We are much enjoying having the cactus wren pair around. They are curious, not shy, and allow us watching them feed their kids all kinds of insects that they find patrolling the porch. No cricket has made it inside yet this year. Both parents are caring for the chicks and often, after delivering a delicacy to an open beak (and every beak is dutifully filled), they pick up a packet out of the nest and deposit is somewhere far away. They are ideal neighbors.
Cactus wrens are also excellent sentries. They have a loud, raucous call normally and sometimes sound like they are chewing on a rubber band. But there is one warning call that this entire household is tuned to. Dogs jump up and look out the window, and so do I as they often call "snake, snake, away, away!".
We heard the call this morning at breakfast and sure enough: a huge diamondback right under their nest on the porch. Thankfully he was a big sluggish because he had already eaten breakfast, but I did not want to get too close to the business end to take a picture. Dan expertly caught him and brought him far away into the desert. It was our first rattler relocation of the year from the WD, which is unusually late.
1 comment:
It's sure not at all like the ribbon garter who lives in my compost pile!
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