Letters from the Wren

Part 2 - An imagined journal inspired by true events

The following fictional journal is Carolyn Langlinais’s imaginative retelling of the events from the perspective of one determined Bewick’s Wren.

A Female Bewick’s Wren

As told by Carolyn Langlinais

April 25 - ‘Been looking all day for just the right place to build this year. My mate, Wrenston, keeps showing me places that just aren't right: too close to the ground, too much sun, too many cats. I finally found the perfect spot! Shady, protected by steel, and deep—so deep that the babies can't fall out. And there's no chance of rain getting in because there are not one, but two roofs!

So I've been busy gathering the final layer of the best soft moss ever, and then when I come back, the whole building is gone! Gone, I tell you! I heard this beeping near my house and flew in to see what was up, and there it went! What's a girl to do?! And now Wrenston is giving me the stink eye.

May 1 - Oh, good! Phew! Home is back. Crisis averted!

Nest is finally done. Just a few hiccups when the whole dang thing disappears, but it always comes back—usually before the sun is straight overhead. Very considerate. I'm in the mood to brood! 🎶

May 8 - Egg laying has started. Wrenston has been so supportive. It's very confusing when those humans show up and I have to beat a hasty retreat, though. Perched here with my legs crossed. Do they think I can hold this egg forever?! Singing helps. I just sit in this old oak and sing until they return. Then I'll yell real loud! Maybe they'll get the message.

May 27 - Sweet babies are hatching. It's a full-time job keeping this place clean. Eggshells, fecal sacs—the work is never done. But we're still protected from sun and rain, so this place was a great choice after all.

May 28 - Okay, what's that smell? It's a little damp in here today. I know it's not rain. And that smell is too sweet. Did they take my house somewhere to clean it up? It was so inconspicuous with that light dirt coating. What were they thinking? My babies are traumatized!!

It's okay now. Mama and Daddy are here. Of course, I was out gathering more dinner when I heard that beeping heralding another house move. I flew in to show those humans I'd brought lunch, but they took off anyway. Idiots!

May 29 - Well, this takes the cake. My house was gone nearly half the day. My poor babies! They said they didn't go back to that rainy place but instead went very far away and did lots of traveling around. New smells. They couldn't describe much since they're tucked so deep in the nest. But one thought she smelled water, a few smelled warm grass and lots of flowers, and one smelled human food cooking. Then there was the wind whipping through the house—unbelievable! They were hot and hungry and tired by the time they got back. Wrenston and I were over it! Never again! These humans are so inconsiderate!

June 2 - Yes, they are absolute idiots. I see them opening the back of the house and shining lights around. The babies know not to make a peep. Oh, great! Now they're trying to open something from the inside. What are they looking for? Can't they see I'm waiting for them to get out of the way? I'll just yell at them from my oak tree. See if that moves them along.

Babies have all their pin feathers.

I've discovered that waiting on the wheelbarrow handle with a caterpillar hanging from my beak spurs them to finish up faster. As long as they're at the back of the house, I don't care anymore. I'm bringing my babies lunch now.

June 8 - Now this is more like it! My house hasn't moved in forever. It's easy to imagine it never went away. I like it here. It was a good choice after all. I guess it all started when those silly humans finally put their tiny machine in my nest opening and saw my sweet babies. I didn't want that to happen, but now I'm glad it did.

Wrenston and I don't even have time to think. We're scrounging all over for tasty snacks all day long. It won't be long now before all four of my babies are ready to leave the nest!

June 10 - Here we go, off to the nearest leafy bower! Wrenston and I are over the moon and singing up a storm. In a few weeks, we get to start all over again. We may pick this house again, now that we've trained those insufferable humans to keep it in one place.

So Wrenston's wanting to show me alternative homesites. Don't know if I'm ready to look somewhere else. But there's a new place that's just gone up not far from the original spot. It looks promising, but I'm still partial to the OG.

Oh, my goodness! I just barely escaped with my life! I was flying in to see what sort of repairs the first house needed, and there was a SNAKE in there. Really! I kid you not! A snake! Sticking its tongue out at me, no less.

Wrenston was right. This new nest box is looking better and better.

Here we go!