Over the years, the sand-filled cigarette disposal container by the front door of the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest has been selected as a nest site by Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus). Although eggs are laid and incubated for two weeks before the chicks hatch, a predator (raccoon or snake) makes a meal of the brood within the first few days. Additionally, the nest is located in a high-traffic area, which has to be stressful on a predator-paranoid parent!
This morning, we arrived to find a two leaves in the sand meant for cigarette butts. With frequent, short forays, the pair or wrens quickly incorporated the two starter leaves into a small pile of other leaves, rootlets, and moss. The video below shows only a few seconds of their feverish activity!
1 comment:
nice blog;and nice photo; bravo
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