We live at Compton near Mount Gambier. Our garden is a birds paradise for little Blue Wrens, Willy Wag tails, Scrub Wrens, Finches plus many more varieties pass through in a day searching for food.
Mrs Blue Wren took a fancy to our Christmas tree, growing in a large pot on the back veranda, which sits just on the other side of the window from our dining table. She began building her nest, using grass and cobwebs and dog hair as a lining. We would brush the Labrador dogs and leave the hair in a small pile in the backyard. We were amazed to find that nest building and the sitting and feeding of baby wrens is a family affair. Daddy Blue was also just as much involved with the whole process as Mrs Blue. Also another female who we called Aunty Blue also took as much interest in the nest building and feeding of feeding of the young. At one time they were well into making a nest and the dog took interest in the nest and smashed it. I saw Mrs Blue bring in Mr Blue to inspect the spot where the nest had been. They sat there looking in disbelief. We put a circle of wire mesh around the Christmas Tree to protect the nest from the dogs. The Wrens soon got back into re building and sitting on the eggs. They reared 3 babies in all. Not that we could see the babies during the rearing as the nest is very private and we could not see into it.
I have a photo of Mrs Blue bringing in a beak full of dog hair for the lining of the nest.
Sandra Edlington
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