, when the bird bath is actually level (which is rare), I won't be filling it so full!  

Below, Carolina wren sketches from my book,  Red-Shouldered Hawk Territory, A sketchbook journey through a nesting season.

Links and resources:

More Carolina Wren posts in this blog

Cornell on the Carolina Wren

Red-shouldered Hawk Territory, A sketchbook journey through a nesting season

Eastern bluebird juveniles bathing

A Cup, A Bird, A Ritual is Born

I didn't realize until yesterday, I've developed a pattern, a kind of ritual that separates the office work week from the days I pursue art and writing. And birds are an integral part of that ritual. In fact, they created it. (click images to enlarge)

It begins with picking up my favorite coffee-filled mug and setting out the bird feeders--a single plate of suet and sunflower seeds, and two hanging feeders. These are positioned on the edge of the patio just outside my door, easy to see, easy to hear birds approaching, easy to pick up my camera and step out the door...even in the brrrrrr cold we're having now.

Yesterday was one of those days. I got lost in it. One minute I was working on something, writing, sketching, making notes...the next, I hear a sound that pulls me out the door, camera in hand. I didn't come back in until I had lost the feeling in my fingers and toes. All I can say is, “the birds did it.”Their behavior and attitudes, their personalities, totally fascinate me. The bobbing of the wren's movements, the rowdy boldness of the titmouse, the king-presence of the mockingbird, the timid, invisible foraging of the sparrows, all so specific to each bird’s lifestyle and habits. Add to that, the delight of having them come so close to me, and I'm captive.

Yes, I'll be getting a bit anthropomorphic here. But it doesn't matter what we call it, it happens. We feed them, they become familiar with us, they come closer. And when this happens, I feel like I've just stepped into a Walt Disney movie.

Deeply focused on photographing a bird, I seldom move anything but the camera shutter, which is true for most photographers. And maybe that’s the key. Birds fly all around me, so close, I feel the wind of their flight against my cheek. Others hop toward me, when I expect the reverse, like this beautiful Chipping Sparrow who presented me with a breath-stopping moment. I knew I was not looking at a familiar sparrow and here he was, hopping right up to the camera, giving me all those cute inquisitive expressions. Were it not for the rowdy titmice, I think he/she would have hopped right up on the suet plate.

I've long practiced being still, from watching a honey bee crawl on my arm as a child to long hours listening to heart-felt stories in my office. Stillness and observation come naturally for me. And maybe that is all that’s required--enduring, predictable, non-intrusive behavior, coupled with the primary attraction of food and water. Aside from a giggle or two and my compulsion to talk to them occasionally, I'm sure the birds think the clicking of my camera shutter is my native language.

Can you interact so closely with birds and not adore them, want to protect them, feel curious about every aspect of their lives and their survival? I can’t. And for those who don’t have time or the inclination, I am happy to show you what they show me—curious faces, distinct personalities, perfectly adapted beaks and feet, an intricate beauty unsurpassed.

And how does my favorite coffee mug fit into all of this? Special memories are grounded in this mug--bird memories. Of Beeman’s Coffee Bar in Port Aransas, Texas, of beautiful endangered Whooping cranes wintering in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, of a laughing gull that wanted a bite of my cinnamon roll!

Put all together, this makes for a compelling ritual that I am likely to keep. Any favorite birding rituals in your life?

Bird images, top to bottom: 1) Carolina wren, 2) Blue Jay (enlarge image and check out the tuft of feathers covering his/her nare), 3) Tufted Titmouse, 4) Carolina wren, 5 & 6) Chipping Sparrow (new sparrow and yard bird for me), 7 & 8) Northern Mockingbird, 9) White-breasted Nuthatch.

Linked to Bird Photography Weekly #68 at Birdfreak.com to promote the conservation of our world's birds.

Don't Miss Those Beautiful Faces

Today it happens to be the Carolina Wren family I'm speaking of, though I've said that about other birds recently, too. Birds do have such compelling faces. Sometimes they catch my attention because I happen to be at the banding station, seeing the beautiful details for the first time. But mostly, its my camera that brings them close enough for me to notice, to see their faces like I've never seen them before.
And today I had some help from another Carolina wren, just a few yards away, singing on the same side of the house, making me wonder if it was one of this year's juveniles. When the male in the image finished singing in response, he flew up over my head to the deck. But before I show you the next wren, I want you to notice his bill, its length and curve. Right after the image of him below, you see the image of the wren that was foraging beneath him in the holly. Look at her petite little bill, a wholly different look!But now, lets zoom out so you can get the whole look. Check out that position, especially her left side!
I got such a chuckle out of these images. Even wondered if this is a juvenile but couldn't find any tell-tale yellow around the mouth corners.

A poster bird for sure!Linked to Bird Photography Weekly #60 at Birdfreak.com, to promote the conservation of our world's birds.

Personality Plus--Wren Style

Can you tell who this is?I laughed when I saw this photo. Is this attitude or what? A puff-ball with a scowl! This was one of a pair of Carolina wrens that I spotted hanging out in trees near the feeder at the corner of the house a few days ago.
Cornell says this species mates for life and the pair stays on territory together year around in the southeast. "Loud" was another description offered, which is short but accurate for the "teakettle-teakettle" song the male belts out. And if I were going to add another it would be "persistent". One captive bird was reported to have sung 3000 songs in one day. And did I mention sweet? Isn't the image below one of the sweetest?!