Good Things Come in Small Packages
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
Without doubt, one of the most rewarding things about running the hide is seeing the joy people get from seeing and photographing the birds at close range. But for me, the most rewarding part of the hide is coming up with a plan about how to get the birds in and to get them where I want them, and then to turn the plan into a photograph that everyone can take.
You may think that it is as simple as putting up some feeders and waiting. To a certain degree, that is true. This will work for species like blue tits, great tits and goldfinches, but what about species that aren’t interested in seeds? For these species, you need to bring them something that moves: insects. One such species that is mainly interested in live insects is the diminutive and adorable wren.
My first photograph of a wren from the hide. So cute!
Being small, wrens can be hard to spot. Often, you’ll catch a glimpse of one as a small brown ball of feathers darting amongst the undergrowth, before it vanishes in the pursuit of a meal. If you are lucky, you’ll see one singing its heart out from a high perch. There is no doubt that more often than not, you’ll hear one before you see one. At this time of year, the wren’s melodious song is one that you’ll likely hear the most and it’s a sure sign that spring has arrived.
The wren was one of the first species that I spotted in the area where we have the hide. There are actually a few wrens within the area of the hide, and it’s the perfect habitat for them. There are plenty of brambles that serve as cover and the perfect place to hunt for insects and spiders. In summer the vegetation grows tall and dense, providing more cover and excellent insect life for the vocal little bird to hunt for. The woods provide cover, and the ivy that grows on some of the trees in the woods provides an excellent and secluded place to nest. The woods also provide a place for the tiny bird to hunt for insects amongst the trees and decaying wood. And this brings me to the main reason we now get regular visits from a wren: decaying wood.
I remember years ago I was out walking on a footpath through a field and found a pile of felled tree limbs close to the path. They had clearly been there for a long time as they were quite rotten. A wren had discovered the pile and was busily hopping over the decaying wood, disappearing into nooks and crannies in the pursuit of a meal. That memory has stuck with me, and whenever I come across a pile of wood, I always wait for a minute to see if there is a wren on the hunt.
So my first cunning plan to attract the wrens to the hide was to build a log pile. This was easily achieved as there was plenty of fallen tree limbs and wood that had already been cut in the woods, it was simply a case of relocating some of it. This was completed before we had a permanent hide and only a small pool, but it didn’t take the wrens long to find the log pile, which was very satisfying.
Top of the log pile, one of its favourite spots to hang out
After completion of the permanent hide and new pool, I was always thinking about how to get the wrens up to the pool. Obviously, the more wrens you have in the area, the more chances you have of getting them to go where you want them to, so a second log pile was made. This would see wrens fly from pile to pile, but unfortunately, very rarely checking out the pool area.
We have an area next to the pool that is made from a previous iteration of the pool. I couldn’t bring myself to dismantle it after completion of the current pool, so it was used in its second life to form a raised grassy area where we could put different perches and props. I suspected that while it was just grass, this wouldn’t be very attractive to an inquisitive wren, so I added some decaying wood and planted some ivy. My logic was that this would make it a better home for insects, which would subsequently attract the wrens.
Eventually a wren did discover the pool area. It was a lovely moment when it popped up from the log pile to investigate the pool edge and the mossy wood that I had put out. It was also very satisfying knowing that I had created a mini habitat that was appealing to this wonderful little bird. However, one problem remained. Because the pool area is raised above the ground, the amount of insects that make it their home will always be limited. It’s a great home for spiders, there are plenty that make the framework of the pool their home, but it will never be the same as having the area on the ground. Fortunately, this problem was easy to remedy as wrens love live mealworms.
A spider and mealworm snack for the wren
The addition of a small amount of mealworms would see a wren making multiple visits throughout the day to consume the tasty morsels. Now mealworms can be placed anywhere in the pool area and the wren will find them quickly, and It means that anyone can easily get pictures of the wren on different perches. I say easily, you still require good reactions as the wren is very quick and rarely stays still for more than a second or so. It means that you often end up with pictures of its rear end, pictures of it looking away from you and pictures of it with its eyes closed – wrens blink quite often! But when you do get that one shot of it making eye contact, it’s well worth all the missed shots.
Getting the wren just where I want it
