Of Tail-less Wonders, Orioles and Hummingbirds

We have christened the Carolina Wren the "Tail-less wonder." He seems to get around just fine and I was actually able to catch a photo of him just before he hopped up onto the suet feeder. This is what a Wren doesn't look like!

We saw our first lone Ruby-Throated Hummingbird at the feeder yesterday - he looked so skinny from the migration. I know, I know, they are so diminutive, how could you possibly tell he was skinny? It just looked thin compared to what I last remember in the Fall right before they migrated. Now we are virtually overrun with hummingbirds, chirping at each other and chasing each other around. I got a photo of one right above me in the corkscrew willow tonight.

And this next photo is totally aimed at making my Dad jealous :) He has tried everything to get Baltimore Orioles to his feeders. I got one to come to my standard feeder - not even the special Oriole feeder with the jelly and the orange half! You can just see him flying away as I finally snapped out of my awe to grab my camera. He actually went for the suet feeder, which at first I couldn't figure out - they aren't really known as nut eaters. They love fruit, berries, etc. Then it dawned on me. To fill out a full order of the suet I usually order, the Wild Birds Unlimited owner gave me a cake of the Nuts and Raisins. I usually don't buy that because the woodpeckers leave the raisins behind and they go to waste. I had just put a new cake in last night of the Naturally Nuts. The raisins, as usual, were left in the bottom from the previous cake. I just left them there. That's what the Oriole was going for! They were all gone, so I put out some more from my personal stash. He has been back since to get them. So, Dad, just throw some raisins in your feeder and they will come!

Wren Update

Well, ever since our Carolina Wren fiasco, I have been watching expectantly for signs that it survived our rescue attempt. I keep putting my binoculars on the Wrens that come to my feeders hoping to see some sign that it is the one we rescued from the sticky trap. I have focused on the feet, the wings, the beak, hoping to see some missing feathers somewhere. Tonight, I was looking at the one at the feeder, noticing that even its tail looked fine. . . wait a minute, it had a tail!!!! Suddenly, it dawned on me that I had been seeing one with no tail!!!

So, tonight after my run, I sat on the bench in the back watching and listening. Then I heard the male singing in the woods and clearly saw another one in the dogwood by the feeders. So, I had established that we still had a pair hanging out . . . now if I could only spot the male without a tail. Suddenly, a Wren with something in its beak flew across from one set of woods to another . . . and it had no tail! Mystery solved. What a relief. Our little Wren survived! And he could fly pretty well, even with a bunch of material in his beak for a nest.

I will try to get a snapshot of him soon to post!