House Wren-Mom & Dad-Wind River Canyon, WyomingMale & Female House Wrens in the Wind River Canyon, Wyoming.       Spring has officially arrived here in the Wind River Canyon; last night two Black-chinned Hummingbird males flew in before dark, and this morning the first Bullock's Oriole was re-energizing itself on our Hummingbird feeders: Orioles typically feed from open-type nectar feeders.  (nectar recipe = one part pure sugar/four parts water, then shake well) This is their destination for nesting season, so Spring is really here in the mountains and Summer cannot be far behind; but the first migratory Spring arrivals are the beautiful singing House Wrens. House Wren-Mother & Babies-Wind River Canyon, WyomingHouse Wren family Portrait.

    House Wrens are really not much bigger than a Hummingbird, but have a song that will steal your soul.  The male Wren will sit outside my bedroom window and sing like an opera star, and is afraid of nothing.  The Wren's song changes during the nesting cycle; it's different during courtship than after the male has a mate, yet changes again when the young baby Wrens are being fed a boatload of bugs and spiders: this observation comes from many years of being close and trusted by them.  

     A Wren needs a birdhouse of a certain size and specifications; the entrance needs to be one and quarter inches, no more no less.  Most important of all, we must clean out last years nest and tidy House Wren-Feeding Junior-Wind River Canyon, WYWren Mother feeding her Baby Wren. the place up a bit before they arrive.  House Wrens are very territorial and will even throw out another competitors nest, eggs or even their babies!  But it's their exuberant song that has been described as, "a cascade of bubbling whistled notes" that captures every ones heart.

     Every year I work with and photograph House Wrens, it's a challenge to "get close" to such a melodious bird.  And everyone loves baby pictures....... House Wren, babies leaving the nest, Wind River Canyon, WYBaby Wrens on the Way Out!

House Wren Babies-Wind River Canyon, WyomingHouse Wren Babies in the Wind River Canyon, Wyoming.   House Wren, Building the Nest-Wind River Canyon, WyomingHouse Wren building her Nest in The Wind River Canyon.