This morning, I pulled the bark off of a log and found 5 larvae or grubs. Immediately, I gathered up the grubs and placed them below our Carolina Wren's winter home, a clay birdhouse on our front porch that the wrens have used for many years. I remembered that I had taken some video of her and her chicks last summer. Of course, it might not be the same one but I like to think it is.
The video captures just a little of the bedlam of the chicks leaving the nest. First, both the mother and father call to the chicks for a couple of days. Once out of the nest, the chicks and parents make a big rackett, jumping all around, some looking like they are practicing flying. The chicks are hesitant to make the leap from the porch (about 10 feet off the ground) but the mother or father entices the fledgings with a juicy bug. One by one, they fly off until the last one who must have been the most scared.
After the last chick makes his leap flying into the woods below, there is complete silence. I feel the "empty nest" syndrome, missing the chirps of the baby birds.
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Great video! Is that a digital recorder?
ReplyDeleteYour story reminds me of the one in Aldo Leopold's "A Sand County Almanac" where the chickadees come to feed in a piece of bark with grubs or eggs he offered while out chopping firewood.
Mojoman--it's a digital camcorder using miniDV tapes.
ReplyDeleteFunny--I was thinking about rereading Sand County Almanac recently. I think the last I read it was in the early 70s. I don't remember about the grubs or that much about the book.
I fed her grubs last summer from the garden when she was feeding her birds.
Amazing little Carolina Wren video! They are great little finders! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMon@rch--thanks for the note. I love the Carolina Wrens. They make nests in all sorts of places each year (flower pots, on our gas grill cover once, sun shed, etc.). They are fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteNeat video! You're a great Carolina Wren guardian angel to find grubs for them, how cute!
ReplyDeleteChris--thanks for the note. Wrens are such nice birds to have around that I don't mind giving them grubs once in a while.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lucky wren to have a gatherer friend as you!
ReplyDeleteNina--I haven't found any more grubs in the logs so I guess the wren will have to be happy with suet and sunflower seeds.
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed this video. Carolina Wrens - I cater to them. They love to live close to us, don't they? The chicks with their tiny upturned tails are adorable.
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