The House Wren is a small, territorial bird with a big song that's common in most of America.  Their short, animated tails are often cocked above their backs; the light-brown color belies how interesting this bird is.  All you need is the correct birdhouse for a Wren and you can enjoy one of nature's greatest songbirds from your window; since they eat the ugly bugs in our yards, there's double the benefit.  Every Spring we revel in the great songsters nesting in the Wind River Canyon, his song wafting through an open window of our cabin.

     These little birds that sing so beautifully are viciously territorial however, as I found out The Egg & I-#2House Wren watching the egg fall that she threw out of another nest! during a shoot a couple of years ago.  They have The Egg & I-#1House Wren tossing an egg out of another birdhouse! been known to toss out the nest, eggs and even the young of a competing House Wren couple.  I knew this from my research, but was extraordinarily lucky to have captured this shocking event.  But the "Prime Directive" taught me not to interfere with Mother Nature; even when it pained me not to put the egg back!  

     Everything turned out all right for the young nesting House Wrens; they had five healthy chicks in spite of the "bird homicide."  Yet, the two Wren birdhouses are on opposite ends of our home, ninety feet apart and unseen from one another!  No other bird that nests in the Wind River Canyon is so territorial; no other sings for me like they do either.

     Late-Winter I clean out the old nests; the male will build the "foundation" for the season House Wren, "Building the Nest"-Wind River Canyon, WyomingHouse Wren Building Her Nest in The Wind River Canyon, Wyoming. and doesn't like old material, singing all the while for a female that will appreciate his construction project.  

     The female Wren that approves of his work will finish the nest with softer material, the male singing all the time.  Even after the young have hatched, an experienced male House Wren will bring food to the birdhouse, like the pair by my bedroom window right now.  They are good parents that will teach their young birds how to hunt for the ugly bugs, little chirping signals can be heard that locate each other throughout the bug hunts.

     Not only are House Wrens great songbirds that are fascinating to watch and learn about, but they are also a bird you can get close for your observations.  They are brave little birds that can be approached with patience; I use the same old cowboy hat and thread-bare tan shirt during all my warm weather outings.  And after the now famous mudslides in the Wind River Canyon on Sunday, May 24th I was cut off from civilization, the road totally closed for three days.  I was outside photographing the male Wren by my bedroom when I realized how quiet the Wind River Canyon is with no vehicle noise.  Then an idea came, "Why not try and video his singing?"  

     I knew that a chance like this, with no man-made noise, may never happen again; so I gabbed the three-legged monster and headed out to the north side.  Setting up the tripod as the male Wren, who I am sure had been here and seen me before, watched me intently as I set up for video.  It had to be a convergence of the planets, or maybe he knew this was his big shot at fame, but when the video on-button was pushed....he put on a five minute performance.  I swear it was all too weird.  

     The ancient wood in the video is a century-old grain wagon; every year Wrens sit and sing on this spot.  I may not be a great film Director, but you have to admit, he can sing.  So sit back for five lousy minutes and listen to one of Mother Nature's greatest voices in the rare quiet of the Wind River Canyon.  One of the mudslides is behind him, softly out of the depth-of-field; the sound of the Wind River easily heard.  Oh, the equipment is a Canon 7D with my favorite Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens; it's light in weight and the wallet, but is in my experience one of the greatest Canon makes, and I don't get paid to say that. House Wren Singing Video-Wind River Canyon, WyomingVideo of a House Wren singing his song in the quiet Wind River Canyon, Wyoming.  Writing, photography, videography, digital darkroom and website by Michael John Balog - Hogbats Photography - HogbatsPhotography.com   

Next week's blog will be about Orioles; not the baseball team, and a software trick!