April 5, 2008
Wrenning
There’s a wreath about 18″ in diameter hanging on a brick wall just outside of, to the side of, and in view of our front entrance. It’s made of dried grass and twigs. Birds find it altogether attractive as a veritable Nest Depot and are frequently seen to be helping themselves.
It took a Carolina wren not only to use it as a resource, but as well to build a nest right on its top, as if a gemstone on an avian ring. So as not to disturb, we coöperated, put a note on the front door directing human traffic to the side entrance, and followed our own advice. Then, we waited.
A birder friend told us not to be impatient. She said that male wrens build any number of nests here and there hoping one may be so engaging that a female cannot resist it, and then they can take up wrenning together. I should understand that.
For now, however, not to be. Those ubiquitous twosomes, a pair of doves, have moved in. Not to mention that what a wren builds for two is hardly room enough for what a dove might build for one. We thought a cozy move-over may possibly be underway.
••••••••••••••
All that was a couple of weeks ago. The doves have come and went. The nest is empty, if a bit frazzled. But at least one thing has changed, we are now in the habit of using the side entrance where there is no wreath or nest, but only a Green Man inspired by the parish house at Ely Cathedral, UK, and overlooking the patio.
In all this time, the forsythia, the redbuds, the tulip poplars, the daffodils, the Lenten roses, and the Christmas cactus are now in bloom. Why do we make calendars, anyway?
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