Wren Things Go Wrong
May 2013
Several years ago, I constructed a wren birdhouse. They are small birds, so the entrance hole is the circumference of a nickel. I also made two elongated side vents for circulation on either side of the birdhouse, but I inadvertently made one of them larger than the other. I hung the birdhouse on a wrought iron pole, a few yards from the back porch.
The house was occupied the very first year, and for every year thereafter. Also, the birds have preferred using the larger vent to enter as it is easier to maneuver longer twigs inside. The male usually helps bring nesting materials. What follows happened over two or three days, so I have condensed them for the sake of brevity.
This spring I went out on the back porch to have a glass of wine and watch backyard activity, and a few minutes later Wendy wren arrived with her boyfriend du jour, and they both began inspecting the birdhouse as a place to nest. The female, as expected, entered the birdhouse through the large vent, while Du jour perched on top and made chirping sounds. They inspected every inch of the birdhouse, and finally decided this was the place, Wendy left to search for nesting material while Du jour left in the opposite direction.
Wendy returned with a large twig, and entered through the large vent, dropped the twig inside, then flew away again.
Du jour arrived a short time later with a smaller twig, and tried to maneuver it through the smaller vent. He tried and tried, but ended up dropping it. Following that, he tried entering the birdhouse through the smaller vent, but could not squeeze through. He finally gave up and dropped down to the birdbath, took a drink of water, then left
A minute or two later, Wendy arrived with another twig, and very quickly entered through the large vent, placed it just so, then left again.
Du jour finally came back with nothing in his beak, and tried to enter the birdhouse through the small vent again. He kept jamming himself forward, but could not get in. It then looked like he jammed his right wing repeatedly into the small vent to no avail. I had no idea what he was trying to do
.
Wendy came back with more twigs, deposited them in the house, and left.
Time passed, during which Wendy made several trips with twigs and grass.
Finally, Du jour appeared with a twig and somehow dropped it through the small vent. He then flew down to the birdbath and took a bath.
Wendy returned with a mouthful of grass and entered the large vent. She stayed inside working for a couple of minutes, then left.
Du jour came back and landed on top of the birdhouse. Wendy returned with more grass and after putting it in the birdhouse, she joined Du jour and they tweeted and chirped at each other, then both flew away.
Du jour came back with nothing and made repeated attempts to enter the small vent, which he finally managed to squeeze into. He then poked his head out of the entrance hole in front. He went back inside and poked his head out of the large vent and flew away.
Wendy finally had enough nesting material, and stayed inside to finish her nest. At this point in time she staying inside and no doubt laying one or more eggs. Du jour took another bath.
I finally left the porch thinking that the male wren and the male human have much in common. I also concluded that Wendy would teach her chicks to fly and how to find food. Du jour would teach them how to drink beer and watch football.
