skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

On the other side of the yard, 3 pics

13 years ago

I didn't really want her nesting anywhere near my yard, but since she's a protected native species there wasn't anything I could do about it.

"She" is the common house wren. On the surface house wrens are entertaining, comical, little song birds. They're in constant motion and are great for keeping bugs and caterpillars off of the garden plants. These two are constantly working over my tomato plants, for which I'm thankful.

Their only bad habit is that they search for other birds' nests and then poke holes in all the eggs they can find. This hen got all the eggs from my robin's third nesting attempt.

It is legal to remove the house wren's nest twigs BEFORE any eggs are laid. I removed three of her nests (twigs only) in the back yard, but while I was busy doing that, they built this nest and had eggs in it before I could discover what they were up to.

Now I'm going to be the proud mama of five house wrens.

So far, she's left the Purple Martins alone, and the chickadees nested and left before the wren showed up. The tree swallows eggs have all hatched.

It's all good, and as long as she can keep her marauding confined to the side yard, we'll get along just fine.

Here's my pride-of-place Arkansas red cedar nest box hung on the neighbor's privacy fence.

The house wrens' idea of an ideal home.

I had to use a mirror to "see" up and over into the nest cup. I took this photo by wiggling the camera in top of the box and guesstimating the eggs' location.

A house wren gathering spider cocoons for her nest.

A robin egg attacked by a house wren.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

glenda_al
13 years ago
Love your pictures. Keep on sharing
0
alisande
13 years ago
I had no idea that house wrens did that! How unfortunate. What is the purpose, do you know?

I've long been exceedingly fond of house wrens that nest in a hanging pottery bird house on my porch. Since I spend time reading on the porch, and since wrens have been nesting there for 35 years, they've gotten rather tame. The other day I took this picture of one in the middle of their unmistakable, incredibly loud trill.
0
Related Discussions
trying to id this cat... plus 3 other cat pics
Q
Comments (4)
The caterpillar on the sunflower looks like a yellow-striped armyworm to me. The second one is indeed a pipevine swallowtail, the next one is an early instar spicebush swallowtail, and the last one is a late instar zebra longwing. Where did you find the ZL in Tennessee? Did you order some or did you make the picture in Florida? Sherry
...See More
Other flower pics from my yard, just 'cause
Q
Comments (20)
Ahhhh, the lazy part - been there, do that too! Dance With Me - I've heard it is hard so I never got it. Earth Angel - grows like a weed, love it. Ice Age Trail - I had it, got it as a young TC and grew it in a pot but it didn't survive this spring. I've seen pics of IAT purchased from Jim's Hosta that were big and gorgeous. It also is a streaker plant and will produce other streaked plants from seed. If you get it, save me some seeds. Touch of Class - gorgeous, don't have it but have one of the look alikes named Dream Weaver. It does very well here and intro'd by Kevin Walleck, our current AHS prez. Jewel of the Nile - another KW intro and it grows like a weed here. Paradigm - a classic, yes to it. Liberty - a new one for me last fall. It almost didn't come back and when it did was puny. I dug it up and potted it - the leaf is 1" and probably won't make it back next year. I replaced it, it has only produced one new leaf - I hope it comes back next spring. Liberty is a sport, probably tetraploid of Sagae. I highly recommend Sagae for the look, the margin just isn't as wide. I don't have any of the others and have heard nothing about them. For a balanced hosta garden, make sure you bring in solid colors to offset the patterned cultivars. I didn't because I love all the same type. I then had to go back and bring in some solids and to move things around to please the eye. It is the same as the daylily addiction - we bring in our favorite colors, look around and it becomes blah, so we then bring in other colors to liven things up. Some good blues in different sizes I recommend - Abiqua Drinking Gouard or Love Pat - great color, upright growing. Small blues that hold their color late into the season - Blue Jay and Fragrant Blue. Dark greens - Fried Green Tomatoes, a couple of Lakeside plants that I can't remember right now. If you want big, try some of the sports from Sum and Substance - Sum It Up, Bottom Line and Sum of All. Big, fast growing, all with edges but not "clashy" edges. They are all dark green. Other must haves - June, Paul's Glory or St. Paul. I know you don't like the skinny leaves but consider Ginsu Knife, has a slight light margin but lots of rippling on the edge, Marilyn Monroe, lighter green with ripples and Queen of the Seas, big blue with ripples. These offset the big round leaves that I love. For golds, Choo Choo Train, Sweet Sunshine, I think, hybridized by Solberg and a couple more Lakesides I can't remember, really make the shady areas pop. Have fun as another addiction starts. Could I also interest you in orchids?????????? Brooke
...See More
Yard/Garden Pics (pic heavy)
Q
Comments (20)
Thanks so much everyone. I really appreciate your kind comments. I-like-to-grow: Yes, I did make the hosta leaf stepping stones. Here is where I purchased the mold: http://www.moldcreations.com/Hosta-leaf-concrete-or-plaster-mold-1250-p/1250.htm I would love to create more beds in the back, but those very large trees you see are all maples. The hostas planted around the fence are all in spin-out bags. Those can be expensive....lol I wish I could just dig a hole wherever I wanted to plant one and stick it in the ground. I can on the side of the garage, but not in the back. Thanks again!
...See More
OT: Yard pics 4 those who wanted to see the new yard!
Q
Comments (12)
Oh, I missed a sentence up there LOL, that is the bush/tree with the deck that we cut down. The SO was cutting it while I was taking pics. I had to get them taken before he cut down all the tree/shrubs in pic #2 because I wanted before and after pics. In pic #10 if you look in the background at the bottom of the hill you can see one of the neighbors houses, this is the one I want to block the view from. I am planning on planting some fast growing trees in a line. In pic #9 on the right side of the pic is my holding flowerbed we put in too, I am using it as a nursey bed for young plants. I didn't take a pic of my WS containers LOL. Dan, tell the kids I said thanks for thinking about me, but I think we will leave the scratching and rubbing to lavish on them! LOL. Bunny, I am a country girl through and through, I can't stand the thought of living in the city although we did consider it but only for a minute. I like being in the country and NOT seeing my neighbors everytime I go outside. At the other house the trailer park folk would pull up chairs to watch us that I think that is 1. RUDE and 2. CREEPY, WHO does that? Joan, I am so totally pleased to be here. It is a small country house and it could use some work but I am tickled to finally have a place that I am surrounded by nature and not homes. We even have a nice size front porch to sit out on when we get it cleaned off LOL. It is so peaceful here, with the exception of the little &^*&^* that run up and down the main dirtroad on the trail bikes and 4 wheelers but if I had one I would be too! hehe. I am just so pleased to be here. A lot of folks wanted to see the place and this thread was the easiest way for me to share. In the front yard where that little ridge is, we are putting a flowerbed in there too, to make it more level. Can't understand WHY someone would make a cut out section in the front yard but someone did! Crazy is all I can say. Ok, well, thanks for the comments. Have a great night. :) Fran
...See More
caroline94535
Original Author
13 years ago
Alisand...what a wonderful photo! Can you tell me what camera and lens you used. It's perfect!

The house wrens' natural instinct is to protect their food sources, their young, and their territory from other birds. That's why they search out and destroy any eggs they can find within a certain area. It's just the way they're programmed. They're not big enough to "fight" for territory and chase off competitors.

The Carolina wrens do not have this habit.

I agree with you; house wrens make perfect porch companions. I had them nesting in my front yard, next to my "reading tree" last season.

I'm trying to determine just how big one nesting pairs' territory is, so I'll know where to let them nest next season.

I've been juggling tree swallows, chickadees, robins, nuthatches, and, of course, my beloved Purple Martins all season long. Now if I could only get Blue Birds in the mix I'd be in Heaven.

I do love the little wrens; they're the comics of the yard (at least not when they're not being the axe murderers.) Still, I try to bother them just enough that they move across the street. This year they won the battle for my side yard. As always, I gave in graciously, and "legally."
0
lilliepad
13 years ago
Her house is about as messy as mine!LOL
Loved the pictures.
0
jannie
13 years ago
How sweet! I had a birds nest in my kitchen fan, I cleaned it out and the birds went elsewhere. I have a bird house in a tree in the back but it seems unoccupied.. I have been putting out water for the birds every day. They really like it!
0
ronf_gw
13 years ago
Great photos.

Ron
0
alisande
13 years ago
Thanks, Caroline! The camera is my Olympus DSLR, the E-520. That was my first day trying out a new lens, the Zuiko 70-300 (150-600mm in 35mm film terms). The lens is said to perform best in bright light, but the wren was in a tree, in deep shade. So I wasn't expecting much, and was pleasantly surprised. (Of course, I'm not showing you the four or five shots I had to delete.) :-)

We have a robin nesting not far from the wrens. I haven't seen any babies, but I just figured the nest was too high for me to see. However, I do remember seeing babies in it one year. Maybe that was one of the few years the wrens didn't come here in spring.

Here they are . . . I took this in 2006.
0
alisande
13 years ago
Oh, wait--"we do have robin babies! I went outside a minute ago, carrying a camera (a Panasonic superzoom, not the Olympus above) for another reason, and saw a flicker of movement in the robin's nest. This is what I saw . . . do you think they're hungry? LOL
0
caroline94535
Original Author
13 years ago
I think they're "Starvin' Marvins", LOL.

That's what I used to call my nephew when he told me, every two hours, "I'm starvin' Aunt Carol; starvin!"

You have wonderful photos. Aren't digital cameras the best. We can now shoot 100 frames, delete 99, and don't have to pay an arm and a leg for the one good shot.
0
nicole__
13 years ago
Great pics!!!!!!WOW!
0

Related Stories

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 8 Splendid Side Yard Designs

By Debra Prinzing

Treat your skinny side yard like the beautiful green corridor it wants to be, with these verdant garden designs as inspiration

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Side Yard

By Becky Harris

Don’t overlook the possibilities for this often-forgotten space

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING The 3 Top Ways to Light Up Your Landscape

By Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Whether you're lighting a small side garden or a wide swath of yard, you'll be in the dark without understanding these essential elements

SIDE YARD IDEAS Narrow Trees for Tight Garden Spaces

Boost interest in a side yard or another space-challenged area with the fragrance and color of these columnar trees

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 8 New Uses for Your Side Yard

By Debra Prinzing

Lovely to look at and delightful to use, these side yards meet a home's needs as dining, entertaining and living areas

GARDENING GUIDES How to Turn a Side Yard Into a Glorious Garden Room

By Debra Prinzing

With just 8 feet or so, you can turn a plain side yard into a garden that lets you get carried away

MOST POPULAR 25 Ideas to Perk Up Your Side Yard

By Becky Harris

Turn this often overlooked area into an enticing and useful outdoor space

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Your Mini Guide to Great Garden Edges

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Get the scoop on trenches to the skinny on bender board, to help keep your garden beds as tidy as you like

LANDSCAPE DESIGN The Garden Edge: Rethink Your Garden Pathways

By Jessica Nockolds

The right plant choices not only frame your paths with distinction, but they also take you on a journey of the senses

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES 3 Ways Native Plants Make Gardening So Much Better

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

You probably know about the lower maintenance. But native plants' other benefits go far beyond a little less watering and weeding

Sponsored

More Discussions

Oh no! Another one!

902

What are you reading? May 2024 Edition

47

Nespresso machine?

33

Huge dilemma - major disaster in garden - advice/ideas, please!

34

Got The Best News Today

4