Story and photo illustrations by Laura
All through the spring and summer of 2021 I noticed a slow progression of small scratch marks and snags appear on one of my green deck chair cushions. These gradually became more numerous until eventually, by fall, a small hole had opened. The hole continued to widen, and it became clear that the underlying polyester fiberfill was the true target. A particular squirrel made numerous trips, taking as much as its mouth would hold, to line its nest with this warm, soft material.
Over the fall and winter, he or she would periodically pull the fiberfill stuffing out to use as nesting material, replacing and replenishing as needed.
I watched as the cavity became larger and larger.
The following spring, the open hole left by the squirrel proved to be irresistible to a pair of nesting Carolina wrens who proceeded to make themselves at home in the inviting cavity. They busied themselves, bringing mulch and occasional dried leaves. It was amazing how much they were stuffing in there.
All was going well until a brown-headed cowbird spied their choice real estate. Cowbirds don’t build their own nests, but stake out good nests of other birds, lay an egg of their own in several different places, and leave the unsuspecting adoptive parents to incubate, hatch, and feed their young. Often, they even push out the eggs of the nest-building parents, so their egg is the only one left.
Fortunately, the wrens noticed the cowbird checking out the nest and temporarily stopped building for more than a day. Once they felt safe again, they returned, completed the nest, and I’m pretty sure have laid eggs.
Fortunately, I was able to snap this picture.
Didn’t want to get any closer than this, as one scare was more than enough for them.
Interestingly, the squirrel never disturbed the hole while the birds were nesting, but definitely returned all through the fall and winter of 2022, to help itself to more fiberfill.
I’m wondering, will the wrens return this spring?
Only time will tell.
See Interlopers Epilogue for the continued adventures of these rascally critters