Our Carolina Wren Family
Matthew 6:26
Preparation, Persistence, Parenting, Provision, and
Praise!
While our Heavenly father directs us to look at the birds of the
air as witness to how He provides for them to assure us of our provision by Him,
He does not direct us to inaction or hand outs. As the farmers will say, “Pray for the
harvest and say amen with your hoe”.
We saw this in action as we witnessed the romance and nesting of a pair
of Carolina Wrens.
We first noticed the birds by their song as they were flitting
around our patio. It appeared they
had decided to nest under the soffit of the house but then, we saw them
concentrating on an empty flower pot on a plant stand in the corner of the
patio. Since spring was
approaching, we were cleaning and clearing our patio and certainly making too
much ruckus for our bird friends.
Their nest was built but they were nowhere around.
We thought we had scared them off.
However, a month or two later my husband and I were witnesses to
the finishing of the nest building and ultimate flight of five wren chicks. We identified the bird species as
Carolina Wrens as the parents finished their nest in the flower pot, at eye
level, on our patio.
We had never seen this particular bird on our patio before and
we learned this species mates for life and produces three to seven eggs at a
time. They are a tiny bird with a
peculiar upturned tail. We watched
their mad dash to secure their nest despite our noise and
presence.
I noticed about a month ago the male and female birds again
visiting our patio and became accustomed to their song.
“Teakettle, Teakettle”.
On an interesting side
note, only the male sings. Then, lo
and behold I saw the female bird enter the nest I had thought long
abandoned. One day I peered into
the nest and there she was just minding her own business.
She was not thrilled with my curiosity. I thought well now I had surely
frightened her away.
Several weeks later I peered into the nest to see one fragile
baby bird whose heart looked like it was beating right out of its chest. I had not seen the parents feeding any
babies so I assumed it was the only one and would probably die.
I grieved at the thought but consoled myself that Mother Nature
knows what can survive and what cannot. I noticed every time I came out on the
patio or let our cat out, the male
bird would sound a loud alarm. His
neck would puff up and his whole body was engaged in the never ending screech as
long as we were present.
Then, one fine beautiful afternoon as I looked out my window a
tiny baby chick was perched, well, teetering, on the edge of the nest.
I excitedly told Mark the chick had survived after all.
Five plump, healthy chicks emerged one by one. That
first afternoon they couldn’t even stand up with any strength and their small
wings seemed glued to their sides. Their tails looked like one or two stubby
feathers. But
mama and daddy hovered over each chick as they tried to move, preen their small
wings and flutter for maneuverability.
After several hours of this activity all five retreated to their nest for
a night of recuperation.
At first light the family was at it again.
Mama fed each chick as they struggled to gain their independence. The chicks flew into our windows, fell
as they tried to hop with assurance, and flap their inadequate wings. But slowly and surely the wings dried
out and short trips of flight became evident. The baby chicks would cuddle together,
and then fly back to the nest to recover.
They experimented with the bird bath and which plant or limb that would
hold their weight or where they could perch without
falling.
The next few days one by one they flew away.
Only one was left and we thought the parents had left him but they stayed
until he gained his confidence to fly.
Jesus told us of God’s provision for the birds in Matthew
6:26. However, the birds did their
part, they prepared the nest in a secure location, were persistent in its
construction, and parented their brood with skill and provision which resulted
in successful flight training for the chicks. All the while, daddy bird was singing a
song. I believe a song of praise
for his creator which continually reassured and encouraged his
brood.
It entered my mind that if God can give birds with the brains
the size of a pea those kind of nurturing instincts, how much much more has he
given us!!
Matthew 6:26
Preparation, Persistence, Parenting, Provision, and
Praise!
While our Heavenly father directs us to look at the birds of the
air as witness to how He provides for them to assure us of our provision by Him,
He does not direct us to inaction or hand outs. As the farmers will say, “Pray for the
harvest and say amen with your hoe”.
We saw this in action as we witnessed the romance and nesting of a pair
of Carolina Wrens.
We first noticed the birds by their song as they were flitting
around our patio. It appeared they
had decided to nest under the soffit of the house but then, we saw them
concentrating on an empty flower pot on a plant stand in the corner of the
patio. Since spring was
approaching, we were cleaning and clearing our patio and certainly making too
much ruckus for our bird friends.
Their nest was built but they were nowhere around.
We thought we had scared them off.
However, a month or two later my husband and I were witnesses to
the finishing of the nest building and ultimate flight of five wren chicks. We identified the bird species as
Carolina Wrens as the parents finished their nest in the flower pot, at eye
level, on our patio.
We had never seen this particular bird on our patio before and
we learned this species mates for life and produces three to seven eggs at a
time. They are a tiny bird with a
peculiar upturned tail. We watched
their mad dash to secure their nest despite our noise and
presence.
I noticed about a month ago the male and female birds again
visiting our patio and became accustomed to their song.
“Teakettle, Teakettle”.
On an interesting side
note, only the male sings. Then, lo
and behold I saw the female bird enter the nest I had thought long
abandoned. One day I peered into
the nest and there she was just minding her own business.
She was not thrilled with my curiosity. I thought well now I had surely
frightened her away.
Several weeks later I peered into the nest to see one fragile
baby bird whose heart looked like it was beating right out of its chest. I had not seen the parents feeding any
babies so I assumed it was the only one and would probably die.
I grieved at the thought but consoled myself that Mother Nature
knows what can survive and what cannot. I noticed every time I came out on the
patio or let our cat out, the male
bird would sound a loud alarm. His
neck would puff up and his whole body was engaged in the never ending screech as
long as we were present.
Then, one fine beautiful afternoon as I looked out my window a
tiny baby chick was perched, well, teetering, on the edge of the nest.
I excitedly told Mark the chick had survived after all.
Five plump, healthy chicks emerged one by one. That
first afternoon they couldn’t even stand up with any strength and their small
wings seemed glued to their sides. Their tails looked like one or two stubby
feathers. But
mama and daddy hovered over each chick as they tried to move, preen their small
wings and flutter for maneuverability.
After several hours of this activity all five retreated to their nest for
a night of recuperation.
At first light the family was at it again.
Mama fed each chick as they struggled to gain their independence. The chicks flew into our windows, fell
as they tried to hop with assurance, and flap their inadequate wings. But slowly and surely the wings dried
out and short trips of flight became evident. The baby chicks would cuddle together,
and then fly back to the nest to recover.
They experimented with the bird bath and which plant or limb that would
hold their weight or where they could perch without
falling.
The next few days one by one they flew away.
Only one was left and we thought the parents had left him but they stayed
until he gained his confidence to fly.
Jesus told us of God’s provision for the birds in Matthew
6:26. However, the birds did their
part, they prepared the nest in a secure location, were persistent in its
construction, and parented their brood with skill and provision which resulted
in successful flight training for the chicks. All the while, daddy bird was singing a
song. I believe a song of praise
for his creator which continually reassured and encouraged his
brood.
It entered my mind that if God can give birds with the brains
the size of a pea those kind of nurturing instincts, how much much more has he
given us!!
