Last week on our Montana camping trip the House Wrens were incredibly persistent when trying to get long or awkwardly-shaped twigs into the nest holes in the aspen. The holes (there were five of them) had apparently been excavated by the Williamson’s Sapsuckers I reported on in yesterday’s post. The nest tree was in a National Forest at an elevation of almost exactly 7000 feet which surprised me a little with this species but subsequent research indicates that in the west their breeding range extends up to elevations of almost 10,000 feet.
On the first day I photographed the wrens there were at least four of them buzzing around several of the holes as they delivered nesting material and competed with each other and with Tree Swallows for nesting sites. By the second day one pair had apparently settled on this hole for the nest. They were quite industrious (even ingenious) in their efforts to get long sticks and twigs (usually held side-ways in their beaks in the beginning) into the nest cavity.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Typically they would land at the entrance to the cavity with the stick and attempt to muscle it through the hole. which usually didn’t work. Then they would manipulate the angle of the twig in their beak until it did. Only occasionally did I see one of them abandon the attempt by deliberately dropping the stick – they were relentless in their efforts.
This wren had landed at the entrance and attempted to push the stick into the hole, which didn’t immediately work so here the bird has taken flight as it attempts to force it into the hole. If I remember correctly the wren eventually got the twig into the hole by turning it sideways first, which was their usual, eventual strategy.
Even though all this activity was exciting to watch it was very difficult to photograph well for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the wrens nearly always had their backs to me as they approached and landed at the holes. I had to get lucky to have any light in the eye at all. I’m sure I’ll be posting more images of these birds sometime down the road but this shot was one of my favorites from those two incredible mornings.
Ron
Note: This nest tree was actually just over the Montana border in Idaho.
Ron,
Aren’t the Wrens tenacious! What a great spot you two found. Nice big dead tree in the right location = hours of entertainment for those paying attention.
Very nice artistry!
Wonderful shot!
Charlotte
Wonderful detail in the fanned wings and tail…they are such persistent, determined little birds….and noisy!
Fascinating behaviour – and wonderful captures. Thank you Ron.
Ethics, lots of patience, a good gear, a bit of luck equal to great photos of birds behaviour.
That’s why I understand today’s shot is one of your favorites.
Thank you, Jorge. I’m glad you enjoy the behavior shots like I do.
This photo is absolutely priceless. I love that you have the details of the feathers as well as of the behavior. And I wish I had been able to watch the nest-building activity. That would be a very special experience.
You’d have loved seeing this, Susan – very fun and interesting to watch.
A beautiful shot and great story. I love reading your posts, Ron!
Your descriptions of all the action are so good, they have my mind imagining what it must be like, only to feel like I want to be right there seeing it all in beautiful close-up to see every nuance of what’s happening. Have you ever considered shooting video?
Suze, I’ve considered video but just can’t make myself do it because I’d rather have the images than the video.
Really nice shots! You have a great shutter speed to almost completely stop the wing action, yet still leave some blur
to show the action. Nice depth of field too, must have been sunny :). Thanks!
Bill, the light was bright where it hit the tree but there were lots of shadows so exposure was consistently an issue.
I wonder if he or she was a newbie at the whole nest building thing. Learning by trial and error? Love the determination!
I doubt this bird was a “newbie” at it, Arwen because at least on the first day there were several other wrens doing it the same way.
Well, hmmm…what on earth was this bird thinking then. 😀
Wonderful shot, really excellent, top notch photography!
Thanks very much, Kelly.