Saturday

[nightdog_barks]

Peeked in this morning and ... the nest is empty. Empty as in the chick and the other eggs are gone. And by gone, I mean not there, disappeared, like they were never there.

So. I have no idea what happened. A quick Google turned up some info that sometimes male wrens will destroy their own eggs. We had a thundershower move through at about 1 a.m., but otherwise there was nothing unusual.

I'm not heartbroken; I do wonder what happened but will probably never know.
ETA that the general consensus is that a night predator, possibly a rat or a possum, robbed the nest. It's still possible, however, that the parents may try to reuse it. Yes, I'll be an optimist. *g*

Bright sun and a bit cooler at 69 degrees. Otherwise not much yet. Started reading Hallelujah Junction, the autobiography of the American composer John Adams, last night.

And thus endeth the wren saga. Won't touch the nest in case someone else wants to use it.

Comments

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, gosh. I'm sorry.

I wonder if a snake got them? That would explain the eggs and the baby being gone without the nest being torn up.

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

Huh. I've never heard of birds moving their babies, so I'm sadly thinking the same thing as Corgigirl: snake. That, I've seen; I've seen a snake climb a tree to get at a nest.

Today I slept way in. I mean, I woke at 7:30, but I'd been up late and a storm came in and disturbed my sleep in the pre-dawn hours (lots of wind & thunder) and I went back to sleep and didn't wake again until almost 10.

I'll be leaving in about a half hour for an art shindig thing with my friend Gail's fun group. I think it'll be good. I understand there's wine involved, and it's in an artist's studio. Still very gray, cold and drizzly here today, but we need that rain, so I won't gripe about it.

[felis-nocturna.livejournal.com]

Oh. That's strange. I'm sorry. And I would think the same as Mare and Corgigirl, a snake or another predator, because otherwise it would be very strange that there isn't even a trace left, wouldn't it?

In other news, just came home from a meeting with a friend. We had some ice-cream with hot chocolate cake and afterwards went to see "A Single Man". Had its flaws, but a brilliant performance by Colin Firth. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tCxRO67gyk) ()

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

If there is no sign whatever of hatchling or eggs then a predator of some sort got to them. If it was the male being destructive you would see egg shells, and dead baby birds (because they would all be fairly fully developed at this point). Opossum, or something of the sort, is very likely if the nest was robbed at night.

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. I know it's the way of nature and all that, but I'm sad about this. I'll miss the wrens.

[crackpig.livejournal.com]

Sorry 'bout that. Nature sure is a mother-

[perspi.livejournal.com]

Hi Nightdog hello!

I'm sorry to hear about the wrens, and I'm going to hope another nest gets built and babies hatched and flying where you can see them, because yeah, circle of life and all, but it's still REALLY COOL to be able to see the whole process. :)

As for me: I got some work done this morning, and sent a rather shitty draft to GW (my former grad advisor and potential second author on the current MS) to see what he thinks. I was late getting home with lunch, and then I forgot half the Mr's order, and so I'd worked myself into an anxious lather by the time I got home, and even now, after lunch and reading stories and Z going down for sleep, I'm STILL not relaxed from it--I still have an anxious little ball of butterflies in mah belly, and I'm kind of keyed up. WTF, self? I don't usually do this.

Anyway: I'm almost done with the grocery list, and I'm going to go to the store before Z awakens, I think. So: see you soon!

[aries-ascendant.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling ridiculously melancholy about the little baby wrens.

[warmdarkwoman.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry about the loss of the eggs. I was hoping you'd (and I'd, through you) get to see their development over the weeks.

I hope they (and you) try again.

[takes-a-fairy.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a shock ND!
**HUGS**
I'm glad you left the nest alone so they can come back.

Having lived in Texas back in the mid 70's, and being a bit familiar with the critters there, my hunch is the rat did it.

having unborn babies coming in the family made me think about making a lame joke about empty nest syndrome, but chose not-hee

[bethbetter.livejournal.com]

:(

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Well, drat. I was just thinking about your wren as I was driving home thru the country today.

[l-eremita.livejournal.com]

*HUGS*

I have such a heart of putty that I am giving you hugs because *I* need one!

The same thing happened to us last year when we had a robin's nest in our tree. We were all very upset.

But, I see the point of view of the poor rats and possums as well... As my mother wisely says during moments like this: "They are God's creatures too."

[la-dame-du-lac.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

The same thing happened to the pigeon eggs on our balcony, and we're on the fourth floor! No egg, no shell, nothing. The only thing I could come up with is a crow stole the egg. Either that, or the ferrets out there can climb much higher than I though...