They're Flying!

On the night of Jared's birthday, we had left the garage man door-open.  To be precise, it was off the hinges because grandpa was fixing the bottom of it.  During that night, two industrious little Carolina Wrens built this nest on top of our camping chairs.

So naturally, we then had to leave the windows open so that the wrens could get safely to their nest.  If we simply left the door open, the local feral cats may have seen it as an invitation. 

About 20 days later, Lance heard chirping in the garage.  Sure enough, our five eggs had hatched (yes, I know I used the possessive but we all felt a part of the event).  The mom and dad kept busy flying in various insects for food.  The boys, Lance particularly, enjoyed hanging out quietly in the garage and watching the activity.  Sometimes he would notice them bringing in rather large spiders, which explains the drop in spiders around the outside of our house (much to my pleasure).  I understand spiders are the wolves of the garden and great at keeping other insects away, so I leave them alone outside but at the same time, I can't say that I miss them.

Then yesterday morning, we woke up to something wonderful.  Our little birds were trying out their wings.  Poor mom and dad, they were twice as busy feeding the five little ones; as now they had to look all over the garage for them.  The two having the most difficulty the boys named "Floor Hopper" and "Bike Hopper".  The boys guess they were the last to be laid and therefore a bit behind their siblings developmentally.  Lance tried a couple times to put "Floor Hopper" back in the nest to keep him safe but he refused to miss out on the fun.  We were afraid for their safety so we didn't take the car out at all during the day yesterday.  Then at night when we were sure we knew where they ALL were (perched on different parts of the bikes), we quietly moved the car out of the garage so we could use it today.

When we woke up this morning, we were surprised that they were all gone.  We thought they would need to practice their flying more than one day but apparently we were wrong.  We will miss our little friends but hope to see them soon.  Maybe they'll come back and nest again next year.  Chris would prefer they not do so in his garage, so he and the boys have plans to make Wren houses over the winter.

UPDATE:  I'm happy to report that we have seen all five since they left.  The two youngest are still hanging around being fed by mom and dad.  We see them at our bird feeder with their mouths wide open having their parents shove food in them.  We have also seen the two youngest huddled up on the inside eaves of our front porch to sleep at night.  Holly said she thinks the others sleep on her front porch.  Can't wait for them all have nests around our house next spring!