Hypothesis DSC_4440
The Carolina Wren's have taken a fancy to using a couple of the micro sparklers as a perch. My hypothesis for the desired perch is that the sprinklers are a good size for the wrens feet and the height and location are ideal for spotting a delicious snack.
The vine in this image is the Dutchman's Pipevine, the host plant for the Polydamas (goldrim) butterfly. The butterfly larva (caterpillars) or cats as butterfly people call them, are one of the wrens favorite snacks.
The Polydamas butterfly lays a clutch of eggs together, usually about 12 give or take. When the cats hatch, they like to travel as a group to the very end of the vine and munch on the new growth. I call those traveling clusters catsicle's. And boy oh boy the wrens do love a juicy catcicle. There are no catcicles in this image as I already collected them :)
It certainly wasn't in the plan but I have started intermittently collecting a few caterpillars to raise even though it's still winter and a bit chilly. I see a variety of butterflies flitting about daily going about their business, including laying eggs. Therefore, I figure they know what they are doing so if they are laying eggs, I might as well give some of the babies a chance of survival without becoming a meal.
Have a whacky and wonderful Wednesday and happy snapping.
Hypothesis DSC_4440
The Carolina Wren's have taken a fancy to using a couple of the micro sparklers as a perch. My hypothesis for the desired perch is that the sprinklers are a good size for the wrens feet and the height and location are ideal for spotting a delicious snack.
The vine in this image is the Dutchman's Pipevine, the host plant for the Polydamas (goldrim) butterfly. The butterfly larva (caterpillars) or cats as butterfly people call them, are one of the wrens favorite snacks.
The Polydamas butterfly lays a clutch of eggs together, usually about 12 give or take. When the cats hatch, they like to travel as a group to the very end of the vine and munch on the new growth. I call those traveling clusters catsicle's. And boy oh boy the wrens do love a juicy catcicle. There are no catcicles in this image as I already collected them :)
It certainly wasn't in the plan but I have started intermittently collecting a few caterpillars to raise even though it's still winter and a bit chilly. I see a variety of butterflies flitting about daily going about their business, including laying eggs. Therefore, I figure they know what they are doing so if they are laying eggs, I might as well give some of the babies a chance of survival without becoming a meal.
Have a whacky and wonderful Wednesday and happy snapping.