I ended the last page with a shot of one of the feeder meetings that I enjoy so much. When two birds

show up at a feeder at the same time, it’s interesting to watch how they react to one another. Here’s

another one: a Downy Woodpecker came from the right while a Carolina Wren arrived from the left. There

is always that awkward moment when neither one quite knows what to do. Birds aren’t really good about

sharing: the dominant one stays and the less dominant one flies off. It’s very rare to see them comfortably

feeding side by side. So often neither one will begin to feed, but both will pause as if waiting for the other

to leave: “Hey, I’m here, you can go now.”

   The Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) is another favorite of mine, with it’s beautiful auburn color

and barred tail. They like living in and around made-made structures, and I normally have nesting pairs

under both my porches every year.

   One woman found that a pair of Carolina Wrens had come through a broken window in her garage, built a

nest and laid their eggs, so she had to wait until the nestlings left the nest before fixing her window!

   And I was surprised,during a blowing snow storm last year, to find that one had even taken refuge inside

the Christmas wreath hanging on my door.

I got this one fuzzy photo from inside

the house through the door’s window.

5DEC08

Compare the Carolina Wrens, above, with the House Wren below. The House Wren is more

uniform all over, especially seen from a little distance. Most distinctively, it lacks the Carolina

Wren’s bold white eyebrow, but does display a pale eye ring that the Carolina Wren lacks.

© Bob Vuxinic

19MAY10

© Bob Vuxinic

20APR11

© Bob Vuxinic
4JUL11

© Bob Vuxinic

5 JAN 12

I was really proud to have this photo selected as one of the Cornell Lab of

Ornithology's 2011–2012 Project FeederWatch Photo Gallery online. This was

in the “Featured” photo section.