Fairy-wren: Discover the Deeper Truth

Often seen in people’s gardens, Fairy-wren (Family: Malurus) is usually looking for a tasty Insect. Shy in nature, Fairy-wren is however tolerant of people. Popular in Australia, people regularly see Him in parks hopping about.

Despite his brilliant blue colors, Fairy-wren is difficult to see in the undergrowth. Since Male Fairy-wren is more cautious than the Female Fairy-wren (who has drabber feathers), He leaves promptly when an intruder approaches. If Fairy-wren spies a flying Insect, He hops straight up to snatch it, and then dives back to safety in the nearby bushes.

Fairy-wren’s family arrangements were confusing to many scientists. They thought He was socially monogamous but sexually promiscuous. However what they mistook for Female Fairy-wrens were the non-breeding Males. In Fairy-wren’s small group, there is one breeding pair – the dominant Female and her Partner. Because Fairy-wrens live long lives, They often form lasting family bonds. In their territories, Female Fairy-wrens will nest several times during a season. The non-breeding Males will help to raise each brood, and defend their area. When these Fairy-wrens are about four years old, They will leave their home nest.


Then, scientists uncovered another unique aspect about Fairy-wrens. Mother Fairy-wren teaches her unborn Chicks a special call. She sings to Them whilst the Chicks are still in their shells. Scientists believe that this call is the Fairy-wren’s version of a last name. A Chick that does not know this call is usually a brood-parasite such as a bronze-cuckoo. When that chick fails to answer, the Fairy-wren Family then abandons the intruder.

Fairy-wren teaches that things are not always what they seem. The boldly colored Male hides in the underbrush. When with his small family, He can be mistaken for a Female if He is not breeding. His family being ruled by a Female is unusual as well. Fairy-wren insists that you look beyond the surface to discover the deeper truths. However, He does caution that the deeper truth maybe staring you in the face, without any probing.

Teachings of Fairy-Wren Also Includes:
Having Strong Family Bonds
Being Bright and Beautiful
Dynamic Female Leadership
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Science Notes:
1. Members of the wren family called the Troglodytidae. The wrens of Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand are not related and are not wrens. They belong to their own families. The New Zealand wrens are the Acanthisittidae, an ancient bird family. Meanwhile the wrens of Australia and New Guinea belong to the Maluridae Family, which includes fairy-wrens (Malurus), emu-wrens (Stipiturus) and grasswrens (Amytornis).

Photo By JJ Harrison (jjharrison89@facebook.com) (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

(Revision of a 2008 blog entry.)

EURASIAN WREN: Sacred Mysteries

The “Wren” of Europe, Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) is the only Wren that lives in the Old World. Known as Bran’s Sparrow to the Celts, Wren foretold the future with his songs. The Celts called their sacred Wren “Drui”, (meaning “The Druid among Birds”). Under the protection of Taranis, the Celtic God of Thunder, Wren often nested in his oaks. Killing a Wren brought the wrath of the Gods upon unwary people.

 To various peoples from Japan to Germany, Eurasian Wren is the King of the Winds. Plutarch tells the story of how the Wren became the King of the Birds. The Birds decided whoever could fly the highest to the sun would rule over Them. The Eurasian Wren secreted Himself under Golden Eagle’s down feathers. When Golden Eagle tired, Eurasian Wren flew out and ascended higher, getting singed by the sun’s rays. Returning, the other Birds proclaimed Eurasian Wren their King. Cunning and cleverness had outwitted strength.
 
During the winter, this tiny Bird lives in a communal roost with other Eurasian Wrens. To keep from freezing, They share their warmth. Just before dusk, Eurasian Wren calls to the Others. They answer and then enter their roost one by one. Many as sixty Eurasian Wrens will share an abandoned nest site.

 In British folklore (Eurasian) Wren ruled the winter and (European) Robin ruled the summer. As the representative of the Old Year, Wren was sacrificed to bring in the New Year (as represented by Robin). This ritual killing of Wren ended winter and the Old Year.

Later Christians associated Eurasian Wren with the Virgin Mary. Now the ritual killing of the Wren by the Wren Boys happened on the day after Christmas, which was St. Stephen’s Day. One theory to this ritual occurrence was that people celebrated the ending of Paganism and the coming of Christianity. Another posits that Eurasian Wren betrayed St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

The smallest and shiest of the Wrens, Eurasian Wren sings the loudest. Quivering and exposed on a branch, He trills his divine melodies. Except to end winter, His killing brings misfortune. With these examples, Eurasian Wren demonstrates the paradoxes of life. A sacred Bird, Wren sings as He unwraps the sacred mysteries of the universe. Spend time with Eurasian Wren to understand life’s prophecies.

Teachings of Eurasian Wren also Includes:
Being Small but Mighty
Singing Your Own Song
Cunning and Stealth

Science Notes:
1. Except for Eurasian Wren, the Wren Family lives only in the Western Hemisphere.
2. Eurasian Wren is actually a species complex with 27 subspecies.

(Note: Revision of Winter Wren blog of 2008.)

WREN FAMILY: The Mysteries of Happiness

(Revised from a 2008 blog entry.)

Wrens, a family of little brown Birds, are well-known for their high energy and trilling songs. Friendly and active, House Wren is often called “Jenny Wren” in children’s storybooks. Meanwhile Carolina Wren, one of the largest Wrens, flits from perch to perch looking for tasty bugs, delighting gardeners.

Voracious in their nesting endevours, Wrens build nests in boots, mailboxes, and even car radiators. Quick and agile Cactus Wren builds his nest amongst the sharp spines of a cactus. To impress the Female Wrens, Marsh Wren frantically builds as many dummy nests that He can in the wetlands. The scientific name for Wrens is “Troglodytidae,” which means “cave dwellers.” This comes from the elaborate enclosed nests that many Wrens build. Besides housing eggs, these roofed nests also act as their communal roosts.

Although most wrens live secret lives in dense forests, Cactus Wren (Genus: Campylorhynchus) and his Friends live in the open semi-arid areas of the Americas. Gathering in small flocks, Cactus Wrens will help the Breeding Pair in feeding. One of the largest of the Wrens (the size of a starling), He is pugnacious in defending his territory whilst fending off larger birds.

Best known for their bubbly tunes, Wrens often have as many as 130 different songs in their repertoire. Although They do sing all year round, Wrens are most famous for being the joyful harbingers of spring with their trilling melodies. And, Winter Wren, a shy Bird, has the loudest songs of all the Wren Family.

In addition, Wrens’ songs have a magical quality to them. In some Native American stories, Wrens can bring the dead back to life with their powerful singing. Called the Snow Bird, Black-headed Wren is said to summon the snow. However, He does know the direction and time of the storm.

Wrens are legendary for their spiritedness. Whether defending their territory or building nests Wrens conduct themselves great zest. Let these little brown Birds induct you into the mysterious of happiness. Lose yourself in their songs, and be enriched beyond your dreams.
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Science Notes: 

1. Members of the wren family called the Troglodytidae. The wrens of Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand are not related and are not wrens. They belong to their own families. The New Zealand wrens are the Acanthisittidae, an ancient bird family. Meanwhile the wrens of Australia and New Guinea belong to the Maluridae Family, which includes fairy-wrens (Malurus), emu-wrens (Stipiturus) and grasswrens (Amytornis).

2. Firecrested wren is the common firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus), while golden-crested wren is the goldcrest (Regulus regulus). They belong to the Kinglet Family and are not wrens.

3. Antwrens (Myrmotherula and Herpsilochmus) are members of the antbird family (Thamnophilidae) of South America. Wren-babblers of South Asia are cupwings (the Pnoepygidae).

WINTER WREN: Sacred Mysteries

The “Wren” of Europe, Winter Wren is the only Wren that lives in both the Old and New Worlds. Known as Bran’s Sparrow to the Celts, Wren foretold the future with his songs. The Celts called their sacred Wren “Drui”, (meaning “The Druid among Birds”). Under the protection of Taranis, the Celtic God of Thunder, Wren often nested in his oaks. Killing a Wren brought the wrath of the Gods upon unwary people.

During the winter, this tiny Bird lives in a communal roost with other Winter Wrens. To keep from freezing, They share their warmth. Just before dusk, Winter Wren calls to the Others. They answer and then enter their roost one by one. Many as sixty Winter Wrens will share an abandoned nest site.

In British folklore (Winter) Wren ruled the winter and (European) Robin ruled the summer. As the representative of the Old Year, Wren was sacrificed to bring in the New Year (as represented by Robin). This ritual killing of Wren ended winter.

Later Christians associated Winter Wren with the Virgin Mary. Now the ritual killing of the Wren by the Wren Boys happened on the day after Christmas, which was St. Stephen’s Day. One theory to this ritual occurrence was that people celebrated the ending of Paganism and the coming of Christianity.

The smallest and shiest of the Wrens, Winter Wren sings the loudest. Except to end winter, His killing brings misfortune. With these examples, Winter Wren demonstrates the paradoxes of life. A sacred Bird, Wren sings when He unwraps the sacred mysteries of the universe. Spend time with Winter Wren to understand life’s prophecies.


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Copyright: Virginia Carper, 2009, Animal Teachers

WREN FAMILY: The Mysteries of Happiness

Wrens, a family of little brown Birds, are well-known for their high energy and trilling songs. Friendly and active, House Wren is called “Jenny Wren” in children’s storybooks. Meanwhile Carolina Wren, one of the largest Wrens, flits from perch to perch looking for tasty bugs, delighting gardeners.

Voracious in their nesting, Wrens build nests in boots, mailboxes, and even car radiators. Quick and agile, Cactus Wren builds his nest amongst the sharp spines of a cactus. Meanwhile to impress the female Wrens, Marsh Wren frantically builds as many dummy nests that He can in the wetlands.

Best known for their bubbly songs, Wrens often have as many as 130 different songs in their repertoire. Although They do sing all year round, Wrens are most famous for being the joyful harbingers of spring with their trilling melodies. And, Winter Wren, a shy Bird, has the loudest songs of all the Wren Family.

In addition, Wrens’ songs have a magical quality to them. In some Native American stories, Wrens can bring the dead back to life with their powerful singing. Called the Snow Bird, Black-headed Wren is said to summon the snow. However, He does know the direction and time of the storm.

Wrens are legendary for their spiritedness. Whether defending their territory or building nests Wrens conduct themselves great zest. Let these little brown Birds induct you into the mysterious of happiness. Lose yourself in their songs, and be enriched beyond your dreams.

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Science Notes:
1. Members of the Wren Family called the Troglodytidae. The Wrens of Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand (antwrens, emu-wrens, fairy wrens, grasswrens and wren-babblers,) are not related and are not wrens. They belong to their own families.

2. Firecrested wren is the firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus), while golden-crested wren is the goldcrest (Regulus regulus). They belong to the Kinglet Family and are not wrens.
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Copyright: Virginia Carper, 2009, Animal Teachers

Nest Boxes: Wrens

Wrens are creative nesters, who will nest in plant pots and empty coconut shells. What is important to a wren is the availability of insects. Lots of food and no nearby birds make for a happy wren. Intensely competitive for food, a wren will puncture holes in the eggs of other birds (including other wrens) nesting nearby.

Wrens are also choosy about the size of the nest box’s entrance hole. They require a hole large enough for them to get in and out of. However, the hole has to be small enough for no other bird to use. Because they bring in long twigs, wrens requite a wide hole, therefore the entrance should be wide but narrow.

For an enclosed nest box: Place hanging 5 to 10 feet (1.5 m to 3m) near trees.
Entrance hole size: 1 1/8 inches (30 mm).
Height to the hole from base: 7 inches (180 mm)
Base: 4 inches by 4 inches (100 x 100 mm)

Sources:
Burton, Robert, “North American Birdfeeder Handbook”, Dorling Kindersly, New York, 1995.

Harrison, George and Kit, “America’s Favorite Backyard Birds”, Fireside, New York, 1983.

Bromley, Peter T. and Aelred D. Geis, Feeding Wild Birds, Publication Number 420-006, Virginia Cooperative Extension, April, 1998, 20 Sept. 2008

Evans, Keith, Wasatch Audubon Society: Birding 101: Nest Boxes, 20 Oct. 2008

Adventures in Bird Feeding (1)

Food Plans for Wrens and Sparrows

In my area of Northern Virginia, wrens (Carolina and house) and sparrows (song and tree) are common. Because I live in a semi-urban area, I decided that these birds would be easy to attract. On my small balcony of my condo, I have a table that I use to feed the birds.

Because wrens rarely eat anything other than insects, I decided to put bananas out to see if they would eat the fruit flies. Since wrens are fond of suet, bread crumbs, and dried grapes, I have put out suet and grapes for them. Insects and suet have protein for the birds, while bread and grapes provide their energy needs.

After researching about the needs of sparrows, I decided on millet to encourage them to come to my feeder. Since my area is rich in cardinals, I decided not to put out sunflower seeds because this food attracts these birds. Even though the sparrows like sunflower seeds, I want the smaller birds to get their share in food.

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Burton, Robert, “North American Birdfeeder Handbook”,Dorling Kindersly, New York, 1995.

Harrison, George and Kit, “America’s Favorite Backyard Birds”, Fireside, New York, 1983.

Bromley, Peter T. and Aelred D. Geis, Feeding Wild Birds, Publication Number 420-006, Virginia Cooperative Extension, April, 1998, 20 Sept. 2008

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008